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h e w o r l d t r a d e o r g a n i z a t
i o n
a n d t h e s t r u g g l e f o
r t i b e t The
World Trade Organization (WTO) is holding its Ministerial meetings this November
29- December 3 in Seattle, Washington.. With over 5,000 delegates expected to
be in attendance, this will be the largest international trade summit yet held
on U.S. soil. On
the morning of November 30th, activists, farmers, workers, students, and concerned
citizens will participate in a mass action to shut down the WTO. On the same day,
tens of thousands of people around the world will take action in support, so far
including Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Britain, Canada,
Colombia, Germany, Holland, India, Nepal, and Pakistan. who
and what is the WTO?
The WTO is the high court of international trade. Established in 1995, at the
end of the Uruguay Round of GATT talks, it provides transnational corporations
(TNCs) with the legal might to force, via a WTO member nation, the 134 member
nations to repeal any trade regulation which is deemed a 'barrier to free trade'.
According to WTO rules, many regulations which protect human rights, labor, health,
or the environment are considered barriers to 'free trade.' Since
its inception, WTO rulings have forced the Guatemalan government to stop warning
mothers about the dangers of breast milk substitutes, put an end to sea turtle-free
shrimping laws, and forced countries to repeal their bans on asbestos. Currently,
the WTO is trying to force bovine growth hormone beef down the throat of Europe
- because the European Union refuses to open its markets to hormone treated beef,
the WTO forces them to pay upwards of $124 million annually in compensation to
the United States. It
is important to note that both the Nestle Infant Formula boycott and the divestment
strategy used to force an end to apartheid in South Africa would not be allowed
today under WTO rules. how
does the WTO affect the struggle for tibet?
One item expected on WTO meeting agendas is the consideration of China's entry
into the body. China's entry in the WTO would eliminate the possibility of using
economic sanctions to influence China. It would also disempower selective purchasing
type legislation (such as ICLT's LEAP project) intended to ensure that business
activities in occupied Tibet are in line with guidelines approved by the Tibetan
Government-in-Exile, as well as prohibit restrictions on imports made with forced
labor in prisons, for one example. what
about china's entry to the WTO?
To gain entry to the WTO, a country must first establish bilateral trade relations
with various member countries of the WTO. For example, over the last few months
in the U.S. there have been 'negotiations' between the Clinton Administration
and Beijing to facilitate such movement. (The likelihood that this discussion
will pass through Congress before the meetings in November is slim, but still
the Administration is pushing hard). We
must pressure world leaders like Clinton to take a strong stand against China's
entry to the WTO at the meetings this November. We need to demand that China meet
certain conditions before being considered for WTO membership. conditions
we demand for any further engagement with china:
1. Real negotiations
without preconditions, based on their pre-1949 nation to nation relations, must
be in process between His Holiness the Dalai Lama (and the Tibetan Government-in-Exile)
and Beijing for the resolution of the question of Tibet. These must be moving
forward in good faith and with commitment from Beijing to see the process through
to the end. 2.
China must free the 10-year old Panchen Lama of Tibet, make concrete steps to
free all other political prisoners, and must stop its practice,of arbitrary arrests
and detainments. 3.
China must respect international law and meet and abide by the numerous international
agreements and treaties they have signed and ratified, as well as the three U.N.
resolutions regarding Tibet. What
you can do!
If you are near Seattle, go and lend your support!
If you are unable to go
to Seattle, plan solidarity events in your local community!
Contact your
member of Congress and tell him or her that China must not be considered for entry
into the WTO unless the conditions stated above are met! This
is an important moment for both the Tibet movement and the activist community
at large, and for every common citizen. Although the WTO is a truly frightening
organization, within its transnational abominations lies a tremendous opportunity
for education and solidarity and united action. events
being held in Seattle
November 20-28: Direct
action / street theater convergence involving large scale street theater and puppets,
benefit concerts, direct action planning and training.
Nov. 29 - Dec. 3:
Festival of Resistance Nov. 30: Day of Mass Nonviolent Direct Action to Shut Down
the WTO.
Also, the United Steel Workers and the AFL-CIO are planning a march
in the afternoon of the 30th to demand that labor concerns are addressed by the
WTO.
[ copyright | u.s. tibet committee ]
[
photo | nancy jo johnson ]
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