Archived press release

Our world is not for sale: wto protests around the planet

1 November 2001

WTO Campaigners Launch Events Across the World

In the run up to the WTO's 4th Ministerial conference, to be held in the Gulf State of Qatar from 9-13 November 2001, citizens' groups are organising hundreds of events around the world, between now and the 13th of December, to show continued widespread opposition to the launch of a new trade round.

Activities are planned across all continents, including the following countries: Australia, Austria,Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, the Netherlands,Nigeria, Norway, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand,Tunisia and Turkey. Activities will be diverse and colourful and include public fora, teach-ins, trade parades, demonstrations, street theatre etc. [1]

In London, Thousands of people will call for Trade Justice at a Parade on Saturday 3 November, starting from Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park, outside the Imperial War Museum, Lambeth Road, London SE1 at 12.30pm, the Parade will go to Trafalgar Square(speakers at 3.30pm). [2]

In addition, a World Forum on the WTO will start tomorrow (Friday) in Beirut, to bring together labour unions, women's groups, environmentalists, youth activists, and civil society organizations for three days of meetings, workshops, teach-ins, and cultural events. [3] Civil society groups have organised these decentralised actions, bringing their critique of the WTO home to their capitals and local communities, in response to the location of the WTO Ministerial in Doha, Qatar, a venue that severely restricts civil society access and public participation.

In Seattle, tens of thousands of citizens from around the world protested against the WTO. Since then the anti-corporate globalization movement has grown in depth, diversity and size, with people across the world coming together to call for a sustainable, equitable and democratic trading system. [4]Despite this public outcry, many governments are pursuing a business as usual agenda. In particular,the EU, US, Japan and Canada are pushing hard to launch a new round, bringing new and controversial issues into the WTO, even those this is opposed by much of civil society and many developing countries.

1. [1] To see details of world wide events go to www.focusweb.org/our-world-is-not-for-sale/activities/doha_events.htm
2. For details please go to www.tradejusticemovement.org.uk
3. For details please go to www.worldforumbeirut2001.org
4. Hundreds of groups are united in their concerns and demands and have signed the global 'Our World is Not for Sale:WTO: Shrink or Sink" statement. The statement calls for a rollback of the power of the WTO and for a fundamental revision of trade rules. It includes demands for no expansion of the WTO's agenda, stopping corporate patent protection and ensuring access to medicines and seeds, banning patenting of life, recognising food as a basic human right, stopping the agriculture agreement, eliminating the investment measures agreement, ensuring special and differential treatment of developing countries, prioritising social rights and the environment and democratising decision-making.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust