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Ten Reasons to oppose the G20 : Free Trade is the new face of Colonialism

vieuxcmaq, Tuesday, October 17, 2000 - 11:00

The Council of Canadians (nadialex@total.net)

Article detailing what the G20 is and why Free-Trade is the new face of Colonialism.

The G-20 is an extension of the old boys’ club, the G-7. It is made up of the following countries: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, The European Union Presidency, the European Central Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, Development Committee of the IMF & the World Bank. Its stated purpose is the stabilization of trade. It is focused on financial matters & is part of a global system that subordinates social & environmental concerns to profit motives. Paul Martin, minister of finance, heads this new trade partnership. But will the G-20 consider the Tobin Tax of 0.1% on international speculation to the tune of one trillion dollars every day on world financial markets? The Tobin tax would alleviate world poverty with a revenue of $10 billion per year. Will the G-20 abolish Third World Debt, which is choking the poor while enhancing the rich bankers? It remains to be seen!
1. The truth is that globalization of market forces has greatly increased the inequality in the world. Now the richest 20% of the world’s people receive 83% of the world’s income. While the poorest 60% of the world’s people receive just 5.6% of the world’s income. The richest 20% of the world’s population in northern industrialized countries use 70% of the world’s energy, 75% of the world’s metals, 85% of the world’s wood and 60% of the world’s food. This 20% minority is also responsible for producing about 75% of the world’s environmental pollution.
2.As Corporations gain more and more power to pillage, destroy the environment & the habitat, workers in free trade zones are reduced to automatons who work 50 to 80 hours a week for as little as 36 cents an hour. Women who refuse to work overtime are dismissed. Many developing countries such as Mexico, contend that labour standards constitute a barrier to free trade.



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