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AFTER COLLAPSED WTO MEETINGS, CITIZENS INSIST ON TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN DAVOS

Brussels/Davos—Pointing to the failure of the WTO meetings in Seattle last year, Friends of the Earth
and partner groups say sustainability and accountability issues cannot be sidelined any longer in
discussions about the global economy at the World Economic Forum held this week in Davos,
Switzerland.

"This gathering is a test of whether or not world leaders heard the message of Seattle--all international
institutions and forums must open up and become democratic, " says Miriam Behrens of Friends of the
Earth Switzerland/Pro Natura.

Friends of the Earth is calling on governments to recognise that globalization must benefit the majority
of the people around the world, not just a small minority or corporate interests. Further, the group insists
that when world leaders gather in Davos, they must commit themselves to a new agenda to right the
wrongs of globalisation and deal with concerns raised by Friends of the Earth and other NGOs.

Commenting, Tony Juniper of Friends of the Earth International said:

"Bill Clinton, Tony Blair and another thirty of the world's most powerful leaders are jetting into to the five
star Davos ski resort to negotiate the future of world trade. It's all paid for by some of the world's
biggest corporations. The more they pay Professor Schwab's foundation, the more access they get.
Truly, this is a new politics for a new millennium.

If the WEF gets its way environment and social concerns will be trampled underfoot in the headlong
rush to globalisation and unregulated international trade. But resistance to this project is growing around
the world. It has already defeated the attempt to create a Multilateral Agreement on Investment, and to
launch a WTO Millennium Round. If world leaders do not finally realise that transparency, democracy
and accountability are the key to discussions on the world economy, civil society will have to teach
them yet more painful lessons."

Friends of the Earth International and other environment and campaigning NGOs will be present in
Davos to try to ensure that social and environmental concerns are not wholly overlooked in the round of
meetings between businessmen and politicians.

A media conference called "The Public Eye on Davos", a joint project of the Berne Declaration, Friends
of the Earth and the Globalization Challenge Initiative will be held on Friday, 28 January, 2 p.m., Dutch
Asthma Clinic, Scalettastrasse 19, Davos (next to the Congress Centre).

Speakers include:

Peter Bosshard (Berne Declaration)

Andrea Durbin (Friends of the Earth/US)

Manuel Chiriboga (AsociaciÛn Lationamericana de Organizaciones de PromociÛn, ALOP)

Friends of the Earth representatives can be reached for comment in Davos:

Tony Juniper FoE UK (+44 -7712 –843207), Andrea Durbin, FoE US (41-79/ 205 51 36), Miriam
Behrens, FoE Switzerland (+41-79-3299259).