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January 28, 2003
Porto Alegre, Brazil and Davos,
Switzerland:
trust - can corporates and government
deliver?
Eighty Friends of the Earth International
[1] members participated at the World Social
Forum (WSF) in Porto Alegre, Brazil and at
the Public Eye [2] on Davos, in Davos,
Switzerland a parallel summit outside the
World Economic Forum (WEF).
Corporate power and government complicity
in the rape of the planet was the main focus
of the activities undertaken by the Friends
of the Earth International participants in
Porto Alegre and Davos. "The tens of
thousands of participants at the WSF are
planning a new world order, one which is
socially just and ecologically sound", states
Ricardo Navarro, Chair of Friends of the
Earth International participating in the WSF
and "ecological issues are finally being
recognised as a critical cornerstone to a
fair and just new world order."
While the process at the WSF was inclusive
and accepting of a diverse range of views and
positions, in Davos, governments have been
responding to demands of corporations for the
further exploitation of the natural resources
of the planet and the further undermining of
civil society's rights. Secret meetings
between governments and major oil
corporations at Davos have serious
implications for the future stability of the
United Nations. A recent Deutsche Bank report
indicates serious conflicts of interest
within the Security Council of the United
Nations (UN), in considering the future of
Iraq. Major oil companies stand to gain
depending on a future decision by the UN in
regard to Iraq.
Friends of the Earth International has
raised concern about the manner in which
non-government organisations have been
treated within the WEF. Pro-Natura, Friends
of the Earth - England Wales and Northern
Island - NGO's participating in the WEF and a
leading human rights organisation have been
prevented from presenting critical
information within the WEF to inform key
debates. "This exclusion clearly indicates
that the potential for open dialogue within
the WEF is a misnomer, and that civil society
will never be able to inform debates
participating within the WEF," says Tony
Juniper, Friends of the Earth Vice Chair
Friends of the Earth International, "trust is
no where to be found within the WEF."
The violence of the world economic order
on local communities has been presented at
both the WSF and at Davos. Friends of the
Earth International calls on world
governments to "take back the power they have
given to the trans-national corporations
through the multilateral institutions like
the World Trade Organisation. Governments
should return that power to decide the future
of the earth to the communities," said
Ricardo Navarro, Chair of Friends of the
Earth International.
"The WEF confirmed it is a business
leaders meeting supported by governments
trying to prioritize economic benefits of
transnational corporations at the expense of
social and ecological needs," said Navarro.
"The World Social Forum on the contrary is
open to everyone and every idea, from people
protesting the free trade areas of the
Americas to the people who are concerned by
pollution. This is a truly inclusive
culturally diverse democratic and
participatory event."
It is clear that trust cannot be built by
the governments and big business, therefore
Friends of the Earth International in
recognising the above weaknesses of the
global world order commits itself to
strengthening local community campaigns that
challenge the abuse by corporates and
governments.
For more information:
Ricardo Navarro, Chair of Friends of the
Earth International
+ 55 519213 8163
Tony Juniper, Vice Chair of Friends of the
Earth International + 44 771 284 3207
NOTES:
[1] Friends of the Earth International is
a federation of autonomous environmental
organizations from all over the world. Our
members, in 68 countries, campaign on the
most urgent environmental and social issues
of our day, while simultaneously catalyzing a
shift toward sustainable societies.
[2] "The Public Eye on Davos" is an
international conference held over several
days at the end of January at the same time
as the WEF annual meeting in Davos. This
alternative to the WEF is the joint project
of a coalition of NGOs from all the
continents. It focuses on a well-grounded
critique of the neoliberal globalization
influentially promoted by WEF members – the
biggest multinational corporations. Faced
with the massive social and environmental
impacts of this one-sided economic
globalization, the Public Eye promotes a
globalization of justice and environmental
sustainability. The globalization project of
international business is countered with
viable alternatives that have arisen from
civil society.
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