MEDIA ADVISORY
Friends of the Earth International
24 January 2007
World Trade, Davos, and the World Social
Forum
NAIROBI (KENYA) / DAVOS (SWITZERLAND),
January 24, 2007 - Instead of rushing into
reviving world trade talks when they meet at
the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos on 24
- 28 January, world leaders should listen to
the voices from the seventh World Social
Forum in Nairobi, warned Friends of the Earth
International today.
On the opening day of the WEF in Davos,
the 'public eye awards' for irresponsible
corporate behaviour were conferred to Swiss
pharmaceutical giant Novartis and US
bridgestone corporation, for dramatically
failing in their responsibilities regarding
human rights, labour rights, or the
environment. [1]
As world trade is once again a crucial
topical subject in Davos, Friends of the
Earth International called on world leaders
to consider an alternative approach to the
current trading system that is better for
people and the planet.
Friends of the Earth Ghana Trade
Campaigner George Awudi at the World Social
Forum (WSF) in Nairobi said:
"The claim that the current trade system
and trade negotiations are pro-development is
ludicrous. All the evidence suggests that the
current trade proposals would cause lasting
damage to developing country economies and
environment."
A key concern is that rushing the
so-called Doha 'development' round of trade
negotiations through by March will be used by
rich countries to put pressure on developing
countries to agree a deal that secures access
to markets and cheap natural resources for
transnational corporations at the expense of
developing countries´ economies and the
environment.
Tony Juniper, vice-chair of Friends of the
Earth International in Davos for the 'public
eye on Davos' said:
"Instead of using the World Economic Forum
to revive world trade talks for corporate
gain, the EU and the US should develop an
alternative approach to trade, prioritising
the needs of people and the planet. Any
attempt to take Doha out of cold storage at
Davos would constitute a major threat to the
livelihoods, welfare and natural resources of
communities worldwide."
Recent statements from the UN Food and
Agricultural Organisation, the European
Commission's own impact assessment report and
other studies [2] highlight that the current
trade agenda is working against the needs of
poor communities, many of whom depend on
natural resources for their livelihoods.
However the proposals on the table will
provide a real boost to the interests of
business who will gain greater access to
natural resources in the developing world -
and easier access to markets worldwide. The
proposals on Non-Agricultural Market Access
(NAMA) would increase market access on
non-agricultural goods such as forest and
fish products that could have devastating
impacts on these precious natural
resources.
In agriculture, a schedule to end
subsidies that causes dumping has not been
set and a new agreement would open up
agricultural sectors and limit the ability of
developing countries to protect their farmers
and agriculture. The General Agreement on
Tariffs and Services (GATS) could impact on
biodiversity and land rights of local
communities through the extraction of fuels,
minerals, timber and water. [3]
For more information
In Davos:
Tony Juniper, vice-chair of Friends of the
Earth International, Tel: +44- 771284207
Sonja Ribi, Project Leader, Politics and
International Affairs, Pro Natura (Friends of
the Earth Switzerland). Tel: +41 (0)79 216 02
06
In Nairobi:
George Awudi, Friends of the Earth Ghana
Trade Campaigner: Tel: +44-7967877593
Ronnie Hall, Friends of the Earth
International Trade Campaigner:
+44-7967017281 (or +254 (0)728 249 464 only
until January 26)
Notes to editors
[1] The Berne Declaration and Pro Natura
(Friends of the Earth Switzerland) conferred
the public eye awards. For more information
see
http://www.publiceye.ch
http://www.evb.ch/cm_data/Bridgestone_e.pdf
http://www.evb.ch/cm_data/Novartis_e.pdf
[2] Institute for Development Policy and
Management, University of Manchester, "EU
Sustainability Impact Assessment of Proposed
WTO Negotiations: Final Report", July 2006
www.sia-trade.org/wto/FinalPhase/FINAL_OVERALL%20PROJECTJul06.pdf
UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, "New
focus needed for Doha Round: Trade talks
failed to address developing country
problems", August 2006
www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2006/1000375/index.html
K. Gallagher, Boston University and T.
Wise, Tufts University, "Doha Round and
Developing Countries: Will the Doha deal do
more harm than good?", April 2006
Carnegie Endowment for International
Peace, "Winners and Losers: Impact of the
Doha Round on Developing Countries", Sandra
Polaski,
;www.carnegieendowment.org/files/BWfinal.pdf
A study by the World Bank's Independent
Evaluation Group (IEG) from March 2006
concluded that the World Bank's strategies on
trade have not delivered on employment and
poverty reduction.
www.worldbank.org/ieg/trade/docs/press_release_trade_evaluation.pdf
[3] European Commission-financed
sustainability impact assessment on the
forest sector. Institute for Development
Policy and Management, University of
Manchester, "Sustainability Impact Assessment
of Proposed WTO Negotiations: Final Report
for the Forest Sector Study", June 2005
www.sia-trade.org/wto/final%20report%20page.shtml
Friends of the Earth International, "
WTO:
Hands off our Natural Environment
",
November 2005
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