On the WTO front, international civil society sent an open letter to G20 trade ministers meeting in Brazil last week. The letter urges the Ministers to see the writing on the wall – that the WTO has not only failed in food and agriculture policy but also in achieving any meaningful progress in reducing poverty. It further argues that it is time for the G20 and other developing countries to create a new system of democratic multilateral governance based on people centred ecologically sustainable development.
Discussions on Foreign policy are often esoteric and remain within the domain of diplomats and academicians. The dangerous rightward shift in India’s foreign policy has changed that. Several elected representatives, movements and groups have come together to question the UPA Governments subservience to America’s imperial adventures. The Conference on a Peoples Foreign Policy in Mumbai (Oct 4-6) holds much promise, as it is a unique attempt by people’s movements to forge alliances with progressive political parties.
A Peoples Memorandum on Special Economic Zones (SEZs) to the Commerce Minister demands a repeal of the SEZ Act of 2005. Peoples groups across the country assert that SEZs will not help boost the local economy rather undermine it and channel scarce government resources into subsidising big business.
John Pilger’s article celebrates the rise of people’s movements across the world. He looks at the rise of people’s power in Iraq, Lebanon and Bolivia. He believes that ‘there will be a stirring of people everywhere as they become aware of the real meaning of the ambitions and hypocrisy of Bush and his vassals, who want us to be ever fearful of and cowed by “terrorism” when, in truth, the greatest terrorists of all are them’.
Focus on the Global South, India.
