Oppose The WTO!
| Peoples' Assembly | Z Magazine link on WTO | Reasons to oppose the WTO! |
| Peoples' Assembly | Z Magazine link on WTO | Reasons to oppose the WTO! |
The WTO - World Trade Organization - Ministerial Conference is coming to Seattle, WA, November 30th to December 3rd and so are the people of the world to oppose it!
The WTO, along with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), share the common goal to ensure the continued domination of global capitalism -- imperialism -- over the people of the world no matter what the human cost. The stated intent is to maintain a "level playing field" for international trade. However, the so-called 'developing' or third world nations, who are economically crippled by their colonial legacy and swamped by widespread poverty, hunger and unemployment, are hardly playing the same game. Rather they are being bullied by the U.S. and its allies.
A major item currently on the WTO's table is the issue of intellectual property rights. What this really means is the 'right' of corporations to own and copyright ideas, colors, shapes and the DNA of plants, animals and humans. Multinational corporations are already trying to claim exclusive ownership of traditional medicinal plants and herbs, demanding payment for their use by the people who have always used them. Pharmaceutical corporations are forcibly taking DNA samples from indigenous tribespeople in Central and South America and trying to copyright them. And they are depending on our ignorance and our silence to permit these outrages to continue.
However, resistance to the WTO, IMF and World Bank is huge and worldwide -- and largely under-reported, especially in the U.S. From India to Brazil, Nigeria to Spain, Canada to the Philippines, mass movements are rising against these institutions of imperialism which prioritize corporate over human interest. Show that you value humanity over corporate profits by joining us in Seattle!