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General
Position of the Initiative against Economic Globalization
Prague 2000
Issued
on the occasion of the World Bank and the International Monetary
Fund Summit
About twenty
thousand of the world's bankers, economists and investors will
arrive
on 26. - 28. September 2000 to Prague in order to take part in the
55th Annual
Meetings of the World Bank Group (WB) and the Board of Governers of
the International Monetary Fund (IMF). This prestigious event of the
global economic elite, the first one of its kind in the Central East
Europe, is
of a special importance. The delegates will gather so as to propose
the scheme
of the complete liberalization of the global economy, which they
present
as a single instrument for the solution of the world's problems.
We do not
endorse this opinion. On the contrary, we consider the economomic globalization
as well as the policy of WB and IMF as a major cause of theserious problems
of today's world and not as a chance for the majority of mankind living
in destitute or as an opportunity for the deflection of the global environmental
crisis. This summit is a challenge to those who are concerned
about the destiny of today's world. For IMF and WB influence it
negatively
for more than 50 years. In this connection we remind that the
summit
will cost at least 935 million crowns from the public money which are
desperately
needed in the social programs, healthcare, education,
environmental
protection, etc.
In the
process of economic globalization which involves progressive
curtailment
of the state influence upon the circulation of transnational
capital
play both institutions crucial roles. By means of its economic
policy
does IMF as well as WB and its groups open the developing countries
(among
which they count with regard to its GNP also the Czech Republic) to
the foreign
investors and their speculative interests. IMF and WB openly
acknowledge
that they are led only by the economic regards and thus willingly
support various authoritative or dictatorial regimes. No wonder
these institutions
are not democratic themselves - the decission rights of single
members depend upon amount of invested money according to the
principle
"more dollars, more votes."
Within
the framework of the so called Structural Adjustment Programs the IMF
and the
WB determine strict conditions for providinig loanes to the developing
countries including deregulatization, liberalization and privatization.
These measures stregthen the position of the transnational capital
but worsen the situation of the majority of population in the
developing
world. The removal of social and envirommental regulations (which might
"discourage" the investors) and cuts in public spending result in the
inaccessibility of health care and education, sharp increases of living
costs,
job-reductions, unemployment and curtailment of union rights.
The impacts
on agriculture are especially devastating as productions aimed
at local
self-sufficiency are suspended and the countries are compelled to
raise monocultures
for export, which leads to food shortage and in some countries
even to famine. The impacts of the IMF and WB activities on the
environment
are also tragical - the megalomaniac projects of WB result in
the destruction
of local ecosystems as well as in the enforced relocations of
millions of people.
The principal
objective of these programs is to allow for the entrance of
foreign speculative capital which does not contribute to the creation
of any values.
It only utilizes the absence of social and environmental regulations,
takes control of the markets and sometimes destroys entire industrial
branches. The recommendations the IMF and WB thus mostly do not lead
to the promised economic growth. The only thinge left behind would be
a huge
debt and in order to check its further increase, the separate countries
have to
pay considerable sums at least for amortization of interests.
Arguments
pointing to the influx of foreign investments sound insincere and
unconvincing.
Today roughly
40 thousand members of the global financial oligarchy control
80 % of
the world's trade. Possessions of 200 richest people is larger than
the total
income of 41 % of the world°s population. More than 250 million
children
have to work in the most inhuman conditions for bare survival.
About 17
million children dies every year from easily curable diseases. The
desperate
condition of today's world is not natural - it is merely a logical
consequence
of the system in which heightening of the profits of the most
rich is
the only respected value.
We do not
think that we can oppose this development only through lobbying at the
institutions like the IMF and the WB. We rely rather upon the movements
from below made up from diverse groups like trade-unions, unemployed,
small or landless peasents, environmental initiatives, radical democratic
political organizations, etc. Finding an alternative to the current
social model is in our view an urgent necessity. However, we do not
think that globalization
could be opposed by the protective policy of the national state
which has already shown how willingly it succumbs to transnational
corporations.
We believe that the alternative is a society which is based not
on the profit of a few but on the genuine needs of many, on the
principles
of solidarity, mutual assistance and sustainable development.
Although
our viewes on the origins of the serious problems of today's world
and their
solution differ, we regard the September summit of IMF and WB as
such a
crucial challenge that we have founded a common platform Initiative
Against
Economic Globalization - Prague 2000. It is not a new organisation
with an
independent program, but a democratic instrument of mutual
communication
and coordination between diverse groups which plan to react to the IMF
and WB summit. It should contribute to the wider publicity of
actions
organized by these groups. Together we want to organize some
protest(s),
lectures, educational and cultural events. The main event should
be a counter-summit during which the specific harmful aspects of the
economic
globalization as well as the search for alternatives could be
discussed.
Initiative
Against Economic Globalization - Prague 2000 is open to all liberal-minded
individuals and groups that would like to express their opinions
regarding the summit of IMF and WB. We propose this initiative as a
common
platform which, while maintaining the program autonomy of the
separate
groups, strengthens their voice even more. Similar gatherings of
the institutions
of economic globalization are attended by increasing
resistance
of general public. Let the voice of protests echo also in Prague.
Let us face the globalization of capital with the globalization of
solidarity.
Support
or aproval with General Position of Initiative Against Economic
Globalization
- Prague 2000 may be expressed via e.mail address Prague2000_cz@hotmail.com.
We will also welcome any information about the form
of cooperation and assistance you can offer. This concerns also
distribution
of this statement. Other information can be found also on the
web page
http://inpeg.ecn.cz
Prague,
March 1st, 2000
Initiative
Against Economic Globalization - Prague 2000
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