[asia-apec 390] Tour the Global Economy Bus tour

[Gatt Watchdog]

GATT Watchdog
PO Box 1905
Otautahi (Christchurch) 8015
Aotearoa (New Zealand)



MEDIA RELEASE

9 April 1997
For Immediate Use

"Tour The Global Economy Without Leaving Christchurch" Bus Tour 
Marks Trade Anniversary

Christchurch opponents of free trade and the transnational corporate takeover of 
New Zealand are joining forces this Saturday (12th April) to commemorate the 
3rd anniversary of the signing of the Final Act of the Uruguay Round of the 
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) in an unusual way.  

Campaign Against Foreign Control of Aotearoa (CAFCA) and GATT Watchdog 
have organised a guided bus tour with a difference.  Entitled "Tour The Global 
Economy (Without Leaving Christchurch)", the tour will take passengers to the 
unsung sights of Christchurch - selected examples of who really does own this 
city and country.  

"This bus tour aims to show that the 'global economy' is very much on our 
doorstep - and points to the frightening extent to which Christchurch is literally 
in the grip of corporate control.  April 12th is an appropriate day for such an 
event.  The New Zealand government was one of more than 100 governments 
which signed the GATT, but the Uruguay Round was driven by the interests of 
transnational corporations," says GATT Watchdog spokesperson Aziz Choudry.  

"With the conclusion of the Uruguay Round of the GATT in Marrakesh in April 
1994, transnational corporations secured a freedom charter enabling them to 
move goods and investments however and wherever they wish, free from public 
interference and accountability, binding future governments to maintain 
deregulated free-trade regimes, backed up by the newly-created World Trade 
Organisation which can impose sanctions or other punitive trade measures on 
countries which fail to comply with its rulings," says Mr Choudry.   

"People's eyes often tend to glaze over when the words GATT, free trade and 
transnational corporations are mentioned.  At first glance, they all seem to refer 
to distant global issues with little relevance to ordinary people's lives.   But free 
trade and the concentration of control over the world's economies and resources 
in the hands of a few corporations affects everyone".  

"GATT promotes a model of market driven development which has already led to 
a widening of the gap between rich and poor, the erosion of democracy, national, 
political and economic independence, and massive environmental damage.  It 
essentially means Rogernomics on a global scale forever."

 "When the Uruguay Round concluded, the government had promised that 
20,000 - 30,000 new jobs might be created over the next decade as a result of 
GATT, but between 1988 and 1993 over 40,000 jobs were lost in the 
manufacturing sector alone, many because of tariff reductions.  A comprehensive 
April 1995 World Bank study of the Uruguay Round concluded that member 
governments had greatly exaggerated the extent of agricultural liberalisation 
which the deal would produce.  The study lowered the estimated income gains for 
Australia and New Zealand from 0.6% of each country's GDP to under 0.1%.  The 
report suggested that farm protection might even increase under the deal.  But 
New Zealand is wide open to overseas investors seeking lower overheads, cheap 
natural resources and power, cheap non-union labour, and higher profits".

"New Zealand has effectively become an investment playground for transnational 
corporations, 500 of which control some two-thirds of world trade.  This bus tour 
will give local people a chance to see that many of the world's most powerful 
transnational corporations have offices, investments and interests right here in 
Christchurch.  It is they, not ordinary people, who stand to benefit most from the 
commitments of successive governments to liberalise trade and investment." 

The bus tour leaves from Victoria Square at 1 pm on Saturday 12 April and will 
last approximately 4 hours.

For further comment please contact:

 Aziz Choudry ph: 03 3662803 (w);
 03 3484763 (h)
 or 
 Murray Horton ph: 03 3663988