[asia-apec 390] Tour the Global Economy Bus tour
Gatt Watchdog
gattwd at corso.ch.planet.gen.nz
Wed Apr 9 08:36:30 JST 1997
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
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