[asia-apec 1367] Say No to WTO!

[tpl at cheerful.com]

Please circulate to your network.
>
>UNITY STATEMENT
>Seattle International People's Assembly:
>SAY NO TO WTO!
>November 28-29, 1999
>Seattle, Washington, USA
>
>We, participants to the Seattle International People's Assembly coming
>from the First and Third Worlds, close our two-day meeting -- "Say No to
>WTO!" -- firmly united in the task of exposing and opposing the WTO and
>advancing the people's resistance to imperialist globalization.
>
>Imperialist globalization must be unmasked and fully discredited.  We see
>it as nothing but monopoly capitalism masquerading as a new and wonderful
>product of the electronic age.  But in truth it ravages the environment,
>devastates countries and subjugates entire peoples with unequaled
>ferocity and ruthlessness.
>
>The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the instrument of multinational
>corporations (MNCs) and imperialist states for dictating trade policy on 
>client states even as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) dictates 
>financial and monetary policy and the World Bank, fiscal policy.  US
imperialism controls the WTO contrary to the official propaganda that 134
member states enjoy equality and decide by consensus.
>
>Imperialist states, acting as protectors and promoters of the
>superprofits of giant monopoly firms, are the masterminds of the
>anti-worker "contractualization" policy, the chief instigators of human
>rights violations, and the biggest plunderers and polluters of the
>environment.
>
>Imperialist globalization is not inevitable.  It is not unstoppable.  We
>have proven this time and again in tactical battles against the neoliberal
>policies of liberalization, deregulation and privatization, against the
>debt trap, and in the recent highly successful anti-MAI (Multilateral 
>Agreement on Investments) campaign.  In this spirit, we support the call 
>of peasant movements, including La Via Campesina and KMP (Kilusang 
>Magbubukid ng Pilipinas -- Peasant Movement of the Philippines), to take
agriculture out of the WTO.  It is a call that supports the peasants' 
>and farm workers' fight against landlessness, feudal and semi-feudal 
>bondage.
>
>But while we struggle for reforms and try to achieve palpable gains on
>immediate issues, we make sure that we are not distracted from the
>overall struggle against the main enemy of the world's peoples
>today -- imperialism -- specifically the No. 1 imperialist power, the USA.
>
>We vow to close ranks to confront the imperialist monster that has taken
>away our lands, jobs and livelihood and has further displaced, 
>commodified and turned women into modern-day slaves.  We denounce 
>imperialism that has impoverished us and left us hungry, sick, without 
>decent housing, and has stolen our youth's future.
>
>We commit ourselves to bring down this system which is bringing genocidal
>wars of imperialist intervention and domination upon the peoples of the
>world.  We demand an end to the economic blockade of Cuba, the ongoing
>bombing of Iraq and the depredations on Yugoslav independence and
>sovereignty and the use of United Nations sanctions to bring sovereign
>countries to heel.
>
>We firm up our resolve to promote and develop the anti-imperialist and
>democratic struggle of the workers and oppressed peoples against the
>inhuman policies and acts of the MNCs, their governments and international
instruments such as the IMF, World Bank, WTO and military alliances.
>
>We support the calls of the International League of People's Struggle 
>which will be founded at the end of the year 2000.
>
>Finally, we stand ready to fight for the following:
>
>1.  National and social liberation from imperialism and all reaction;
>
>2.  Human rights in the civil, political, economic, social and cultural
>fields;
>
>3.  The cause of peace against wars of aggression and against nuclear and
>genocidal weapons;
>
>4.  Workers' rights and reduction of working hours at full pay against
>mass unemployment and decreasing wage levels;
>
>5.  Rights of peasants, farm workers and fisherfolk against feudal and
>semi-feudal exploitation and oppression;
>
>6.  Women's rights against discrimination and sexual exploitation;
>
>7.  The rights of gays and lesbians against discrimination;
>
>8.  Children's rights against child labor and other forms of
>exploitation;
>
>9.  Rights of indigenous peoples and nationalities against chauvinism and
>racism;
>
>10.  The rights of teachers and the youth against the privatization of
>education and to academic freedom;
>
>11.  Rights and welfare of refugees and migrant workers;
>
>12.  Environmental protection against plunder and pollution, towards the
>survival of all species;
>
>13.  The right to safe and healthy food free from genetic manipulation,
>hazardous chemicals and processes.
>
>We call on all the oppressed peoples to strengthen international solidarity
>and advance the peoples' struggle against imperialism!
>