No to WTO and FTA

Delhi was a witness to a recent meeting and protest march against WTO and Free Trade Agreements (FTA) where a range of groups from unions, civil society organizations, people movements, farmers and fisherfolk all combined to oppose the implementations of FTA in India.

FTA harmonizes rules across nation states designed to benefit large corporations. The flow of trade and investment through FTA are free of nation state intervention and hence countries become integrated into the international free market. A process of Globalization.

Proponents argue that FTA will encourage economic growth and the so-called ‘trickle-down’ effect will alleviate poverty. Critics, however, highlight that free trade serves the interests of powerful states and multinational corporations and in fact deepens inequalities. Further still developing nations, poor people (mainly women) and their livelihoods will be undermined by decisions made in democratic vacuums at Delhi, Geneva, Washington and corporate board rooms.

For further details see: http://focusweb.org/; http://www.icrindia.org/?page_id=370; http://www.twnside.org.sg/latestinfo.htm; http://www.viacampesina.org/main_en/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=782&Itemid=1

The FTA and the lines of power are being re-drawn and reminds me of some brilliant spoken word by Ambalavaner Sivanandan and music by Asian Dub Foundation:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTxeS50kk-0

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