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Global Civil Society Calls on Governments to Strengthen, Not Weaken, UNCTAD’s Role in Global Governance

Sign-on Letter with 38 International and 137 National Organizations from Across the Globe Delivered to Negotiators at UNCTAD XIII in Doha

Today, global civil society delivered a letter that calls on negotiators at the 13th quadrennial conference of the UN Conference on Trade and Development, UNCTAD XIII, to ensure that conference strengthens UNCTAD’s role on keys issues of global economic governance and financial reform.

The letter reads, in part:

Confronting the G-20…A Discussion Paper for Strategic Planning by Social Movements and Allied NGO’s

Original Publication Date: 
24 June, 2010

The following paper is based on a document researched and written by John Dillon, entitled, From Pittsburgh to Toronto (and on to Seoul and Paris): What’s On The G-20 Agenda?,  published by KAIROS [Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives] in Canada. In order to provide a background tool that could be used by social movements and allied NGOs for strategic discussion purposes about the G-20, the KAIROS document has been reworked and edited. This task has been carried out by Tony Clarke of the Polaris Institute in Canada. It is a shortened version of the original document but includes many relevant excerpts as well as some additions.The discussion paper that follows contains a summary of 7 key themes that need to be considered in developing strategies for ‘confronting the G-20:

  • Transition from G-8 to G-20
  • Global Crises Management
  • G-20s Economic Crisis Agenda
  • G-20’s Financial Crisis Agenda
  • G-20’s Climate Crisis Agenda
  • Global Trade & the G-20
  • Alternatives for Global Governance

Change Trade, Not our Climate!

Original Publication Date: 
6 October, 2009
Source: 
Ronnie Hall
One way or another change is on the way: if we don’t change the rules of the global economy we won’t be able to limit climate change.

End WTO Deregulation of Finance (OWINFS Financial Services Brief 1)

Original Publication Date: 
8 June, 2009
Source: 
SOMO

END WTO DEREGULATION OF FINANCE

"Free Trade" Agreements Contribute to Financial and Other Crises (OWINFS Financial Services Brief 2)

Original Publication Date: 
8 June, 2009
Source: 
SOMO
While the financial crisis and its consequences are spreading around the world and even the most erstwhile ‘free market’ governments are discussing how to re-regulate the financial sector, bilateral and regional ‘free trade’ agreements continue extreme deregulation of the financial industry. The terms of these agreements prohibit countries from reforming their financial sector so as to remedy the financial, economic, environmental, food and social crises now growing, and from ensuring that finance is directed towards the transformation to sustainable societies.

The Financial Crisis Does Not Justify a WTO Deal (OWINFS Financial Services Brief 3)

Original Publication Date: 
8 June, 2009
Source: 
SOMO
Many political leaders have been calling for the conclusion of the ‘Doha Round’ negotiations in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) as a solution to the financial crisis, in order to provide a boost to the world economy and a signal of confidence to multilateralism. They argue that WTO rules prevent “protectionist measures”, closing of borders, and beggar-thy-neighbour policies, which led to the economic depression in the 1930s and the consequent wars.

Strengthen, Don’t Weaken, UNCTAD’s Role in Global Governance: Towards Sustainable and Inclusive Development, Not More Crises

Since the onset of the global financial and economic crises, UNCTAD has played an important role in identifying the key causes of the crises, assisting developing countries in seeking solutions to the impacts of the crises, and advocating for the reform of global economic and finance policies and governance in order to prevent similar crises from recurring. These are all key roles that no other multilateral economic institution has fulfilled from a development perspective.

Foro internacional "Crisis global, G20 y políticas alternativas"

Ciudad de México, 26 y 27 de marzo 2012

Evento que reúne un abanico importante de expertos tanto universitarios como de los movimientos sociales, que compartirán sus análisis en torno al rol del G20 como espacio informal de gobernancia de la economía mundial, y expondrán políticas alternativas para enfrentar la actual crisis mundial y construir un modelo de desarrollo que ponga la gente y la naturaleza en el centro de la economía.

DIFUSIÓN EN VIVO / cliquea aquí

Organizado por la Coalición mexicana frente al G20
en colaboración con el Posgrado de la Facultad de Economía de la UNAM

Rumbo a la Cumbre del G20 en junio 2012, en Los Cabos, México

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INTERNATIONAL FORUM "GLOBAL CRISIS, G20 AND POLICY ALTERNATIVES"
Mexico City, March 26-27, 2012

Event that gathers academic and social movements' experts, who will share their analysis on the G20 as the "new" informal body of governance of the global economy, and expose different policy alternatives to confront the actual global crisis and build a development model that puts people and nature first.

LIVE BROADCAST (in Spanish) / click here

Organized by the Mexican Coalition on G20
in collaboration with the Faculty of Economy of UNAM

Towards the G20 Summit in June 2012, in Los Cabos, Mexico


WTO 8th Ministerial Failed to Respond to Food, Jobs and Financial Crises, 99% Say

Original Publication Date: 
17 December, 2011

This afternoon, a group of civil society from the global Our World Is Not for Sale (OWINFS) network, present in Geneva for the 8th Ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO), sent a message to negotiators entering the closing plenary of the 8th Ministerial in Geneva using the Occupy Wall Street tactic of “Mic Check!”

Statement of Our World Is Not for Sale (OWINFS) on the de Schutter-WTO Debate

Original Publication Date: 
17 December, 2011

OWINFS Supports De Schutter:
WTO has Negative Impact on Global Food Security!
We Demand Trade Rules that Support Food Security and Sovereignty

Pledge Against Protectionism: Statements from Civil Society Organizations

Original Publication Date: 
17 December, 2011

A wide variety of civil society representatives and experts from the global Our World Is Not for Sale (OWINFS) network, present in Geneva for the 8th Ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO), voiced their opposition to the idea of a standstill on tariffs in the WTO proposed within the “Pledge Against Protectionism” circulated today by a group of mostly developed countries.

Quotes from a variety of civil society experts

Original Publication Date: 
16 December, 2011

Aksel Naerstad, chair of the Norwegian Trade Campaign (network organizations of labour unions, farmers’ organizations, environmental organizations, solidarity organizations and other NGOs):

Pledge Against Protectionism: Statement of Civil Society Organizations from Latin America

Original Publication Date: 
16 December, 2011

In the face of the Pledge Against Protectionism, promoted by Australia, Canada, United States, Japan and the European Union on December 15, 2011, during the 8th WTO Ministerial Conference, and supported by 18 more countries including Mexico, Peru, Chile, and Costa Rica, we, undersigned, organizations from Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Peru, united with over 50 civil society representatives from 30 countries attending the 8th WTO Ministerial in Geneva, Switzerland, raise our voice to denounce the Pledge Against Protectionism promoted by

Compromiso contra el proteccionismo: Postura de organizaciones Latinoamericanas

Original Publication Date: 
16 December, 2011

Ante el Compromiso contra el proteccionismo, impulsado por Australia, Canadá, Estados Unido, Japón y la Unión Europea el día 15 de diciembre del 2011 en el marco de la 8va Conferencia Ministerial de la OMC, y firmado por otros 18 países entre ellos México, Perú, Chile, y Costa Rica, nosotros aquí firmantes, organizaciones de Argentina, Brasil, México y Perú, unidos a los más de 50 representantes de la sociedad civil de 30 países del mundo aquí presentes en Ginebra, Suiza ante la 8va Conferencia Ministerial de la OMC, nos levantamos de una sola voz para denunciar

Le CNCD-11.11.11 dénonce les méthodes de l’UE et des pays industrialisés

Original Publication Date: 
16 December, 2011

Du 15 au 17 décembre, les représentants des Etats du monde entier sont réunis à Genève pour tenter de relancer le « Programme de Doha pour le développement »  de l’Organisation internationale du commerce (OMC). Lancé en 2001, celui-ci promettait de réparer les graves inégalités et les impacts catastrophiques pour les pays en voie de développement résultant des négociations commerciales mondiales conclues depuis 1948 et particulièrement de l’Uruguay Round, conclu en 1994.

Survivance des mesures protectionnistes: les pays africains en souffrent

Original Publication Date: 
16 December, 2011

Les pays les plus développés mettent en place un nombre d’obstacles toujours plus grand aux échanges commerciaux. En plus de cela, ces grandes puissances campent sur leurs positions, arrêtées depuis longtemps.

Harper turns his back on development at WTO with divisive “pledge against protectionism” and unhelpful Government Procurement Agreement

Original Publication Date: 
16 December, 2011

MEDIA RELEASE
December 16, 2011

Ottawa – The Council of Canadians is saddened by efforts from the Harper government to yet again undermine multilateralism and the demands of developing countries, this time at the WTO with a harmful “pledge against protectionism.” The social justice organization also regrets that Canada continues to expand the WTO’s Government Procurement Agreement, which unnecessarily restricts public options for supporting local, sustainable development at home and in other countries.

US, EU’s ‘Pledge Against Protectionism’ a cover up of crimes of globalization, says PH farmers

Original Publication Date: 
16 December, 2011

Reference:  Jim Fernando, KMP Campaign Officer
 
GENEVA, Switzerland – The activist peasant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (Peasant Movement of the Philippines – KMP) today assailed the “Pledge Against Protectionism” statement being circulated and asked for signing by countries headed by the United States and European Union at the 8th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva, Switzerland.