1. AFTINET website revamped
2. ACTU on new WTO Round
3. DFAT Consultation Reports
4. WTO Symposium with NGOs: Mike Moore attacks Civil Society Groups
5. Sydney Events:
   a) Rally against the WORLD BANK, 5pm, August 1 2001, ANA Hotel, 176 Cumberland St, Sydney, near the Rocks. Teach-in July 29, 2pm.
   b) Breaking the chains of debt seminars, August 10 and 11
   c) AUSTRALIA TIBET COUNCIL Job ad

2. ACTU on new WTO Round

The ACTU Executive resolved on July 5 to oppose a new WTO round unless the Australian Government agrees to support a process to transform the WTO from a body promoting the trade and economic agenda of business to one focused on trade in the context of civil society and working families, including:

• support for core labour standards, human rights, and environmentally sustainable development;
• social audits and national interest tests within Australia to assess current and past economic and trade policy, trade liberalisation, privatisation, contracting out, competitive tendering and the issue of companies being required to meet Community Service obligations;
• Australia remaining free to develop a comprehensive trade and industry development policy to promote high value added jobs, and a knowledge economy, consistent with ACTU policy on retention of tariffs;
• guarantees concerning sovereign rights for governments to determine nation-specific policies, including public services, competition, investment and procurement.

3. DFAT Consultation Reports; and Rally and events for November WTO Meeting

DFAT consultations on Australia’s policy for WTO Ministerial Meeting in Doha Qatar in November are currently being held in most capital cities. Here are reports from Sydney and Perth. It would be good to share other reports. Please send them to the address above and we will put them in the next Bulletin.

Don’t forget the Fair Trade Rally planned for November 13 at 12 noon, Town Hall Square, Sydney. The Poster and rally website is now on line at www.sydneyrally.org.au

If your organisation would like to endorse the rally or for more information contact Natasha Holmes, nholmes@amwu.asn.au

Sydney Consultation Report

The Sydney consultation was attended by a wide range of people from 16 organisations. There were four unions, two environment groups, three aid organisations, two arts organisations, two human rights groups, two university academics and one church organisation.

David Spencer, the Ambassador to the WTO, was in Geneva and could not attend. The DFAT representatives were First Assistant Secretary Bruce Gosper, Assistant Secretary John Larkin and Sonja Weinburg, Executive Officer.

The meeting requested that DFAT keep a record of the input to the meetings and publish it at the end of the process. Most organisations emphasised their opposition to a new WTO Round, and were critical of both WTO structures and agreements. At least one organisation spoke in some detail on every topic on the agenda. There were some lively exchanges with DFAT officers on issues like global inequality, food security, services, labour and Investment. Overall a wide range of organisations expressed views to DFAT which were strongly critical of the WTO and a new round, and which made proposals for change to the trade negotiation framework.

Perth Consultation Report (from Jean Jenkins)

David Spencer, Ambassador to the WTO attended the meeting.

Jo Vallentine, Dee Margetts, Veronica Brady and Stephanie Maymen from the TLC were present, along with many other NGO's.There was a lack of young people, indigenous people and non-English speakers. Organisations right across the political spectrum were present but all united in their concerns about Australia's contribution to the WTO. We all made our point of not being happy with the present Government or opposition's contribution to WTO, their lack of transparency and lack of accountability to citizens. I think he got the message loud and clear.

I made the point of the lack of women in decision making not only in the WTO but also the UN and their various committees as well as government. I reminded him that woman make up half the world's population and the world's poor. As the WTO has grown into a monster so the position of women have deteriorated in every country including Australia.

November Anti WTO Festival in Perth, from Rodney Vlais

CALLING all concerned citizens, progressive NGOs, environmentalists, visual and performing artists, writers, ecofeminists, musicians, storytellers, activists, social change workers, organarchists, radical optimists, utopians, culture jammers and earthlovers.

November 9 to 13 this year sees the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation, the first since the failed Seattle talks. Groups throughout the world will take this opportunity to call for a people's globalisation based on social justice, direct democracy, nonviolence and ecological values rather than the current obsession with market fundamentalism and corporate culture.

In Western Australia, a growing network of people are evolving a decentralised, innovative and concentrated festival to take place during these five days. Rather than occurring at a single venue, a range of activities and events will unfold in a variety of outdoor and indoor locations in Perth, Fremantle and suburbia. These will be designed for community interaction and education through multiple public forums, street theatre, conversation groups, creative art installations, street-level strategic questioning, puppetry, information products and stalls, culture jamming,letter-writing campaigns and independent media.

If you want to participate, contact Rodney Vlais on (08) 9337 7217 or at ecoheal@iinet.net.au

4. WTO Symposium with NGOs: Mike Moore attacks Civil Society Groups

WTO Director-General Mike Moore claimed in his opening speech that the WTO was encouraging "greater involvement from all sectors of political and civil society".

He then proceeded to denounce protestors who use violence to disrupt international economic gatherings such as the WTO's Ministerial Conferences. "It would strengthen the hand of those who seek change if some NGOs would distance themselves from masked stone-throwers" he said. He called for a "code of conduct" for NGOs to reject violence and to have transparency of membership, finances and decision making in order to "qualify" for funding from governments or foundations. He suggested that government and the WTO would then look favourably on these organisations.

Civil society groups do not support violence. Most civil society groups do have transparent structures, and such structures are already a condition of funding. Most are far more democratic and transparent than the corporations which have so much influence on the WTO.

Corporations continue to resist effective regulation of their conduct in areas like human rights, labour rights and the environment. This is another attempt divide and rule by discrediting some community organisations, similar to the report in the Financial Review discussed in Bulletin 21.

As reported in Bulletin 22, NGOs launched the "Our World is not for Sale" Statement at the symposium. They argued against a new WTO round, and debated with WTO reresentatives. NGOs have said that the reports on the WTO website do not fully reflect the debate.

The WTO reports and full text of Mike Moore’s speech is on the WTO website at www.wto.org

NGO comments are reported in Bridges Trade Digest, 10 July at www.ictsd.org

5. Sydney Events

James Wolfensohn, President of the World Bank is in town! You can pay $250 to hear him speak on the role of corporations in "reducing world poverty" or you can join the AID/WATCH Soup Kitchen and alternative forum.

Demand that the World Bank DROP THE DEBT! Support affected communities who demand adequate reparations for the environmental and social devestation which is a result of the programs and projects the World Bank has funded for the last 50 years.

Show support for the people of Papua New Guinuea who have been killed while protesting against the World Bank and IMF’s economic reforms.

For more information call Melanie or Melita on 02 9387 5210 or email aidwatch@mpx.com.au

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b) Breaking the chains of debt seminars August 10 and 11

Two chances to hear Michael Rowbotham's radical expose of the monetary system.
Lunchtime seminar 1.00 pm Friday August 10, NSW Parliament House Theatrette, Macquarie Street, Sydney. Waged $10; Concession $5.

Michael Rowbotham, author of Breaking the Chains of Debt and Stephanie de Ruyter: Financial Reform in New Zealand, Deputy Leader NZ Democrats.

Please book : Phone/message Frances or Bruce, 02 9810 7812 or milne@itlite.com.au

Father Brian Gore, Jubilee Australia: The Urgency of Debt Cancellation; Michael Rowbotham, U.K.: Breaking the Chains of Debt; Dr Shann Turnbull: The Use of Central Banks to Spread Ownership; Stephanie de Ruyter : Deputy Leader NZ Democrats, Community Loans & Financial Reform in NZ

Afternoon Panel and Audience: Bendigo Community Bank, Ethical Investments, Eco Forests, Interest Free Community Loans, Re-regulating the Banks.

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c) AUSTRALIA TIBET COUNCIL Job ad

Title: Campaigns and Lobbying Coordinator
Responsible to: National Executive Officer
Location: National Office Sydney, with some travel to Canberra and other States required
Employment Basis: Permanent part time, 22.5 hours per week (over minimum 3 days)
Salary: $34000 to $38000 per annum pro rata commensurate with experience
Date: 20 July 2001

The Campaigns and Lobbying Coordinator is responsible for driving major national campaigns of the Australia Tibet Council. The purpose of the campaigns is to raise the profile of Tibet and human rights issues within the Australian community, federal Government and parliament with a view to seek improved outcomes in Australia-China foreign relations and to achieve greater support for the Tibetan freedom struggle.

The Coordinator will work closely with the National Office and Board of Directors to ensure successful implementation of campaigns within budget and to achieve a heightened awareness and understanding of Tibet related issues. From time to time campaigns and lobbying will be run in conjunction with international campaigns through the International Tibet Support Network.

For more information and job description contact email: tibetcouncil@atc.org.au

Tel: 61-2-9283 3466 Fax: 61-2-9283 3846 www.atc.org.au

CLOSING DATE: Applications are invited by close of business on 20 July 2001.

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