WorldFest

Petition to G8 June 2002 Meeting

Something of particular relevance to Civil Society Organizations and NGOs is a petition to be signed during Worldfest. The text of this petition is attached with this mail.  The petition will be sent to the G8 leaders before their next summit in the coming June. 

The rationale behind this petition is simple. The existing strict rules that govern world trade widen the gap between rich and poor. Depending on your position in the global economy, you will think very differently about the way current trade rules work. If you run a multinational business you might well be perfectly content.  But if you’re a small producer in a developing country, you almost certainly won’t be. An excellent website giving more information is www.tradejustice.org

This petition is meant to be our tiny contribution to put pressure on those with most power to draw up new trade rules aimed at eradicating poverty. With the right rules international trade could work for poor people not against them.Civil society organizations in other countries are working towards this same aim – we want to be part of this movement for change!

Come and sign the petition on the 4^th of May. 

For further information email me on med2000@maltaforum.org

Thanks,

Vince Caruana

Worldfest coordinator     

"We, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) gathered in Malta on 4 May 2002 to mark the first ever World Fair Trade Day believe that trade should be the means by which poor people can lift themselves out of poverty.  We also believe that trade should protect the environment for all of us and not destroy it and the lives that depend upon it. For trade to be this positive force the international rules that govern it need to be changed.

We CSOs ask you world leaders to share our concern for the world’s poorest people by ensuring that:

• Poor countries be allowed to sell their goods in rich countries, free from the barriers and obstacles that disadvantage them

• Poor countries will have the right to support their vulnerable producers and, where necessary, protect them from international competition that would destroy their livelihood

• Multilateral Environmental Agreements negotiated with universal intergovernmental participation will in fact protect people and the planet and not be subordinated to WTO rules

Your real commitment to the above will give new hope to millions of people worldwide; their lives depend on the choices we are making today.

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