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Conference Statement
November 9, 1998 Tagaytay City, Philippines We, as individuals and groups from 31 countries in Asia and the
Pacific,
Latin America, Africa, Europe and North America, representing
people's
movements, networks, organizations, centers, institutes and academe,
have
come together in the International Conference on Alternatives to
Globalization with two objectives: first, to seek a deeper
understanding of
the global economic crisis and its causes; second, on the basis of
our
shared views and experiences, to explore and develop alternative
strategies
and paradigms in confronting globalization. Directly linked to the crisis is globalization - the neoliberal
offensive
or contemporary conveyance of monopoly capital to maximize the
extraction
of profit. To this end, globalization uses modern technology (such
as
robotics and information technology) and the political
prescriptions -
liberalization, deregulation and privatization - of the triad
multilateral
institutions, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank (WB)
and
World Trade Organization (WTO). Globalization has worsened the effects of the destructive paradigm
of
"growth and development." Instead of economic prosperity and social
stability that it promised for all nations, globalization has
brought about
economic turmoil, political and social tension, and widespread
devastation
to the world's peoples and resources. The myth of globalization has
thus
been fully exposed and debunked. The impacts of the global crisis are all so clearly seen today. The gap between the rich and poor in all nations, industrial and
non-industrial alike, and between the rich and poor countries is
widening
rather than narrowing. Moreover, with the trend towards mergers and
acquisitions, increasingly much more wealth - and power - is being
concentrated in the hands of fewer monopoly capitalists who control
the
transnational corporations (TNCs). The systematic assaults on labor is dissipating the working class
gains,
causing widespread unemployment, job insecurity, loss of benefits,
the
destruction of trade unions. The massive displacement of workers
leads to
the rise and further commodification of migrant workers. The peasants' limited gains in agrarian reform are likewise being
reversed,
resulting in more landlessness, rural unemployment and penury. Exploitation of women labor, especially unpaid labor, in farms and
factories is intensified. The crisis causes more women and children
to be
displaced, commodified and economically and sexually exploited as
modern-day slaves. Patriarchy remains a key problem and physical
violence
on women and children, both inside and outside the home, is
prevalent. The indigenous people's struggle against exclusion, for their right
to
self-determination, recognition of equal rights as citizens and
right to
ancestral lands or historical domain is rendered more difficult. In
many
instances their very survival is being threatened by environmental
degradation, mainly caused by TNCs, and by the state policies of
disguised
genocide. Global environmental abuse is being accelerated primarily by
globalization.
The ill effects include climate change, ozone depletion, air and
water
pollution, ocean resource depletion and pollution, deforestation,
extinction of species and dangerous genetic manipulation. All these problems are arising because of the irrational pursuit of
profit
by rampaging capitalism. Everywhere globalization is eroding the gains of social movements in
all
aspects (political, social and cultural). There is a general
regression of
democracy, as economic impositions by states entail increasing human
rights
violations, not only of economic, social and cultural rights, but of
political and civil rights as well. In the third world, as the
majority of
the people are marginalized economically, they are also disempowered
politically. State power in defense of the people's rights and welfare is
increasingly
undermined. On the other hand, state power is, more than ever, being
used
to step up the implementation of the neoliberal prescriptions of
globalization, in the form of national legislation, bilateral
agreements
with IMF and WB, multilateral pacts under the WTO regime, and
regional and
other arrangements. The very proponents of globalization have acknowledged that the
global
crisis embroils the entire capitalist system. They likewise admit
the
inevitability of cyclical crises as inherent in the system. They
warn of
its recurrence even as they confess failure to find a solution to
the
current global crisis. Far from nearing its end, the crisis threatens to get even worse. As
the
liberalization and deregulation drive is being pushed to the
maximum - via
the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI) and the WTO - the
situation
can only deteriorate. Inexorably, the crisis has set in motion a growing opposition to
globalization among the adversely affected peoples, both organized
and
unorganized, in all regions of the world. The rising level of
popular
opposition is manifested in organized as well as spontaneous protest
actions, and in various creative, if less dramatic, ways. The International Conference on Alternatives to Globalization is one
manifestation of this growing opposition. It is a closing of ranks
of
diverse movements and initiatives toward more effective resistance
to
globalization. United in resisting and rejecting globalization, we are determined
to
develop, through our separate and unified initiatives, effective
strategies
and paradigms of economic and social development different from the
"growth
and development" paradigm that has driven peoples to further
economic
marginalization and political disempowerment. Over the long term, we shall strive to develop alternative paradigms
that
uphold and safeguard the peoples' interest, rights, welfare and
values,
ensures their sovereign control of their natural and human
resources,
guarantees economic democracy, democratic governance, and their
right to
determine their national destiny. Certainly, we have different ways and means to achieve such
paradigms, and
we respect each other's independence in pursuing the goal. In the short term, we shall take steps to strengthen the capacities
of
peoples and communities to defend themselves against the onslaughts
of
globalization. We shall take recourse, principally, in expanding and
strengthening our organizations, sustaining education and pursuing
actions
of resistance and struggle that have been proven effective, while we
explore and develop new ones as conditions may require. Specifically, we call for the following urgent actions:
We firmly resolve to expand, intensify and sustain worldwide
resistance
against globalization. Separately and together, we shall
consistently wage
militant struggles until we defeat this modern scourge. (end) The "International Conference on Alternatives to Globalization" was
attended by 100 delegates. It was held at the Development Academy
of the
Philippines in Tagaytay City, Philippines. The conference was followed by a global teach-in called
"International
Colloquium on Imperialist Globalization and Crisis." This half-day
event
was held at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon
City, and
was a rousing success and which was attended by more than 400
participants. Both events were organized by IBON Foundation and BAYAN. More information alsa available at: To subscribe to our MAI Listserv send an e-mail to mstrand@citizen.org, or subscribe directly by going to our |
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