Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

Key challenges of jobs, climate change on agenda

Key challenges of jobs, climate change on agenda at alternative trade strategy hui 19-20 October

Discussions on trade strategy in New Zealand usually focus on market access for primary products. Yet today’s free trade agreements have 20-plus chapters that can also negatively affect people’s lives, from health and rights on the Internet to financial stability and Treaty rights.

A two-day hui on 19 and 20 October will look at What an Alternative and Progressive Trade Strategy Should Look Like. The event at the Fale Pasifika at the University of Auckland will be live streamed on itsourfuture.org.nz/hui-2018.

The hui is co-sponsored by a number of community organisations and international NGOs, including Greenpeace and Oxfam, the Council of Trade Unions and other unions. Ten panels range from geopolitics and the international economy to health, Tiriti-based relationships and reinvigorating the local.

CTU Secretary Sam Huggard sees the hui as an opportunity for ‘unions to work with other community organisations on a charting a new deal for trade that works better for communities and working people. Working people have always supported greater interactions with other countries, and trade. We just want international commerce agreements to serve our interests, not make our interests subservient to international commerce’.

Environment, resources and climate change will be a key theme. Oncologist Dr George Laking will contribute to the health panel on behalf of Ora Taiao: the New Zealand Climate and Health Council.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

For Dr Laking, ‘climate change is the number one threat to health in the 21st century — but it is also our best opportunity to change the social and environmental determinants of health for the better. A survivable world must also be a fairer world. New Zealand is a leader in world trade, because our economy depends on it. So we must also be thought leaders in the evolution to a new, more progressive way of trading.’

Greenpeace Aotearoa’s Executive Director Dr Russel Norman, a panelist in the session on trade in a sustainable world, echoes those sentiments.

‘We need robust global governance arrangements because many of the environmental challenges we face are global in nature. “Trade” agreements, as sub set of global governance agreements, need to support and enable global and national action to solve environmental problems, not block progress as they have so often in the past.’

The hui will also have a strong development dimension, with several participants from the South Pacific bringing their insights on gender, trade justice, climate change and migration.

‘We see great opportunities for trade to protect and uphold human rights, halt and respond to climate change, and grow a prosperous and peaceful world. We're looking forward to hearing from the wide-range of participants about trade that leaves no-one behind,’ says Jo Spratt, Oxfam's Advocacy and Campaign's Director.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.