ARENA
PO Box 2450
Christchurch

MEDIA RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE USE
19 February 2001

Prominent Free Trade Critic, Professor Jane Kelsey, to Address Public Meeting

On Wednesday 21st February, Dr Jane Kelsey, Professor of Law, Auckland University, author of “The New Zealand Experiment” and “Reclaiming The Future” (Bridget Williams Books) and one of New Zealand’s most prominent critics of globalisation will address a public meeting in Christchurch entitled “After Seattle –What Now? Aotearoa New Zealand and the global free market economy”.

The meeting is jointly organised by a new national organisation, ARENA (Action, Research and Education Network of Aotearoa) of which Dr Kelsey is a founding member and Christchurch-based GATT Watchdog,. It forms part of ARENA’s “Nothing Is Inevitable” tour, with other meetings being held in Timaru, Nelson, Whangarei, Hamilton and Wellington during February and early March.

“Part of ARENA’s priority this year is to hold meetings in both the major cities and smaller centres on globalisation and social justice, and to promote informed analysis and public debate on these issues. In the 1980s, we were told “There Is No Alternative” to Rogernomics. Since then, successive governments have tried to lead the world to a mythical nirvana of free trade and free markets, regardless of the social, economic, political, environmental and cultural costs. Around the world, the myth that globalisation is inevitable and benefits the poor has been throughly discredited. The tide is turning as people everywhere demand a better future,” says ARENA spokeswoman, Leigh Cookson.

The public meeting starts at 7.30pm on 21st February at the Knox Hall, corner of Bealey Ave and Victoria Street, and media are welcome to attend.

To arrange interviews, or for further details, please contact:
Leigh Cookson (ARENA and GATT Watchdog) (03) 3812951

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