WTO Talks Collapse: The poor will not go quietly!

MEDIA RELEASE 15th September 2003

WTO Talks Collapse: The poor will not go quietly!

Arena (Action, Research & Education Network of Aotearoa) welcomes the collapse of the World Trade Organisation talks in Cancun, Mexico this morning.

The WTO is an institution with no legitimacy, it promotes freedom to exploit for global big business, creates widening inequalities between rich and poor, makes decisions in secret and puts 'free trade' before social, environmental, economic and cultural concerns.

The refusal of the Least Developed Countries to be bullied by the powerful European Union and United States has led to the collapse, helped by pressure from communities, indigenous peoples, workers, women, activists, farmers and millions of people worldwide who have said "No to the WTO".

"The WTO was never going to provide sustainable, equitable solutions to world poverty, environmental devastation and corporate greed. Now the Doha Round is in tatters, it is time for people to echo the victory song of Cancun "business can't rule the world", and work together to develop a world that is inclusive and just, said Arena director, Leigh Cookson.

ARENA Action, Research & Education Network of Aotearoa

arena.nz@clear.net.nz

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