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Issue No. 171 | 21 March 2003 |
Shock and Awe
Poetry: If I Were a Rich Man Interview: League of Nations Industrial: 20/20 Hindsight Organising: On The Buses Unions: National Focus History: The Banner Room International: The Slaughter Continues Legal: A Legal Case For War? Culture: Singing For The People Review: The Hours Poetry: I Wanna Bomb Saddam Satire: Diuretic Makes Warne's Excuses Look Thin
Peace Marchers Warn Off Provocateurs Gap, Target Pay Sweatshop Dues Telstra Dotty Over Witching Hour Lawyers Push Super Class Action Fair Clothing Activists Take Stock
The Soapbox The Locker Room Guest Report Seduction Bosswatch
Viva Le Imperialists! The First Casualty Righteous indignation Dead Right Calling All Libs If George W Bush was an Australian Citizen...
Labor Council of NSW |
News Trade Warriors Turn to Water
Water is the focal point of worldwide protests about the General Agreement on Trade in Services, being thrashed out in complete secrecy and expected to open a range of areas, including film, news media, gas, public transport, electricity and childcare to foreign businesses. Governments have until March 30 to tell the World Trade Organisation of the services they will put into the mix but unions are insisting on public input. Negotiations on Round Two of GATS are scheduled to begin later this year, again in secret, with a five-year timeline having been set for eliminating all barriers to the trade in services. "Our first concern is to do away with the secrecy, to open up the process to state governments, local governments business and all the communities that will be affected," ASU assistant secretary Greg McLean says. "I know it's a clich� but we really are arguing for fair trade rather than free trade. For the process to be fair people have to be informed and Government has gone out of its way to prevent that happening." Several ASU workplaces, including Sydney Water, have mounted protests against the secrecy surrounding negotiations. Water has become an international rallying issue with the Public Service International rallying support around the world. Its European section will deliver a simple message to the EU to mark World Water Day: "Take water out of GATS. Stop being the handmaidens of a few powerful multinational corporations that are trying to control the world's water services." The importance of water has been highlighted by commentators from the left and right of the political spectrum who predict it will become more important than oil to international politics of the 21st century. Existing Australian protections likely to be challenged by GATS include local government control of utilities and public transport; local content regulations affecting broadcasters; cross media and foreign ownership laws; along with Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Each of the above provisions is considered a restriction on free trade.
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