Hello George, Interesting article but surely the reason the IMF/WB
continue to get away with SAPs or some 'spun' version of the same thing is
because of the over-arching paradigm of global economic competition over
which no nation nor group of nations has control ( i.e. the ability of
capital and corporations to move freely across national borders and
nations' inability to re-regualte them for fear of capital/corporate
flight. A predicament which forces nations to compete with one another for
capital and jobs.) For if the free movement of capital and corporations
cannot be controlled, the effects of this are that both those ostensibly
'in control' (IMF/WB/WTO) and those who oppose them are locked into a kind
of endless loop of excuses and protest with neither side able to find a
way out because they are both, effectively, subject to a paradigm neither
can influence. This allows the IMF/WB to claim that SAPs (or whatever they
now call them) alleviate poverty and, further, to claim that if they have
not worked, it is only because poor-country governments are either corrupt
or didn't apply the SAPs rigorously enough or both. The protesters,
meanwhile, also can't do much else but protest because they have no
alternative paradigm to offer. (And if they do have one, they offer no
secure and responsible method for getting from the destructive one we are
now in to the new one.) So it's a kind of stalemate; a stalemate which the
book I sent you some time ago ("The Simultaneous Policy - An Insider's
Guide to Saving Humanity and the Planet") offers a potential solution for.
A list of endorsements so far received follows at the end of this message.
In case you need a fresh copy, I'll gladly send one (free of charge). It
will be published early next year by New European Publications. On
another matter, you might be interested in a letter I sent a few days ago
to The Ecologist in response to your debate with J. Porritt which I copy
here in case they don't publish it: Dear Editor, George Monbiot's and
Jonathan Porritt's exchange is a microcosm of the dilemmas faced by both
sides of the green movement. In their confusion, both largely fail to
identify the flaws in each others' arguments. George is only partly right
in identifying the corporate duty to 'act in the best interests of the
company' as the key driver behind environmental degradation and other
ills. For this ignores the real driver which is competition. By and large,
a corporation can only be as environmentally or socially responsible as
its most irresponsible competitor. For failure to do so will ultimately
put it out of business. But that is also why Jonathan's willingness to
engage individual corporations in a bid to improve their
environmental performance is no solution at all. So our key problem, in
fact, is global competition which not only corporations are subject to,
but also governments as they compete with one another in a progressive
down-levelling of social and environmental regulation in a bid to remain
competitive and attractive to internationally mobile capital. What we must
realise, above all, therefore, is that global competition is now beyond
the control individual or even groups of nations; it is a vicious circle
in which, one way or another, we are all locked; a competition which both
justifies and buttresses selfish and destructive behaviour; a kind of
global dictatorship no one is in control of. Capital and corporations
therefore need to be re-regulated to restore environmental and labour
protection and democratic accountability. But in a global economy, secure
and responsible re-regulation which avoids the risk of capital/corporate
flight could, logically, only be implemented globally by all nations
simultaneously. And that requires unprecedented co-operation. Indeed, our
primary task in our quest for sustainability is to find a way of getting
from global competition to global cooperation. That, for humanity, is the
true meaning and challenge of globalisation. End of letter. I hope you'll
have time to read my book and to comment on it. You may also like to check
out the Simultaneous Policy campaign website. Look forward to hearing from
you. Meantime, all the best John Bunzl. List of book endorsements follow:
"I thought your proposal was an elegant idea of how change could occur.
Itreflects the core ideas of how to create consensus around change. This
isthe biggest challenge that we have"Ed MayoExecutive Director, New
Economics Foundation"Is it a good idea? My answer is: Maybe it could prove
to be."James RobertsonFormer cabinet policy maker and author ofSchumacher
Briefing 1 - Transforming Economic Life"It is a good idea. What we need is
politicians who will give this issue ahigh priority."Polly ToynbeeThe
Guardian"Your idea for a simultaneous policy is excellent. . Lets hope
that peoplestart to listen to this important message."Helena
Norberg-HodgeFounder of the International Forum on Globalisationand
Director of the International Society for Ecology & Culture"It's ambitious
and provocative. Can it work? Certainly worth a serioustry."Noam
Chomsky".the basic concept is excellent. . Let me know what
develops!"Jakob von UexkullFounder and Chairman - Right Livelihood Award
Foundation".well argued and well thought out. It goes against our bias for
the humanscale but may be necessary."Nicholas AlberyChairman - The
Institute for Social Inventions".compelling and provocative. The structure
and progression of the [book]fit your argument perfectly."Moises
NaimEditor-in-Chief - Foreign Policy. USA"Your main theme is a crucial one
and I hope it will be heeded. .yourapproach is unusual because most
authors concentrate on 'what' first andleave 'how' as a secondary
consideration - or duck it altogether."David GriffithsAuthor of All This
and Unemployment Too.".I believe [the Simultaneous Policy] offers a
prophetic and practicalapproach to the global politico-economic problems
of our generation. .Certainly it is one which would appeal to
Quakers."Stephen WhitingQuaker Peace and Service - London."Bunzl is, I
feel, the first writer on the 'sustainable society' to advancebeyond
rhetoric and grapple with the problem of how such a society might
beachieved."Dr. Aidan Rankin'New European' (European Business Review) -
UK."Your [book] eloquently describes the crucial problems facing the
worldtoday. It explores the inadequacy of the nation state in dealing with
theseproblems and the inability of the United Nations to move beyond its
currentconstraints.Simultaneous Policy is an elegant theory which takes
many ideas fromdifferent places. We must all work to bring these ideas
from theory intopractice."Simon BurallExecutive Director, One World
Trust(in his personal capacity).".the financial world order has become
quite cancerous to both people andthe planet and what is needed are
intelligent and creative solutionsappropriate to the situation. Your
proposal to create a level playing fieldfor all that incorporates
environmentally sustainable policies is just sucha creative
solution."Richard St. GeorgeDirector, the Schumacher Society(in his
personal capacity)".we concur with your comprehensive and insightful
analysis of the challengebefore us. We also agree that social and
environmental programmes are beingsubordinated to the demands of the
global economy and that, if there is ameaningful remedy to hand, yours is
as constructive as any we've seen todate."Roger DoudnaInternational
Programme Officer, Restore The Earth Project - Scotland.".the great merit
of your [book] is its proposal for a plausible solution tothe many
questions, whose urgency much of the left seems prepared toignore."Dorothy
FriedmannGreen Socialist Network - London."Wishing you God speed in your
endeavours to progress our humankind with theSimultaneous Policy!"Godric
BaderLife President - Scott Bader Commonwealth Ltd.".the best ideas are
the simplest. With a system like this, there's no wayfor governments to
wriggle out. All excuses evaporate. It's a system whichunmasks all those
seeking to hide behind theoretical impossibilites. I can'twait to see what
follows. Well done SP!"Jackie NavarroATTAC - Qu�bec, Canada.".a fantastic
idea.a realistic and subtle mixing of sociology, economics
andpolitics."Georges DrouetAuthor of Non-consommation Contre
Neo-colonisation"In a time where so many urgent symptoms claim our
attention, it seems thereis not enough courage nor time to address the
fundamental roots of globalpresent problems and viable roads to face them.
The Simultaneous Policy is asimple, peaceful, low-risk and clear
invitation for humankind to jump - intwo steps - from a present spiral
headed toward auto-destruction, intoanother one oriented toward life,
cooperation and spiritual growth. To shareis to live."Emilio Jos�
Chaves".the SP proposal is a practical means of moving toward global
governance.It should be an effective means of achieving cooperation where
anyindividual government that behaves cooperatively will be disadvantaged
untilall other governments also do so. .I wish you the best of luck with
yourimportant work."John StewartAuthor of 'Evolution's Arrow: the
direction ofevolution and the future of humanity.'". most original and
well-constructed . a great achievement."Barbara PanvelSecurity Studies
Network - UK"I am sure that The Simultaneous Policy is likely to be of
great interest[as] a way of striving for an alternative whilst being
integrated in thecurrent economic system..."Suzanne IsmailEconomic Issues
Programme Co-ordinatorQuaker Peace & Service - London, UKA comment passed
on to me:"Isn't John Bunzl's Simultaneous Policy good stuff?"Lucy
StorrsWorld Voices UK".an essential contribution to the debate that is
taking place at this timeof transition and rapid change in
society."Dominic DibbleWorld Goodwill - London John Bunzl -
DirectorInternational Simultaneous Policy Organisation
(ISPO)<http://www.simpol.org> www.simpol.org e-mail:
[EMAIL PROTECTED] Drouet - DirectorISPO
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
_______________________________________________
Crashlist resources: http://website.lineone.net/~resource_base
To change your options or unsubscribe go to:
http://lists.wwpublish.com/mailman/listinfo/crashlist
