Chris, You deemed this worthy enough to send to us. It's from the idiots who spend their time condemning the people trying to put things right. Of course, actually taking on the Fat Cats awash in privilege might be even more worthwhile, but that's difficult so let's try something easier.
It reminds me of the man on his knees searching the floor. A friend comes by and the man tells him he's looking for his contact lens. "Where did you lose it," says the friend. "Outside in the corridor," says the man. "Then why are you looking here," says the friend. "Because the light is better." These are the portends of doom breathlessly revealed to us - obviously intended to frighten the lives out of us. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- " An international treaty is being negotiated behind closed doors at the headquarters of the WTO (World Trade Organisation) in Geneva - which is designed to go further and further until all public services are privatised - health, education, local council services, the police, and the rest. It is called the GATS (General Agreement on Trade in Services) and big business is behind it. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- First the disclosure of "secret meetings" to arrange horrible things, then the "we know what they're up to" clairvoyance, followed by the listing of the "harm that will happen to everything we hold dear, such as the waiting on gurneys lined up in the National Health hospital corridors, or the vital service that teaches more than half the children of England to read, or the potholes and garbage collection, or the coppers who manage to keep violence to such a low level that only Australia has a greater level of criminal violence than Britain This is from the WTO web page on GATS: The GATS applies in principle to all service sectors, with two exceptions. Article I(3) of the GATS excludes "services supplied in the exercise of governmental authority". These are services that are supplied neither on a commercial basis nor in competition with other suppliers. Cases in point are social security schemes and any other public service, such as health or education, that is provided at non-market conditions. Further, the Annex on Air Transport Services exempts from coverage measures affecting air traffic rights and services directly related to the exercise of such rights. -------------------------------------------------------------- OK? Harry _______________________________________ Chris sent the following: >"At stake is not just the future of local democracy, but the future of >public services" >Professor Allyson Pollock and Dr David Price, The Lancet ( Vol 356, 9 >December, 2000 ) > > >ALL OUR PUBLIC SERVICES ARE THREATENED > >An international treaty is being negotiated behind closed doors at the >headquarters of the WTO (World Trade Organisation) in Geneva - which is >designed to go further and further until all public services are >privatised - health, education, local council services, the police, and >the rest. It is called the GATS (General Agreement on Trade in Services) >and big business is behind it. And GATS will be essentially >irreversible. To get out of it, a government will need the agreement of >every other member of the WTO. With multinational corporations pulling >the strings, that isn't going to happen. > > >A COUP AGAINST DEMOCRACY > >We won't be able to regulate the privatised public services easily >either. The WTO is trying to introduce a rule to make all regulations >promote the free market and competition. That will restrict regulations >which aim to protect consumers or the environment. The GATS is a >slow-motion coup against democracy. Already 262 British MPs have signed >an Early Day Motion expressing concern about the lack of parliamentary >debate on it, requesting an independent inquiry to "ensure that there is >an independent and thorough assessment of the likely impact of the >extension of the GATS on the provision of' key services both in the UK >and internationally ". > > >LOCAL COUNCILS UNDER ATTACK > >GATS doesn't just affect national laws, local councils are also under >attack. Council controls over planning permission, licensing of taxis, >waste management, road maintenance and many other areas are threatened. >Already a number of local authorities in the UK have passed anti-GATS >motions. More will become alarmed when they learn about this >treaty. . > > >WHAT YOU CAN DO > >Few people know about GATS and its serious threat to democracy. Once >people are informed they will demand changes. > >* Please help to distribute this leaflet far and wide Copy it to your >friends, relatives, neighbours and workmates. Put it up on >noticeboards. > >* Inform the media about GATS - write letters to the papers, participate >in radio/TV phone- ins and talk shows. Send them emails. > >* Lobby your councillors, MPs and MEPs. They may not be aware of the >serious anti-democratic implications of GATS. > >For more information and to get involved in the campaign against GATS >see http://www.gatswatch.org/ or phone John Courtneidge on 01992 501854 > >Chris Keene, 90 The Parkway, Canvey Island, Essex SS8 0AE, England ****************************** Harry Pollard Henry George School of LA Box 655 Tujunga CA 91042 Tel: (818) 352-4141 Fax: (818) 353-2242 *******************************
