INVITATION: PLEASE DISTRIBUTE
CORPORATE POWER OR PEOPLE'S POWER? TNCs AND GLOBALISATION
27, 28, 29 September 2001
Asia-Pacific Research Network and AID/WATCH
University of Technology Sydney, Harris St, Sydney, Australia
In recent years corporations have gained remarkable power. Many have gone
transnational in the search for lower costs and bigger markets. In
response, governments have removed economic barriers, and Transnational
Corporations (TNCs) have led the way in the new world of corporate
globalisation. Today more than one third of the world's private assets are
owned by TNCs. One third of all international trade occurs within
individual TNCs. Across the globe, a range of campaigns and movements are
challenging the power of TNCs.
The conference is aimed at strengthening this challenge. Participants
assess the impact of TNCs, and how they exercise power. They compare
experiences, build research agendas and develop strategy.
The conference is aimed at developing common perspectives on TNCs across
NGOs in the region, creating complementary research agendas, agreeing on
common priorities for research and campaigning. In doing so, the conference
will play a key role in stimulating regional and Australian political
debates on how to act against corporate globalisation.
Keynotes include: Sharon Beder, Wollongong University; Doug Cameron,
Australian Manufacturing Workers Union; Tony Clarke, Polaris Institute
(Canada); Jacqui Katona, Aboriginal Activist; Moses Havini, Bougainville
Freedom Movement; Rafael Mariano, BAYAN (the Philippines); Kavaljit Singh,
Public Interest Research Centre (India); Tony Tujan, Ibon Foundation (the
Philippines).
Cost: $200, $100 Cconcession (includes lunches and coffees/teas) Day rates
and further concessions are available on request.
How to register: Visit the APRN website: www.aprnet.org, or the Aid/Watch
site, www.aidwatch.org.au, and follow the links for the APRN's third annual
conference;
Accommodation: International APRN conference delegates will stay at the
YWCA Sydney located at: 5-11 Wentworth Avenue, Sydney NSW 2010,
Australia Tel: (02) 9285 6211 Fax: (02) 9283248. If you are an Australian
resident, and would like assistance with finding accommodation, please
contact Melita Grant at AID/WATCH [EMAIL PROTECTED]
DRAFT PROGRAM
DAY 1: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 TRENDS AND IMPACTS:
9.30-10.00AM Welcome to Country
10.00-10.30AM APRN, Aid/Watch Welcome
11.00-1.00PM Keynote speeches: Tony Clarke, Polaris Institute (Canada);
Kavaljit Singh, Public Interest Research Centre (India), The new power and
influence of TNCs
1.00-2.00PM Book Launch: 'Moving mountains: communities confront mining and
globalisation', Mineral Policy Institute and Otford Press, edited by Geoff
Evans, James Goodman and Nina Lansbury.
2:00-5:00 PM: WORKSHOPS. Workshops: Sectoral Impacts
Agribusiness: Sarojeni Rengam, Pesticide Action Network-Asia Pacific,
Malaysia; Mika Iba, Network for Safe and Secure Food and Environment, Japan.
Labour: Kelly Dent, Transnationals Information Exchange-Asia, Sri Lanka;
Stephen Frost, Asia Monitor Research Center, Hong Kong; Natasha Holmes,
Australian Manufacturing Workers Union.
Infrastructure & Megaprojects: Gopal Siwakoti Chintan, International
Institute for Human Rights, Environment and Development; Andrew Wyatt,
Australian Mekong Resource Centre.
Consumers: Rajeswari Kanniah, Consumer International Regional Office - Asia
and Pacific; Australian Consumers Association.
Environment: Tejo Jatmiku, National Consortium for Forest and Nature
Conservation in Indonesia; Cameron Walker, Friends of the Earth. Pacific:
Aziz Choudry, GATT Watchdog, New Zealand; Fr. Kevin Barr, Ecumenical
Council for Research Education and Advocacy, Fiji; Nic Maclellan, Pacific
Policy officer, Australian Council for Overseas Aid.
Indigenous People: Biswajit Dhar, Research and Information System for the
Non-Aligned and Other Developing Countries; Jacqui Katona, Australia.
6.00-9.00PM: Public Forum: Agendas for Contesting Corporate Power
Sharon Beder, Wollongong University, Australia
Doug Cameron, Australian Manufacturing Workers Union
Jacqui Katona, Aboriginal Activist, Recipient of the 1999 Goldman
Environment Prize
Moses Havini, Bougainville Freedom Movement
Chair: Mika Iba, Network for Safe and Secure Food and Environment, Japan
DAY 2: FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 28 POWER AND INFLUENCE:
9.30-10.00AM: Plenary Report-back
10.00-11.30AM: Keynote Speeches: Rafael Mariano, Chairperson of BAYAN, the
Philippines; Jacqui Katona, Aboriginal Activist, Recipient of the 1999
Goldman Environment Prize, New challenges in defining strategies
12.00-1.00PM: Press conference coinciding with protests against the IMF/WB
meeting in Washington, US
2:30 - 5:30PM: Workshops. Power and Influence of TNCs
TNCs and Trade: Mr Gunaseelen, Education and Research Association for
Consumers, Malaysia; Patricia Ranald, Public Interest Advocacy Centre,
Australia.
TNCs and the State: Chan Beng Seng, Documentation for Action Groups in
Asia, India; Jagjit Plahe, World Vision Australia.
TNCs and Finance: Mr. Rajamoorthy, Third World Network, Malaysia;
Australian co-host tba.
Lobbying & Public Relations: Pacific Asia Resource Center, Korea; Bob
Burton, Mineral Policy Institute.
Militarization: Sugeng Bahagijo and Binny Buchori, International NGO Forum
for Indonesian Development, Indonesia; Alison Tate, Trade Union Aid Abroad,
Australia; Sai Thet Naing Oo, Burma Office
DAY 3: SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 29: STRATEGIES
9.30-10.00AM: Plenary Report-back
10.30-12.00AM: Plenary, Common and contrasting experiences
Garments: Kelly Dent, Transnationals Information Exchange-Asia, Sri Lanka
Toys: Stephen Frost, Asia Monitor Research Center, Hong Kong
Agri-industry: Saro Rengam, Pesticide Action Network-Asia Pacific, Malaysia
Mining: Moses Havini, Bougainville Provisional Govt, Australia
12.00-1.00PM: Campaign updates and information sharing
2:00 - 5:00PM: WORKSHOPS. Strategies
Labour Movements: Paul Quintos, Ecumenical Institute for Labor Education
and Research, Philippines; Ramon Bultron, Asia Pacific Mission for Migrant
Filipinos, Hong Kong; Rick Fowler, Construction Forestry Mining and Energy
Union.
Regulation and Self-regulation: Serapina Cha Mikyun, Korean House for
International Solidarity, Korea; Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid, Consumer
Association of Penang; Gabrielle Russell, Futures Foundation.
Alternatives to TNCs: Palash Baral and Farida Akhter, Policy Research for
Development Alternative; James Arvanitakis, Aid/Watch, Australia.
Solidarity against TNCs: Ravadee Prasertcharoensuk, NGO Coordinating
Committee on Development, Thailand; Kavaljit Singh, Public Interest
Research Group; James Goodman, UTS, Australia.
Targeting the State: Rosario Bella Guzman, IBON Foundation, Philippines;
Liam Phelan, The Northern Alliance for Sustainability.
Contesting TNC Finances: Geoff Evans and Nina Lansbury, Mineral Policy
Institute; Aly Ercelawn, Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and
Research, Pakistan; James Rose, Corporate and Investment Ethics Consultants
Integrative Strategies; Boral Green Shareholders.
2.00-4.00PM: Workshops: Proposals for advocacy and action
4.00-6.00PM: Plenary Report and Closing Speech: Tony Tujan, Ibon Foundation.
8.00-11.00PM: Solidarity Night
ABOUT THE ORGANISERS
The APRN was set up in 1998, and has its base in Manila, at the offices of
the Ibon Foundation. The Network has thirty-five members, all of which are
NGO research centres from across East, South and South-East Asia and the
Pacific. Participants use the Network to compare experiences, create common
research agendas, agree on priorities for future research, and develop
shared strategies for promoting popular sovereignty.
The Network has its own journal, of which there have been four issues, and
a newsletter. It works with its member organisations to mount training
sessions for grassroots NGOs, for instance helping the International NGO
Forum for Indonesian Development (INFID) create a strong movement critical
of the World Trade Organisation in Indonesia.
The Network also mounts a yearly conference, on a central theme, hosted in
a different country each year. The first APRN conference was held in Manila
in August 1999, and was focused on strategising for the up-coming Seattle
Ministerial of the World Trade Organisation. The second conference was held
in Jakarta in August 2000, and was focused on international financial
institutions, an issue of central importance for countries like Indonesia.
This year the conference is focused on Transnational Corporations, with the
title: 'Corporate Power or People's Power? TNCs and Globalisation'.
The conference is being hosted by AID/WATCH, along with a local organising
group that includes members of the Faculty of Humanities and Social
Sciences at UTS, and representatives of the Public Interest Advocacy
Centre, Mineral Policy Institute, Trade Union Aid Abroad, Friends of the
Earth, the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union and the Construction,
Forestry, Mining and Energy Union.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Contact Melita Grant (AID/WATCH) on ph: 61-2-9387 5210 or [EMAIL PROTECTED]
ENDS
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