Oh what people will do for a quid at someone elses expense! David Author Ranald and Cooke opposed the 20-year MAI 'handcuffs' on safety and environment Patricia Ranald of Sydney visited Perth for a few days and was a forum's keynote speaker on Saturday June 26 1999, on the resurgence of the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI) through the World Trade Organisation (WTO). NEWS RELEASE: Issued by Stop-MAI (WA) on June 28 1999: Perth citizens demand fuller public participation and new approach to DFAT multilateral treaty process The Federal Government's proposal to support a new round of global investment negotiations at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) was intensively discussed at a daylong public meeting held at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, at the weekend (June 26). Debate was led by Patricia Ranald (Public Sector Research Centre, University of New South Wales) and the WA Trades and Labor Council secretary, Tony Cooke. The speakers reviewed the purpose of the failed Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI) which sought to dilute governmental power to regulate foreign investment and capital flows. The MAI was scrapped last year in a fury of worldwide public protest, but Deputy Prime Minister Tim Fischer has recently instructed the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to pursue similar new negotiations through the WTO November ministerial meeting in Seattle. After six hours of consideration, the packed meeting called on the Australian Government to shun MAI-type negotiations but rather "to support the development of an alternative and binding agreement on investments which democratically regulates international investments and promotes ecologically and socially sustainable global development". Noting that DFAT had declined to participate in the public meeting, the resolution also called for full, open public participation in this process. Patricia Ranald informed the meeting that the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) had already endorsed an alternative proposal with the object of enforcing prescribed responsibilities and placing the profit motive into a proper context of worldwide human needs. The publication of a range of new Australian books on the subject was announced, and the audience resolved to support an informative regular newsletter to be commenced in July. ends Contacts: Brian Jenkins 08 9246 3882, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dion Giles 08 9335 7646, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Stop-MAI WA Coalition: 42 Central Avenue, Beaconsfield, WA, 6062 ---------- John Massam, 46 Cobine Way, Greenwood (a suburb of Perth), WA, 6024, Australia; http://www.multiline.com.au/~johnm/ Also see: http://www.multiline.com.au/~georgist/ "LIBERTY FROM ECONOMIC THRALDOM" ----------- Freedom: the only end. <http:///>www2.tpg.com.au/users/davidsb ---------------------------------------------------------------- This is the Neither public email list, open for the public and general discussion. To unsubscribe click here Mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Subject=unsubscribe To subscribe click here Mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Subject=subscribe For information on [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.neither.org/lists/public-list.htm For archives http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]
