Issue 66 December 1998
THE SIENA DECLARATION
THE SIENA DECLARATION
An alliance of "leading scholars, activists, economists, researchers and writers representing over 40 organisations in 20 countries" met in Siena (Italy) in September 1998 and put their signatures to a document which is now being circulated for additional signatories.
The topic of discussion was the current global economic crisis, which was analysed in detail and described as resulting in massive economic breakdown in some nations, insecurity in all nations, unprecedented hardships for millions of people, assaults on environmental and labour conditions, loss of wilderness and biodiversity and other disastrous results. The crisis was attributed in the main to the policies of global trade bureaucracies "and formulas that have e already proven socially, economically and environmentally disastrous and riven with structural flaws." It is urged that this experiment now be called a failure and more nations investigate and adopt currency and investment controls, as appropriate to their unique situation rather than continuing to take dictates from distant bureaucracies who have proved they do not know what they are doing.
The group stressed that it was not opposed to international trade and investment or to international rules that regulate this trade and investment so long as it complements international activity that nation states can achieve for themselves and so long as the environment, human rights, labour rights, democracy, national sovereignty and social equity are given primacy."
For a copy of the Declaration and further information write:
International Forum on Globalisation, 1555 Pacific Avenue, San Francisco CA 94109, USA. Fax (415) 771-1121.
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