First of all, the best way to promote responsible global citizenship is to live it, actually do it every day. The companies have agreed to join the U.N. Global Compact, vowing to eliminate child labor, to protect human rights and even to honor the ability of workers to unionize. Once a year on a special U.N. Web site, they must publicize how they have succeeded in applying the nine U.N. principles of good international behavior. Worried about free-market expansion trampling on human rights, especially in developing countries, Annan said he was spurred to act by the disturbances at the World Trade Organization conference in Seattle. Some of the multinational corporations, such as Nike, have been criticized for abuses in Asian factories.
Opponents say it's too little too late.
They will say publicly in front of a global audience that they are for rights, but they also knew that there is no enforcement. But the U.N. believes big business can have more influence than its own members in shaping the lives of billions of people. Globalization operates on Internet time. But the secretary-general counters that the era of globalization is here to stay. This document contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner.