They must post their progress in applying nine principles of good international behavior once a year on a special U.N. Web site. He never got to deliver his speech there on the perils of globalization. What we must do instead is to ensure that global market is embedded in broadly shared values and practices that reflect global, social needs. Some of the multinational corporations present here, such as Nike, have been criticized for abuses in factories overseas. Real solutions that improve people's lives will result if we can make this partnership work.
Opponents say too little, too late.
But the U.N. believes big business can have more influence in shaping the lives of billions of people than its own members. We cannot wait for governments to do it all. Globalizations operates on Internet time. Skeptics question whether it's proper for the United Nations to do business with big business, some here even equating it to a deal with the devil.