Democracy itself is threatened. Opponents of the WTO want a halt in further progress until a full democratic international discussion can be conducted on the value of such trade organizations for the peoples of the world. Without warning, the WTO has in this way created an international court of 'justice' that is making law and establishing case law in which existing national laws are all 'barriers' to trade and is sweeping aside environmental, social or publish health considerations. It is such a secret panel that struck down Canada's auto pact. And she helped to negotiate its birth in 1994.
Trade deals are a lot more obscure than child poverty.
Yet, thanks to people like Maude Barlow of the Council of Canadians, thousands and perhaps millions of people around the world are starting to understand that the rules of the game for international trade are based solely on the interests of multi national corporations. This international movement, in which Canadians play a leading role, is starting to turn corporate globalization into people's globalization. From farmers to film directors, people from the North and the South are uniting with a single voice. You will hear it loud and clear this coming week. Activists from around the world will gather in Seattle to tell those in power that the people want control over their economy, their environment and their social programmes.