Corporate Power as a Religious Issue

EARTHKEEPING NEWS
A NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN COALITION FOR CHRISTIANITY AND ECOLOGY

Volume Eight, Number Four
May/June 1999

Call to Action:

START A CLASS ON CORPORATE POWER AS A RELIGIOUS ISSUE

Around the world people are sounding the alarm about global capitalism, the privatization of government, the disregard of the common good and destruction of the environment by powerful transnational corporations that continue, unhindered, to cause political, economic and ecological damage.

How many of us have studied the root causes of the crises? How much do we know of the history of corporations in the USA? There is no mention of them in the Constitution. How do we account for the fact that a business corporation, an artificial entity, has special protections under US laws, and more rights than individuals? When did we as citizens abdicate our right to revoke their state charters for their destructive practices? How must business ethics change? What institutional changes and new values are needed for corporate responsibility now?

"Our greatest fear should be that Western multinational corporations and banks will soon have re-acquired the most attractive economic assets the Third World has to offer at bargain basement prices...without the cost of occupying armies; without firing a shot" (John Conner, writing in Z Magazine, www.zmag.org)

In November 1999 the world governments will meet in Seattle for the World Trade Organization's Third Ministerial Conference. WTO, a creation in 1995 of the last round of GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade), now includes 130 countries. The new free trade rules override any domestic laws for the protection of local workers and local environment that inhibit trade (called "non-tariff trade restrictions"). WTO negotiations and decisions are conducted in secret, without citizen input and without appeal. Opening new markets and maximization of profit put all local assets at risk.

A letter circulating on the internet calls for a review of the WTO and demands a moratorium on further negotiations until there is an assessment of WTO's impact on marginalized communities, democracy, environment, health and human rights. The letter is signed by an increasing number (over 150 in March) of peace, justice and human rights groups, environmental and religious organizations, and economic responsibility networks on every continent -- international members of civil society (ronnieh@foe.co.uk ).

The WTO ministers will be greeted by a large coalition of environmental and social justice activists from Canada, Mexico and USA, demanding that WTO implement new values and procedures for a more just and sustainable world.