The
World Trade Organization (WTO) is holding its next ministerial in Seattle,
Washington the week of November 29th, 1999.
Participate in the People's Rally and March for Fair Trade on November 30th!
Use this site to learn more about issues surrounding the World Trade
Organization and its effects on our society, and do get involved.
The WTO must be significantly changed if we are to enjoy a society based
on human rights, labor rights, and environmental protection around the
world.
As a treaty-based organization, the WTO represents immense power to influence a member country's own laws,
even if those laws were enacted to protect the environment, human rights,
or labor rights.
In advancing the cause
of free and unfettered trade, the
WTO authorizes one country to challenge another country's laws before dispute resolution
panels of trade experts operating in secret. If a law is found to be
an unfair trade barrier, the WTO can authorize imposition of trade sanctions
to force a change in the law.
This
is the first ministerial to be held in the United States. Thousands
of interested and concerned citizens from around the world will be in
Seattle to learn about World Trade Organization issues, and to participate
in events being held that week, from speeches and workshops to rallies
and demonstrations.
There are several sites dealing with the WTO and its Ministerial.
For the most complete information about the Ministerial in Seattle, including online audio and video
of events, visit the
Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy's WTO Watch site.
If you are ready to get into the
action right away, see what Citizen's
Trade Campaign is doing for the WTO!