Venue: Cancun Ministerial Conference
players included:
-
Luis Ernesto Derbez
Conference chairman, the Mexican Trade Minister
-
and ministers from
The United States of America
-
European Union
India
China,
Brazil,
Malaysia
Kenya,
South Africa
as well.
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The PROBLEM: The Cancun Ministerial Text.
What happened at the WTO meetings in Seattle that exploded into riot has gone on to another plateau.
But the tactics of the economic bullies: representing United States and European Union issues and general Corpocracy -- high pressure tactics, bribes and threats to force developing countries into submission were this time met with balanced and fair and non-violent effective opposition.
Apparently their was little approval of it. Apparently the idea that the rich get richer and the poor stay squalorously impoverished and actually work to ensure that things stay that way has met some resistance from key public servants.
Public servants who left cancun to go back and look their constituents in the eye.
When someone asks your opinion or makes a request, the implication is that you can answer in any possible way. Agree, disagree: one would ASSUME there is a CHOICE.
But there are times when the law is laid down and the idea of query is merely superficial. The real idea is that those questioned are expected to provide the "correct" answer, roll over and take it. So when there is dissent, staunch refusal -- when those in question have a different response, then the real process of democracy can be seen to beginning, even though proponents of Republic might find the process time consuming.
"All that speaking out for individual rights: why don't they just do as we have commandd them?" is the secret question of those who would dominate the Earth.
But at this particular conference: (Cancun 14 Sept 2003) some representatives had profoundly different ways of seeing...
Sir Ronald Sanders is the current Antigua and Barbuda Minister. He said his delegation attended the sessions on many issues.
In a display of frank candor and concern he also went on the record as saying:
"My government has a duty to care for its people. Were we to accept this document we would deserve our people's condemnation. For we would not only have gained no relief for them, we would have condemned them to a life of perpetual underdevelopment. And that my delegation will not do. I have to advise that this draft does not enjoy the support of my government."
Indian Minister Arun Jaitley said that with this text the pretence of development dimensions of the Doha agenda has finally been discarded and shown to be mere rhetoric.
"We are compounding the Uruguay Round distortions by adding some more to them," he said, adding that the heightened ambition on the market access pillar is "utterly incomprehensible and extremely insensitive to the large number of people living in poverty in developing countries."
"Put food on your family."
I eat my peas with honey
i've done it all my life
it makes the peas taste funny
but it keeps them on your wife.
It has been (rumored, conjectured, theorized by lunatics and paranoids and people who can see A. Whitney Brownist "Big Pictures") said that the infamous Riots in Seattle at the World Trade Organization were in fact hoped for and encouraged by government.
These brick throwing angry people gave a look of calm efficency and service to the Economicians who were meeting there. it made it seem as if anyone who put up any resistance to the agenda of international finance was a lunatic, dangerous, unruly, chaotic.
It has been (conjectured, bandied about, wondered at over cold beers and in loose uninhibited chatter) that those who are conspiring (albeit secretly, hiding in plain sight) to unify all governments to a singular source of rule that "various means" went towards making SURE that the people would riot violently.
this was some time ago, before the birth of indymedia.
Some time ago--was it 1999?
Ah...the tumultous twentieth century. Those were days.
Something different happened recently. There was resistance: as if the ministers who were unified in rejecting the Cancun Ministerial Text (second revised draft!) were doing something that expressed as much anger and love as the brick throwers of the Seattle protest -- but were in their capacity of servants of their regions who would have to go back home and look their constituents in the eye -- making a statement of 'NO CONFIDENCE' for posterity.
Arun Jaitley was there. Jaitley's view on the Ministerial Text was that it was --
"utterly incomprehensible and extremely insensitive to the large number of people living in poverty in developing countries."
--
Jaitley went on. (representative of India.)
"It would appear that the views expressed by a large number of developing countries on the need for further clarification have been completely ignored. This is yet another instance of the deliberate neglect of views of a large number of developing countries. It represents an attempt to thrust the views of a few countries on many developing countries."
-- "WE wonder now whether development here refers to only further development of the developed countries. This text does not lend itself to any meaningful dialogue.
We still believe this conference must be brought to a successful conclusion. We hope the cicurmstances and environment will be created to enable us to participate constructively."
It's less than clear to everyone but painfully clear to some: the long range goals of the Corpocracy reps of the United States and the European Union involve securing cheap labor and eroding the ability of so-called "developing" nations to govern their own geopolitical regions. The trend of corpocracy is to dominate the earth, controlling the flow of all resources including human resources.
And the ministers at the Cancun Summit said that this was wrong.
They were unified in pointing out that the Corpocracy was asking for more of business as usual: cheap labor from certain countries.
they pointed out that Corpocracy was using its usual methods in attempting to erase the ability of countries like India, Singapore, Nigeria and other countries to givern themselves. The goal: make government by finance, government by economic control.
Once again the metaphor of the schoolyard: This time the bullies were looked in the eye.
Crucial is the fact thatthere was REJOICING after this: It was seen as a victory for the cash poor nations and representatives of the working classes.
The developing nations hope to send a clear message to rich nations that their bullying tactics will not intimidate them. The G-21+ grouping was called a "grouping of the paralyzed" by the United States Trade Representative, "with rhetoric but no ability to negotiate."
this is the tatctic of the spoiled child when things aren't going our way.
"why won't you just do as you are told? Your refusal to be crushed under our economic heel suggests too much backbone. Why won't you just submit and let us dominate you? We only want to be your masters...why won't you simply do as you are commanded? we only want to dominate you. People who refuse to allow us to dominate them have no ability to negotiate: and by negotiate we mean bend over and take it and get back to work keeping the rich rich."
The G-21+, however, put forth many alternatives rebuking the US claim of mere "pontification." Has the power balance within the WTO shifted? have the rich and powerful suffered a defeat?
Worldwide it is obvious that it is too early to claim victory, as millions perfom menial scut labor jobs, cleaning the toilets and removing the waste generated by Capitalism.
Although the rejection of terms by the ministers at Cancun shows a new wrinkle in the ongoing international drama of Corpocracy versus Humanity, to celebrate now is to leave behind all the millions who laugh weakly at claims of victory by those long denied it, and turn back to menial labors and wretched lifestyles of utterly abased poverty.
For these billions whose slavery keeps the rich rich it is impossible to claim victory: and no war will liberate them.
Warriors' Rhetoric
to some the idea of pushing back the greedy hand of Corpocracy is a war, a fight to p[rove who's right, a war that must be won!!! battle lines seem obvious. Everyone wants to be the good guy. let's take that Hill. We must hold this bridge. let's take them out.
and so after the recent cancun meeting where the ministers effectively rebuffed the rapaciously greedy, some call this a "victory."
But this is the simple face of it and it is devilishly hard to see. The entire rhetoric of battle, martial aspect, the determination to fight--!
Corpocracy constantly utilizes this warrior's framework.
"Civil society is celebrating the victory of democracy and the power of the people -- "This victory is for you, Lee Kyung Hae!"
(from the indymedia header)
But it is too early to claim victory, this is simply people who desire democracy asserting themselves. which is good.
The rhetoric of war is insane. Completely. Psychotic. It is a functioning insanity that continually justifies violence with its talk of attack, defeat and victory.
But this does presage something.
Constitutional Republic is the dominating political model in the world today. Wherever people convene to discuss how legislation will be for the people they govern, and when individual representatives are hired and fired by the government BUT THE RULES OF GOVERNMENT REMAIN THE SAME with little change: that is Constitutional Republic: which is NOT the democratic ideal, the ideal of vox populi vix dei: the voice of the people being the voice of god.
This sent a clear meassage to Corpocracy: but Constitutional Republic remains the general model of government for almost all countries. if people are going to blater on about democracy then why would fake democracy or anything less than true democracy be worth celebrating about?
Vox Poluli, Vox Dei,
Everything is in place for countries to make the change, to alter their governments. But it will require more honest questions being asked.
(I'm so bloody correct.)
India (Republic of India.)
China(People's Republic of China.)
Brazil,(República Federativa do Brasil or Federative Republic of Brazil)
Malaysia(i can't find out if Malaysia is a Republic or not. LOOK AT THIS FUCKING FLAG ALREADY.)
Kenya(Republic of Kenya, Swahili Jamhuri ya Kenya)
South Africa (Republic of South Africa)
and many more!
With all these nations calling themselves Republics, actual, concrete and objective victory for Democracy is not yet anything but an idea. It is far, far too early to claim victory for democracy: it, to evoke Mohandas K. Ghandi, 'would be a good idea."
A GREAT IDEA! But first, since we're all politicized, we have to realise that Constitutional Republics are NOT DEMOCRACIES.
This model of Governmentis really the United States chief export and they have sold it to the world: look at that Malaysian Flag. I bet Betsy Ross enjoyed the time she spent in Malaysia. What's that? You say she...oh.)
Democracy YES! But Fake democracy is what we have already. Those students who were killed in Tienemen Square did NOT die in vain: but stopping short of real actual demicracy, where each citizen is counted and their opinon TRULY MATTERS is no victory. It just leaves Corpocracy firmly in control, as the Republicans in teh United States are dimly aware of.
Some are totally aware: and real practical objective Democracy is something that they are famous for cheating, decieving and cajoling to avoid.
Constitutional Republic is where the world is now. So if these ministers claimed a "victory for democracy" and then went homne from cancun back to their respective REPUBLICS, well, where is this Democracy that's so bloody victorious?
I personally can't wait to vote and actually feel confident that my vote matters as much as the votes of ALL my fellow citizens in an actual Democracy.
Now the strangled cries of "Bullshit!" and "Impossible."
But the fact of the matter is that Democracy is a virtuously good way for nations to do things, to steward society and resources and to fairly do the will of the people. Further: anmything less is Taxation Without Representation.
here we see the idea of Bush as Pawn: he is a pawn: a pawn and a mouthpiece for Corpocracy: for those who are unelected yet rich and determined that economic clout dictate political agenda and the desitiny of nations: the uncrowned Kings of Finance like Richard cheney: an oil millionaire with many firneds whose agendas are get richer, stay rich and make sure that there are lots and lots of poor suckers who think that Constitutional Republic (republic. Republicans. republic. Republicans. geddit?) is Democracy.
By the rich people, of the rich people for the rich people. That is Constitutional Republic.
no matter who is elected, the system remains the system. THAT is constitutional Republic. And constitutional Republic as it is today, powered by Military/Industrial Complex is not Democracy.
It just isn't!
Fascism? Maybe.
The domination of the peaceful, gentle and not-fully-informed by the secretive and conspiratorial? jury's still out...
ITEM! When Cheney was simply an oil rich surveyor in Iraq, in Desert Storm, doing GHW Bush's bidding back in 1989 when the idea of his ever being as close to becoming Commander-In-Chief as he is today was the unseen future -- this was Military and Industrial in a complex relationship, and hiding in plain sight as Cheney, the archduke of halliburton, hides this very day.
With Plato's ancient concept of perfect government--Republic--so deeply entrenched and using guile and wile to maintain its presence, Democracy is yet to be born.
But eveyone oohs and ahhs when they feel the baby kick.
