The greatest gift will be global trade justice
(republishing, copying, no restrictions)
By: Father Shay Cullen
Most western people fail to understand that their unjust international trade policies are at the root of much of the global poverty, discontent and unhappiness with the wealthy nations. Terrorists are exploiting this to the full to enflame impoverished people with hatred.
It may not be a very happy Christmas for the developing nations of the world despite hopes that there might be change. The rich countries seem as hard hearted as ever are reluctant to make any insignificant cuts in the generous subsidies they dole out to their rich farmers to produce below cost. This means no once can compete with them.
The European Union has made apparently more generous offers to cut import taxes by 60% and farm subsidies by 71% but France has said no. In the EU, it is not the majority opinion that rules but on major issues the opinion of all must be for it.
Their paltry offers to reduce these subsidies during the International conference on world trade in Hong Kong will do nothing to bring about Trade Justice. This means that the poor farmers can never get their goods to market even if the products are better quality and lower cost. The global injustice goes on.
If the system can be changed, then the Philippines could sell its cane sugar into Europe and make great earnings. African cotton farmers could do likewise. That's why the Philippine trade negotiators have to stand side-by-side with the other developing nations in Hong Kong and say NO loud and clear to the demeaning and extortionist demands of the rich to force the Philippines and other nations to open their markets and lower trade barriers to western agricultural products.
The developing nations led by Brazil and other south American countries have bravely stood up in the last round of talks against the juggernauts that lord it over world trade demanding access to everybody's markets but denying entry to their own. It has been an arrogant imperialistic attitude that has to be defeated in Hong Kong if the developing nations are to grow and help their people get out of poverty, disease, violence and political and economic disintegration.
If ever the barriers of the rich could be removed, fantastic strides would be made to alleviate dire poverty in the developing nation’s disease and bring education and development. It would be self-sustaining development not depending on seeming endless acts of charity. This would best the great Christmas gift ever.
Until that day comes Christmas gifts are still needed to save lives. This one will prevent the onslaught of that killer sickness malaria. A simple low cost bed net to cover the child at night in a slum or village provides full protection.
Funds that go to rural education teach villagers to remove stagnant water from ponds, tires and old cans. These are the breeding places of the deadly mosquito. The rate of death from malaria has doubled in the past 20 years and there is no effective vaccine as yet because the drug companies saw no profit in it. The poor could not pay.
A great act of generosity is changing, that, Billionaire Bill Gates of computer giant Microsoft gave $258 million to help eradicate the malaria epidemic and now the vaccine is under development since there is money to pay for it. It will be fully available in 2011. Bill Gates has given much more to fight the HIV-AIDS pandemic.
Cannot others make it a happy Christmas for the dying children? Anglo American mining corporation can give $1 Billion cash to it’s shareholders but can it spare a few million for the dying children this Christmas? Can O2, the leading mobile phone company in the UK give a little of the $31 billion it got from a takeover by Spain’s telefonica? How about Coca-Cola, could that company give a few million from its latest third-quarter profits of $1.3 billion mostly made on selling obesity causing drinks to kids.
Whatever we pray for this Christmas, let’s back it up with action too and make our Christmas happier by giving to those in greater need than us. [End]
