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1- Doha is in your backyard.
ATTAC will participate to a hundred mobilizations in 9 European countries. Other actions are organized around the world. In Beirut an international counter-summit will take place just before the WTO Ministerial in Doha. Even on the sea and in Doha… activists and delegates will discuss and propose alternatives to this Brave New WTO World.
2- WTO Tidbits
The US will not accept any discussion on safeguard measures for the GATS unless better market access conditions are agreed to by developing countries demanding safeguards (these having refused to discuss service liberalisation until safeguards are granted...); the big pharmaceutical labs fight to keep the TRIPs as it stands; what price the "quasi-consensus" of the informal meeting of trade ministers in Singapore? Consumers International supports NGO positions on Agriculture and Services.
3- World Trade Organization Wants To Control 'Services'
Granting corporations the opportunity to shove their fingers into the pies of health care, municipal services, and education means that disasters like California’s experiment with utility privatization would become the norm. Last year’s successful battle by workers and citizens against the privatization of Bolivia’s water supply would be virtually impossible under a fully operational GATS.
4- WTO Ministers Likely to Face Difficult Choice on TRIPS, Public Health
Unable to bridge a divide between developed and developing countries over a ministerial declaration on intellectual property rights and public health, General Council Chairman Stuart Harbinson this weekend issued a draft that gives ministers at the November meeting in Qatar a tough choice between two alternatives.
5- People's Responses to the WTO, Exclusion or Inclusion?
However, in both cases, after the introduction of labor and environment standards into the NAFTA and the WTO, they have never made any effects. In other words, those kinds of standards failed to protect labor rights and environment.

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1- War Is Peace
When he announced the air strikes, President George Bush said, "We're a peaceful nation." America's favourite ambassador, Tony Blair, (who also holds the portfolio of Prime Minister of the UK), echoed him: "We're a peaceful people." So now we know. Pigs are horses. Girls are boys. War is Peace.
2- Only Poetry Can Address Grief: Moving Forward after 911
I think of that moment now as a metaphor for where what I like to call the Global Justice movement is today. We are facing an array of forces telling us to get back, to disperse, to leave the scene. The forces of the state, the media, all the powers that support global corporate capitalism would like to see us go away. But we have nowhere to go.
3- Now, More Than Ever: A Global Movement for Global Justice
Almost from day one, activists began improvising an appropriate response. They defined the attacks as criminal acts, not acts of war. They defined the appropriate response as mobilizing international law, not unilateral military violence. They opposed attacks that would harm people who had not committed the crime. They emphasized protection for those, including but not limited to Muslims and Arabs, who had almost immediately become the targets of bigotry and violence.
4- Doha is coming. Further Briefing on the GATS
Most elected officials and civil servants, let along the general public, are not aware of GATS, nor of its implications. But several countries are demanding that a wide-ranging assessment of the impact of a free market in services be carried out before any more so-called trade barriers are removed. And non-government organisations (NGOs) and trade unions are demanding that services in the public interest be clearly exempt from GATS.

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1- War and Trade
The Liberalize This! saga is continuing. Despite bombing, anthrax, despair, death, trade must go on. In all the political tools used, war is in the forefront of further liberalization around the world. Colin Powell involved himself in the “fast track” for the US President and Robert Zoellick in the ongoing war.
2- The Fast Track Trade Jihad
Bin Laden, born with a silver Rolls in his mouth and a stock portfolio to rival any Rockefeller, hardly qualifies as a class warrior. Nevertheless, Earth Island Journal's opportunistic hijacking of the mass murder to promote its agenda is not exceptional. There's a horrific weirdness in hearing both Zoellick and an unforgivable number of European Leftists (friends who should know better) calling the twin towers symbols of American capitalism.
3- IMF tells starving Nicaraguans to tighten their belts, cuts off debt relief.
Despite the situation of the country, the IMF continues to demand that the Nicaraguan government slash spending, pull money out of circulation, and privatize public utilities. IMF documents released Oct 2 show that IMF staff have decided that Nicaragua has failed to comply with these demands, and the institution has suspended Nicaragua's debt relief program indefinitely.
4- Short Strike Wins for Mitsubishi Workers
Then the American management team that arrived in late 1998/early 1999 decided to attack job rotation as the great Satan against quality. They believed that if workers were restricted to a couple of jobs, they would become experts at those two jobs and quality would go up.
5- Global Justice in Geneva
Two had not yet struck on the clock and the sun-drenched ‘place Neuve’ was already filled with people, among whom one could find members of left-wing parties, trade-unionists, ATTAC activists, and many many pacifists. A significant delegation from France – some 500 people from near the border but also from Marseilles – had come to support the movement. Kurds and Palestinians unfolded banners that exposed the US collusion in the oppression of their peoples.
6- Global Justice in Washington
At the "Ending Global Apartheid" teach-in, which the 50 Years Is Enough Network co-sponsored with Essential Action, the Center for Economic Justice/World Bank Bond Boycott, Global Exchange, and the Jubilee USA Network from September 27 to September 29, leading activists from Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia, Europe, and North America spoke about the prospective problems and potential they see in the new political era.

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1- Signs of the Times
And free trade, long facing a public relations crisis, is fast being rebranded, like shopping and baseball, as a patriotic duty. According to US Trade Representative Robert Zoellick (who is frantically trying to get fast-track negotiating power pushed through in this moment of jingoistic groupthink), trade "promotes the values at the heart of this protracted struggle."
2- Building Social Movement Unionism
Information about these international struggles is vital, but news updates from workers around the globe can leave a U.S. worker wondering how she could support a fight halfway across the world. A video presentation made by a Kentucky Jobs with Justice group demonstrated one strategy for building bridges between workers.
3- WTO Tidbits
The WTO Dispute Settlement Body came in for severe criticism at the annual session of the UN sub-committee on human rights; injustices in the TRIPS and GATS agreements were also pointed out. India loses its suit against Rice Tec on Basmati rice labelling. On GMOs: Sri Lanka shelves its plan for restrictions under WTO pressure, while the US strongly criticizes EU labelling regulations.
4- TABD in Troubled Water
The corporate-government partnership on WTO issues is not just for the benefit of industry - it goes two ways. Transatlantic business consensus is used by the EU and US to overcome differences in their own WTO negotiating positions. The result is that large corporations are able to effectively pre-cook the outcome of WTO negotiations, taking advantage of unequal power relations within the WTO, an organisation dominated by the large Northern trade blocs.

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1- Is the World Bank against the WTO?
In this drafted World Bank report, one can very well imagine that it could be a call for action against further trade talks in Doha (next WTO Ministerial). Once the “free trade is good” diplomatic bias taken out of the few sentences where it can be found, the critics are direct and hit hard upon the functioning and even the existence of the WTO. Well that is before the official report… to be withdrawn or let as is?
2- A briefing on the GATS
The GATS is designed to be capable of overturning almost any regulation (local or national) governing services, in the interests of trade liberalization. Sometimes called "the MAI in disguise", it favours international business by contraining the processes of democratic governance.
3- Draft WTO Ministerial Declaration
A draft ministerial declaration crafted this week by General Council Chairman Stuart Harbinson and Director General Mike Moore presents stark choices before World Trade Organization members between launching full-fledged negotiations on investment and competition at the November Ministerial or relegating these controversial subjects to further study.
4- Corporate Driven Free Trade
The TABD is much more than just another example of a corporate lobby group influencing and manipulating the political environment on behalf of its ember companies - it has the advantage of having been initiated and nurtured by governments. Through the TABD, EU and US-based corporations develop policy demands which (parts of) the European Commission and the US government then attempt to implement.
5- Will the Drive to War Kill International Labor Solidarity?
As the U.S. government prepares for war, the labor movement should reflect on what the impact of the attacks will be, and proceed with caution. The labor movement has been trying to rebuild itself, in fits and starts, for the past six years, and the new situation places us at a crossroads.
6- Good Havens! - Bank secrecy gives terror safe haven
October 6 a European action against tax Havens will take place in Luxembourg. Global money laundering made easy by loose rules on secret accounts. Terrorists work the levers of global banking laws to move money that finance their efforts from phony banks to real ones, like Britain's Barclays Bank, which Osama bin Laden allegedly used.
7- Meeting ATTAC worldwide

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1- Endless War ?
In the aftermath of the World Trade Center assault, the perpetrators of the dastardly deed have been called "irrational" or "madmen" or people that embody evil. This is understandable as an emotional reaction but dangerous as a basis for policy. The truth is the perpetrators of the deed were very rational.
2- To Globalize Peace and Justice
Starting on the 27th in Washington series of workshops, conferences and meetings will create during a few days alternative spaces for dialogue and education. During the September 29-30 week-end another coalition is organizing in solidarity mobilizations in Geneva. Both events were organized before the 11th around the IMF and World Bank meeting, but also around the WTO in Geneva to launch the November mobilizations (Qatar Ministerial). They will go on since if the world has changed, there is an even more dramatic need for economic and social justice.
3- Lessons from the Argentine crisis
In its early structural adjustment plans the IMF used to recommend for preference "competitive devaluation" intended to stimulate exports to encourage the return of the foreign currency essential for paying interest on the debt. Faced with the ravages of inflation IMF philosophy was readjusted and the big Latin American countries transferred to a strong exchange policy, pegging their currency to the dollar.
4- Guardians of our Rights
The dispute settlement system at the WTO is a powerful body. The threat of trade sanctions makes the system a mighty weapon, not least when it is being put directly into the hands of industry -as in the European Union.

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1- Not in Our Son’s Name
This article is a letter to the New York Times and to President W Bush from Phyllis and Orlando Rodriguez. Their son Greg was one of the victims on Tuesday in the World Trade Center. Their letters are so powerful and moving and courageous. Their address: 20 N. B Way apt F, WPI 10601 for letters of condolence.
2- For Peace and Development
No area in the world is today immune to terrorism, neither is any group or person safe from the acts of national or international groups that use terrorism as a means for imposing their demands and goals. The absolute poverty, terrible injustice, and absence of social justice facing the peoples of this world is a fertile breeding grounds for the growth and thriving of terrorism.
3- September Mobilizations in Washington DC
The changes in our plans in no way reflect a shift in the positions of the 50 Years Is Enough Network or its members or partners on the policies of the IMF and World Bank, nor on the imperative to challenge and change those policies. Our eight demands of the institutions remain our challenge to the decision-makers of the global economy, and will be the gauge by which we measure any policy decisions made, with or without the benefit of an annual meeting.
4- Tricks of Free Trade
Such a deal! We give up our jobs and environmental safeguards for the greater glory of transnational corporations.
5- Labor Wins First Round In Fast-Track Trade Battle
Back in April, when trade negotiators from across the hemisphere were meeting behind fortified walls in Quebec, demonstrations were held in over 50 cities across the U.S. in opposition to the FTAA (Free Trade Area of the Americas--an expansion of NAFTA across the hemisphere). Fast-Track would allow President Bush to negotiate the FTAA without any discussion in Congress other than a yes or no vote (…)
6- Against GMO – A Struggle for Life
Environmental protection organisations, and researchers in the public sector, have shown that there is a risk for irrevocable ecological changes linked to the uncontrolled propagation of “foreign” genes (i.e. genes that are placed outside their normal context). These include changes in biodiversity, which is already threatened (for instance biodiversity of food crops).
7- This article is worth a billion euros
This article is worth a billion euros. More precisely - let us accept the idea between us - once you have finished reading this article, you will know how to get to the billion in question. But this is not where it started.

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1- After the tragic events in New York and Washington
On the day after the terrible events that have shaken the United States, Attac joins the American people in their mourning.
2- Dear All
This is the first chain e-mail that I have ever sent and I am sorry that I can't connect with each one of you individually. I have some thoughts on what happened this morning that I really need to share, so please bear with me.
3- The Argentine Crisis
Argentina has had more than three years of recession and all the international economy analysts have the crisis under review. What’s more, some people are asking themselves when "cessation of payment" will be declared.
4- In our own back yard
It wasn’t until 1996, two years after NAFTA became law, that multinational corporations in the US and Canada even became fully aware of Chapter 11. Not unlike the bankruptcy-law provision of the same name, NAFTA’s Chapter 11 provides a sort of last recourse for down-and-out companies seeking to get back on their feet.
5- WTO Tidbits
Vetted NGOs are invited to Doha; Industries of developing countries are accorded a respite from application of investment measures; South-East Europe creates its very own FTA; Russia feels cold-shouldered at the WTO; US trade unions support gory accusations against Coca Cola; Could polluter countries be sued for climate change?? Nike : all's grist to its mill – even anti-capitalist protest!
6- Pressroom Workers Raise A Stink At San Diego’s Union Tribune
After almost two years of working without a new contract, pressroom workers at the Union Tribune News in San Diego are winning the community over in their struggle for fair working conditions and better pay.

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1- Another Europe for another globalisation
Ecofin is the Council of the European Finance Ministers who decide of the Union’s financial orientations. Therefore, the economic and financial policies become concrete within the Council, which is rather difficult, especially since the Member countries have decided to go the common currency (euro) implying an enhanced co-ordination. Here is a presentation of the mobilizations that will occur in Liege September 21 to 23. For further information http://attac.org/cec/ 
2- A Forum on the Debt
OneWorld www.oneworld.net, in partnership with Eurodad www.eurodad.org are launching the third leg of their debate of their online discussion on international debt at www.DebtChannel.org : “From Genoa to World Bank/IMF Autumn Meetings”, to help move international policy-makers beyond 'debt fatigue'.
3- Tobin Tax, Another Way is Possible
In an article in the Sole 24 Ore (24 hr Sun) for 15 July, the former deputy governor of the Bank of Italy, Mario Sarcinelli, attacks the case for adopting the Tobin tax. Here is the answer of one the member of ATTAC Italia.
4- The Leverage of the Tobin Tax.
The beauty of the Tobin tax lays in its potential to give rise to new political constellations. It means both the autonomy of states and new global institutional arrangements aiming at, and leading to, democratising globalisation. In the irreversible historical processes of structuration, this new phase of globalisation would lead to new kinds of political sagas, too. The Tobin tax organisation has the potential to play a crucial role in some of these episodes – at least in the beginning.
5- Jospin's declarations: Sidestepping, ambiguity and resounding silences
Whilst endeavouring to convey the impression that he is in favor of the Tobin tax, Lionel Jospin signs his political death warrant. He ignores the question to be addressed by the Belgian presidence of the EU, during the Ecofin Counsel meeting to take place in Liege on September 22 and 23, concerning the implementation of the tax in Europe. Instead he suggests that the EU submit the question to “international representation”, ie. the IMF.
6- Tobin in Asia
New issues and challenges in international taxation that have emerged as a result of globalization will be discussed at a Tax Conference in Tokyo, Japan, from 5 to 11 September 2001.
7- WTO Tidbits
The Doha agenda meets with mounting difficulties. Mr Moore speaks out against "anti-globalization netsurfers", while a WTO symposium bringing in NGOs is scoffed as a mere public relations act. Meanwhile, Asian countries strike out at GMO-based imports, and developing countries demand a fund to compensate them for liberalizing agriculture.

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1- Zimbabwe's lurch towards a pauper's burial?
Because of repayment scheduling and the tyranny of compound interest, Mugabe found himself sliding backwards on the debt treadmill. Finally in early 1999, he jumped off, refusing to pay the IMF and Bank, thereby joining a list of rogue-financial states like Yemen, Iraq and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
2- The World Bank's Attack on Social Security
The World Bank's attack on public Social Security systems has been both direct and indirect. The indirect attacks have been most important for industrialized countries like the United States. The World Bank has vigorously promoted the notion that Social Security systems, such as the one in the United States, are unsustainable. This was done most clearly in a 1994 World Bank book, titled Averting the Old Age Crisis.
3- After Genoa, a few thoughts on violence and the current state of the movement.
Since Seattle, the movement against neo-liberal globalisation has grown considerably. This has affected both the periodicity and extent of mobilisations and has brought increasing radicalisation, amongst the young in particular. But, and this is the main point, these mobilisations are only the precursor of an overall shift in public opinion, at least in capitalistic developed countries. Not only are these movements gaining in strength, but they are also starting to resonate with the concerns of increasing segments of the population.
4- Russian Genoa.
First of all, a feeling of relief that all participants in the Russian and Ukrainian delegation have returned saved and sound. One thing is certain : the shock of the events has been such that the militants, having participated for the first time, came back somewhat distraught, but firmly determined to spread the anti-globalisation movement in Russia.
5- EU's secret network to spy on anti-capitalist protesters
European leaders have ordered police and intelligence agencies to co-ordinate their efforts to identify and track the anti-capitalist demonstrators whose violent protests at recent international summits culminated in the shooting dead by police of a young protester at the Genoa G8 meeting last month.

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1- Water Privatisation in Ghana
The Government of Ghana, in cahoots with the World Bank, intends to privatise Ghana's water supply. An open letter invites readers to express solidarity with opposition to this project, and sign the Accra Declaration on the Right to Water
2- An End to Self-Defeating Rhetoric
There are many examples of situations in which corporate profits or high labor incomes are fundamentally dependent on government interventions into the market. In fact, there are probably few, if any, cases where this is not true. But, in virtually every case, the preferred approach of the right is to try to define away this intervention as somehow natural or inevitable. When progressives accept this characterization of the debate it puts us at a major disadvantage.
3- Developing Countries In Despair Over WTO Preparations For Doha
In general, developing countries expressed frustration that there really has been no movement in the Doha preparation on issues of interest to them. The process so far, has concentrated on trying to get agreement on new issues (pushed by the EU and now US). while implementation issues have been subjected to a process of being increasingly watered down and marginalised.
4- Informal ECOFIN Meeting Liege - Write to Gordon Brown
In a key development for the proposal, The Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt has forwarded the Tobin Tax for discussion during the current Belgian Presidency of the EU. Specifically, he has placed the idea on the agenda of the informal ECOFIN (finance ministers) meeting in Liege for the 22nd September this year.

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Apologies.
Right after Genoa we couldn’t publish the Newsletter. Several reasons, some technical, would explain this. Anyhow we are back to provide you with a weekly issue.
1- Thumbs up for globalization
When you are coming back this is generally a real story. This one is an encounter. I met with the OECD General Secretary after spending some time trying to forget police violence and brutality.
2- Who shot Argentina? The finger prints on the smoking gun read 'IMF'
The crisis in Argentina is more a plane crash than a landing. But unlike accidents this situation was built up and in fact is a consequence of IMF orthodoxy on the side of the Argentinean government. Just one more incident would explain the experts in Corporate Globalization. Nothing to worry about business is as usual. Several millions of people are seeing their life and work jeopardized totally.
3- Another Europe for another globalization
We wish to bring together representatives of European social and associative movements. The Citizens’ European Congress is open to all interested members of trade unions, citizens’ associations, NGOs, students’ organisations, publishing houses, universities, and more generally to any citizen who wants to participate in any one of the four workshops (which will be on taxation, public services, world trade, North-South relationship).
4- Mobilization for Global Justice
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank will be holding their Joint Annual General Meetings in Washington, DC from September 29-30, 2001. We call on activists from all over the world to come to Washington during that week to protest and expose the illegitimacy of the institutions and officials who continue to claim the right to determine the course of the world economy.

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