Exeter FoE's World Trade Monster

hits the streets of Exeter

On Saturday, the 20th November 1999, Exeter Friends of the Earth's World Trade Monster alerted people to the dangers of unrestrained Liberalisation of Trade.

The Monster - 9 ft high and called "Tradosaurus Wrecks" - was frightening people, in Catherine Street. FoE members handed out leaflets explaining the real reasons why everyone should be frightened by the activities of the World Trade Organisation.

The Millennium Round of talks to be conducted by the World Trade Organisation will start in Seattle (USA) on the 30th November. These talks are aimed at the further liberalisation of trade. Friends of the Earth believes that these talks will make trade less fair and more global, and will affect the long term health of the planet, and cause great damage to Third World economies.

Maurice Spurway, Exeter FoE’s co-ordinator said:

"The so-called Millennium Round of talks is nothing to do with how trade can meet human needs, or protect the planet. It is all about the exploitative behaviour of multinational companies and the increasing power that these companies have over us all. We are asking for the World Trade Organisation to rewrite its rules so that they operate fairly to the benefit of citizens and the environment. Few people have heard of the WTO and their activities. We hope to alert people of the dangers before it's too late."

In reality, the subsequent Seattle talks infamously broke down, but not before the world was witness to the most oppressive jack-boot security policing ever seen in a civilised country. The world was alerted to the secret negotiations of the World Trade Organisation in a big way.

A global campaign against globalisation has mushroomed from this day, but this has not stopped the WTO from trying to expand the liberalisation of Free Trade. The next set of talks that is equally as concerning as the Seattle talks centres on GATS (General Agreement on Trade in Services) in March 2001.

Pictures:
"Tradosaurus Wrecks" strutting his stuff in Catherine Street: Click here for pictures