[mgj-discuss] Media Release - G8 Environment Ministers sell out

[mike sysiuk]

FYI,

Mike

April 12, 2002

For immediate release

G8 Environment Ministers sell out to global trade agenda

Ottawa, The Council of Canadians released today a leaked copy of the G8 
Environment Ministers proposed final statement on the World Summit on 
Sustainable Development (WSSD).

Environment ministers from the eight leading industrialized countries (the 
G8) are meeting in Banff, Alberta this weekend in preparation for the G8 
first ministers meeting (June 26 - 27th) and the WSSD in Johannesburg, South 
Africa (August 26th to September 4, 2002).

The leaked document clearly outlines how the environment ministers are going 
to be supporting the corporate trade agenda of the WTO and forcing this onto 
countries around the world at the WSSD.  The main focus that runs throughout 
the document is the need to link sustainable development" to globalization. 
For example, the document says,  "It [the WSSD] should be a point of 
convergence for the positive outcomes achieved at the Millennium Summit in 
New York, World Trade Organization negotiations in Doha and Financing for 
Development Conference in Monterrey."

"It is pathetic to see that the G8 environment ministers are planning to 
subordinate the world's environment to corporate globalization," said Maude 
Barlow, Chair of the Council of Canadians. "The world's environmental crisis 
is mounting and all they can commit to is more of the same globalization 
that is causing the environmental crisis."

"Every time trade agreements address environmental issues, the environment 
loses out," says David Robbins, Trade Campaigner for the Council of 
Canadians. "This is a very bad sign for the future of the planet. The G8 is 
working, through the Quad of the WTO, to limit governments' ability to 
protect the environment."

"In reality, the G8 functions as the executive of the WTO and they clearly 
want to make sure that environmental issues are not going to limit corporate 
profits," added Robbins. At the WTO negotiations in Doha, the G8 countries 
successfully pushed for water and environmental services to be commodified 
and controlled by corporations.

Media Contact:
Bill Moore-Kilgannon
613 233-4487 ext 223

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