News
See WCC Press Update, Up-04-03, of 15 January 2004
"We believe that current economic arrangements, international financial institutions and trade and investment treaties, e.g., the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), unjustly distort the rules governing trade and investment to the advantage of the affluent and powerful."
This was one of the conclusions of an 11-14 January consultation on just trade organized by North American churches at Stony Point, NY. The statement is made in a "Declaration for just trade in the service of an economy of life" which, together with a "Plan of action", were the main outcomes of the meeting,
Convened by Church World Service and the Canadian Council of Churches, the consultation took place while, at the same time, more than 30 leaders of American nations were meeting in Monterrey, Mexico, where they issued a declaration pledging support for the setting up of a free trade area for the Americas in 2005.
The World Council of Churches, the Lutheran World Federation and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches also accompanied the North American gathering at Stony Point as part of a global ecumenical process addressing economic globalization.
Addressing the issue of "the ever-expanding demands of economic globalization and their negative impact on our communities and throughout the world", the about-100 church and grassroots organization representatives from Mexico, Canada and the United States gathered at Stony Point denounced the fact that "inequality is growing".
"While technological and other advances have made it possible for a small segment of humanity to achieve unprecedented material prosperity", the declaration says, "billions of people are marginalized, oppressed and excluded from the economy of life, experiencing poverty, hunger, disease, hopelessness and even death".
Understanding themselves as "people of God" gathered "in a community of solidarity", participants evoked the concept of "economy of life" to express the theological ground in which their concern and approach to the issues at stake is rooted. "In God's gracious economy, there is enough for all to enjoy abundant life if we but share", they affirm in the declaration.
Entitled "What does God require of us?", the core of the declaration consists of twelve "Principles for just and fair trade agreements". These stress that international law, human rights as well as rights of indigenous peoples need to be respected by trade and investment agreements.
According to the declaration, those agreements should also promote sustainable development and poverty reduction, respect for creation and national sovereignty, as well as greater human security based on peace.
The document also emphasizes the need of greater participation by civil society, transparent negotiations and greater corporate social responsibility and accountability. While looking for mutually beneficial agricultural trade, trade and investment agreements should also give a special and differential treatment to small, weaker and less developed states.
Reversing the deterioration in terms of trade experienced by primary exporters, and respect for the sovereign rights of peoples and nations to choose a diversity of development paths, are also among the goals that trade and investment agreements should pursue, according to the declaration.
The document is intended for use as a tool to both educate churches and lobby government and trade officials in Mexico, Canada and the USA. It is complemented by a "Plan of action to guide collaborative ecumenical and denominational efforts".
The plan of action provides ideas and suggestions for denominations and church agencies: These include developing "lifestyle integrity programs" to foster just trade (e.g., Fair Trade purchasing, socially and environmentally responsible investments, etc.), and the development of a "Community Diagnostic Tool Kit" to measure the impacts of trade and economic globalization.
The Stony Point declaration is available at:
www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/jpc/stonypoint-declaration.html
The Stony Point plan of action is available at:
www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/jpc/stonypoint-poa.pdf
Media contact in the USA:
Ann Walle, Church World Service, (+1) 212 870 2654, [email protected]