If we want a say in the future,
we have to speak up soon.
October 19th marks the tenth anniversary of two historic events.
On that day in 1987, the World Commission on Environment and Development
tabled its report at the United Nations. The Report confirmed that
humankind is stretching the Earth's capacity to support us. Related or
not, that same morning saw the enormous 'Black Monday' stock market crash.
The coincidence of these two events highlights a conflict of
interests so serious that our survival depends on resolving it.
On one hand is the need to maintain sustainable relationships with
the life processes of our planet and between the various parts of the human
family. On the other hand is a huge economic system which has to grow
still larger to remain healthy. These two interests call for different
measures. Do we model societies to accommodate planetary limitations or do
we develop them to pursue endless growth. This is the Question of
Direction. To date, the citizens who's children have to live with the
consequences of this choice have not been asked their preference.
The winners of the global growth game are writing regulations to
give themselves further advantage. The North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA), and the Global Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) have already
caused much change. The Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI),
presently being negotiated, aims to give investors global rights. It would
no longer be possible to require such investors to buy, sell or hire
locally. Environmental and labour laws could be challenged as interference
in their business and nations would be powerless to insist even that an
enterprise or asset be kept in the country where it is purchased.
One trade dispute presently before NAFTA's closed door dispute
settlement panel foretells of things to come.
Ethel Corp in the US makes a gasoline additive which contains
manganese. There is enough danger that this element will inhibit pollution
control devices in cars that a law was passed forbidding its use in Canada.
Through NAFTA, Ethel Corp is suing the Canadian Government for $251
million US for business lost due to this law. NAFTA has the power to
declare our law illegal and we would either have to repeal it or pay the
quarter billion dollars in damages to Ethel Corp.
The objective of trade agreements is to accommodate economic
expansion. If people feel environmental and social concerns have to be
given equal if not greater importance, we have to speak up.
Inviting Debate is a part of an expanding network of groups and
individuals who want to make sure that these concerns are not lost.
We have developed a variety of materials and procedures to move the
choice between sustainability and perpetual economic expansion into the
democratic forum for people to choose. Some materials require almost no
time to be used effectively. Others, with a little time commitment, can
involve organizations, networks, communities and campuses.
Please get in touch and help question the assumption that economic
expansion is the ultimate goal of humankind.
Yours truly,
Mike Nickerson, Inviting Debate
For more information about the Question of Direction, see:
http://www.cyberus.ca/choose.sustain/Question/Question.html
For a review of:
The Growth Illusion: How economic growth has enriched the few,
impoverished the many, and endangered the planet, see:
http://www.cyberus.ca/choose.sustain/growth.html
"If we don't change direction,
we'll end up where we're going."
(anon)
http://www.cyberus.ca/choose.sustain
Sustainability Project - Inviting Debate
P.O. Box 374, Merrickville, Ontario
K0G 1N0
(613) 269-3500
e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
