GO FOR FAIR TRADE, NOT FOR FREE TRADE?
ON TRADE AND THE PROSPECTS FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS IN DEVELOPING
COUNTRIES
Debating the Jo'Burg Memo
Date: August 28
Time: 18h15-18h45 (theatre) and 19h00-20h00
(debate)
Venue: Boell Forum at the Global People's Forum +
[ where is it ]
With Vandana Shiva, Diverse Women
for Diversity; Penny Fowler, Oxfam GB; and Alejandro Villamar,
RMALC*
"Unconditional free
access to Northern markets could damage the South, in particular
in the agriculture sector. An "exports first" policy is
at odds with a "food first" policy. it favors small farmers
and transnationals over small farmers. It promotes monoculture instead
of biodiversity, and channels public support in the export sector
instead in the livelihood sector. (...) The call for unconditional
market access is self-defeating, unless small producers and low-input
agriculture benefit from it." (The Jo'burg
Memo, pp. 57).
The Southern demand for better access to Northern markets is a
very hot issue at the official negotiations. But will this translate
into livelihoods improvements for the poorest communities in these
countries. What is required to safeguard food security and promote
resilient livelihood strategies for the poorest, and can this be
achieved alongside export growth? This debate will aim to clarify
the issues at stake. Vandana Shiva is Director of the Research
Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology in New Delhi, and
member of the Steering Committee of the network "Diverse Women
for Diversity". Penny Fowler is Trade Policy Advisor
at Oxfam GB. She is co-author of Oxfam International's recent report,
"Rigged Rules and Double Standards: Trade, Globalization and
the Fight Against Poverty".
The debate starts at 19h00. It will be preceded from 18h15 to
18h45 by "Fair Wealth?", a theatre play inspired
by the Jo'burg Memo, by the Sibikwa
Community Theatre Group.
*tbc
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