7 September 2000

Greens to join alternative World Economic Forum

Green MPs Nandor Tanczos and Sue Bradford will travel to Melbourne this weekend to attend a number of alternative meetings to the World Economic Forum, and demonstrations against the forum, starting September 11.

Ms Bradford and Mr Tanczos will be meeting all costs of the trip themselves.

The two Green MPs have been invited by the Australian Green Party to take part in a range of meetings and forums to look at alternatives to free-trade and globalisation. The meetings will look at the impact of globalisation on the poor, workers and the Third World.

Also the two will be joining a wide-range of concerned citizens protesting about increased dominance of corporations over democratically elected governments.

Mr Tanczos and Ms Bradford said there was increasing evidence that free trade - while benefitting business and the rich - was actually working directly against most people and the health of the planet. "We are looking forward to joining our Australian counterparts in presenting an alternative - and increasingly respected - perspective to that which the politicians and corporations will be presenting at the WEF," said Mr Tanczos.

"This perspective is becoming increasingly important and, while the politicians and corporations gamble with the lives of the world's people and their environment at the WEF, the timing of these alternative forums is also very significant," said Ms Bradford.

Sue Bradford and Nandor Tanczos will leave for Melbourne this Saturday afternoon and return on the following Wednesday afternoon.

Contact numbers for New Zealand MPs in Australia: Sue Bradford: 0061 401 772 608, 021 126 5289 Nandor Tanczos: 0061 401 772 618

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