MEDIA RELEASE 15th September 2003
WTO Talks Collapse: The poor will not go quietly!
Arena (Action, Research & Education Network of Aotearoa) welcomes the collapse of the World Trade Organisation talks in Cancun, Mexico this
morning.
The WTO is an institution with no legitimacy, it promotes freedom to exploit for global big business, creates widening
inequalities between rich and poor, makes decisions in secret and puts 'free trade' before social, environmental,
economic and cultural concerns.
The refusal of the Least Developed Countries to be bullied by the powerful European Union and United States has led to
the collapse, helped by pressure from communities, indigenous peoples, workers, women, activists, farmers and millions
of people worldwide who have said "No to the WTO".
"The WTO was never going to provide sustainable, equitable solutions to world poverty, environmental devastation and
corporate greed. Now the Doha Round is in tatters, it is time for people to echo the victory song of Cancun "business
can't rule the world", and work together to develop a world that is inclusive and just, said Arena director, Leigh
Cookson.
ARENA Action, Research & Education Network of Aotearoa
arena.nz@clear.net.nz