A New Respect For The Planet

Global New Deal For A New Fairness And A New Respect For The Planet

Brussels, 3 April 2009 (ITUC OnLine): A call for a ‘Global New Deal’ was launched today in Brussels by a unique coalition of progressive politicians, trade unions and NGOs from over forty countries. ITUC affiliates from every region took part in the event.

“Coming straight after the London G20 Summit, where new possibilities to transform the direction of globalisation were opened up, this major event shows the determination of progressive people across the planet to forge a new world,” said ITUC General Secretary Guy Ryder.

The launch of the call took place at the Global Progressive Forum, a huge gathering of over 2,000 politicians, trades unionists, NGOs, representatives of progressive international organizations and grassroots activists in the European Parliament, and timed to coincide with the end of the G20.

The declaration states “Together it is possible to change the face of globalization”.

“Over recent decades, progressive forces have been warning about the accumulation of risks and injustices for people and the planet. Now, the fundamental and systemic failures of the current economic system are undeniable: the time has come to restate our values, our vision and our proposals for a new direction, transforming our societies, improving the lives of our and future generations.”

“Millions live in poverty without access to decent work, housing or basic medical care while others indulge shocking greed.”

The Global Progressive Forum calls for a Global New Deal including

- The biggest coordinated fiscal stimulus in modern history to stop unemployment and poverty
- Financial market regulation, including an end to tax avoidance by the elite by abolishing tax havens
- Supporting the transition to a renewable and energy efficient economy
- Promoting fair trade
- Pushing decent work up the global agenda
- A more equitable sharing of revenue between capital and labour
- Ensuring women’s rights
- Massive new resources to secure development in the world’s poorest countries

Each person taking part in the launch of the call for a ‘Global New Deal’ signed a giant globe to show their support, and explained to the gathered audience why they supported the declaration. Signatories included

Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, President of the PES, Member of the European Parliament, former Prime Minister of Denmark;
Elisabeth Tang, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions, Hong Kong/China;
Chico Whitaker, co-founder and member of the organising committee of the World Social Forum (in personal capacity);
Anna Diamontopoulou, Member of the Greek Parliament with Greek Socialist Party PASOK and former European Commissioner;
Martin Ziguela, President of the MLPC, former Prime Minister, Central African Republic;
Lionel Jospin, former Prime Minister of France;
Pascal Affi N'guessan, President of the FPI, Vice President of the Socialist International, former Prime Minister of Ivory Coast;
Karl August Offman, former President of Mauritius, and leader of the Africa Forum;
Juan Fernando Lopez Aguilar, former Minister of Justice, Spain;
Jutta Urpilainen, Leader of the Social Democratic Party of Finland;
Mustapha Ben Jaafar, Leader of the FDTL, candidate for the presidential elections 2009, Tunisia;
Alpha Conde, Leader of the Rassemblement du Peuple de Guinée;
Pervenche Beres, Chair of the European Parliament's Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee, France;
Josep Borrell, Chair of the Global Progressive Forum, Chair of European Parliament Development Committee;
Guy Ryder, Secretary General of the International Trade Union Confederation;
John Tesha, General Secretary of the Africa Forum, South Africa;
Aicha Belarbi, from Morocco, former Secretary of State for Cooperation and former Ambassador to the EU;
Namrata Bali, founder of Self Employed Women’s Association, India;
Bob Kuttner, Editor of the American Prospect, USA;
Aminata Traore, writer and former Minister of Culture, Mali;
Mercedes Bresso, President of the Socialist Group in the Committee of Regions and President of the Piedmont Region, Italy;
Larry Mishel, Chair of the Economic Policy Institute, USA;
Salima Ghezali from Algeria, writer and winner of 1997 Sakharov Prize;
Vandana Shiva, Director of the Research Foundation for science, technology and ecology, India;
Professor Stephany Griffith-Jones, Columbia University, USA;
Sony Kapoor, Executive Director of Re-define, India;
Kader Arif, member of the European Parliament, France;
John Evans, General Secretary of the OECD-TUAC;
Mody Guiro, General Secretary of CNTS, Senegal;
Conny Reuter, Secretary General of Solidar;
Bob Borosage, Co-Chair of the Campaign for America’s future, USA;
Luciano Vecchi, Vice chair of the Global Progressive Forum and a member of the Partito Democratico, Italy;
Ernst Stetter, General Secretary of the Foundation for European Progressive Studies;
Giacomo Filibeck, President of the European Committee of Socialist Youth;
Viviana Pinero, Vice President of the International Union of Socialist Youth, Uruguay

Others supporting the declaration while not being present to sign were Pascal Lamy, Howard Dean and Alfred Gusenbauer.

For more information, see: http://www.globalprogressiveforum.org/

The ITUC represents 170 million workers in 312 affiliated national organisations from 157 countries and territories. http://www.ituc-csi.org http://www.youtube.com/ITUCCSI

ENDS

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