wfn.org | People of faith should speak on WTO issues, agencies say

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

Dec. 1, 1999 News media contact: Linda Bloom·(212) 870-3803·New York
10-21-71B{649}

NOTE: This is a sidebar to UMNS story #648.

By United Methodist News Service

People of faith "have a moral imperative" to speak out on the issues
surrounding decisions of the World Trade Organization (WTO), according to a
joint statement from two United Methodist agencies.

Issued Nov. 30, the statement was signed by the Rev. Thom White Wolf
Fassett, chief executive, Board of Church and Society; the Rev. Randolph
Nugent, chief executive, Board of Global Ministries; and Joyce Sohl, chief
executive of the Women's Division, a part of the Board of Global Ministries.

"World trade and investment patterns profoundly influence the quality of
life on this planet as well as determine the ecological and social
inheritance we leave future generations," the statement said.

"In fact, the ramifications can be even more stark," it continued. "People
live and die based on the rules nations and multilateral institutions set
for trade and investment in such products and services as weapons and
military technology, pharmaceuticals, food and toxic chemicals. Even rules
for patenting genes are being set by the WTO."

Because these issues have become critical moral questions, people of faith
must both speak out and participate in shaping policies, the agencies said.
"John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, in his teachings on
slavery and trade set an example for not allowing trade that ignores
morals."

As a global church, United Methodists recognize the need for international
trade. But the two agencies are opposed to the "severe imbalances in
economic, political and social power" reflected in the global economy.
"Unequal power among individuals, businesses and nations is exacerbated by
current trade and investment policies and by institutions such as the WTO,"
the statement explained. 

"Current multilateral trade and investment agreements promote profits over
the well-being of people and the planet," the statement said. "Current
policies do not ensure that everyone benefits equally from new trade and
investments. We are troubled by the greed and short-sightedness inherent in
the rules and institutions which shape global trade and investment
patterns."

The agencies called upon United Methodists to work to change this situation.
They also called for the WTO and various U.N. agencies "to engage in a
comprehensive social and environmental impact assessment of existing
multilateral trade and investment agreements and enforcement mechanisms
under the WTO's purview. This should be done before proceeding with any new
agreements."

In the statement, the agencies chastised WTO officials and governmental
delegations for excluding smaller nations from last-minute negotiations and
trying "to finalize a ministerial statement at all costs."

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United Methodist News Service
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