wfn.org | WCC: 12 just trade principles

["WCC Media" <Media@wcc-coe.org>]

World Council of Churches
Update Up-04-08
For Immediate Use
27 January 2004

North American consultation offers principles for just trade to lobby
governments, educate constituencies

See WCC Press Update, Up-04-03, of 15 January 2004

"We believe that current economic arrangements, international financial
institutions and trade and investment treaties, e.g., the North American Free
Trade Agreement (NAFTA), unjustly distort the rules governing trade and
investment to the advantage of the affluent and powerful." 

This was one of the conclusions of an 11-14 January consultation on just
trade organized by North American churches at Stony Point, NY. The statement
is made in a "Declaration for just trade in the service of an economy of
life" which, together with a "Plan of action", were the main outcomes of the
meeting, 

Convened by Church World Service and the Canadian Council of Churches, the
consultation took place while, at the same time, more than 30 leaders of
American nations were meeting in Monterrey, Mexico, where they issued a
declaration pledging support for the setting up of a free trade area for the
Americas in 2005. 

The World Council of Churches, the Lutheran World Federation and the World
Alliance of Reformed Churches also accompanied the North American gathering
at Stony Point as part of a global ecumenical process addressing economic
globalization. 

Addressing the issue of "the ever-expanding demands of economic globalization
and their negative impact on our communities and throughout the world", the
about-100 church and grassroots organization representatives from Mexico,
Canada and the United States gathered at Stony Point denounced the fact that
"inequality is growing". 

"While technological and other advances have made it possible for a small
segment of humanity to achieve unprecedented material prosperity", the
declaration says, "billions of people are marginalized, oppressed and
excluded from the economy of life, experiencing poverty, hunger, disease,
hopelessness and even death".

.../2

Understanding themselves as "people of God" gathered "in a community of
solidarity", participants evoked the concept of "economy of life" to express
the theological ground in which their concern and approach to the issues at
stake is rooted. "In God's gracious economy, there is enough for all to enjoy
abundant life if we but share", they affirm in the declaration. 

Entitled "What does God require of us?", the core of the declaration consists
of twelve "Principles for just and fair trade agreements". These stress that
international law, human rights as well as rights of indigenous peoples need
to be respected by trade and investment agreements. 

According to the declaration, those agreements should also promote
sustainable development and poverty reduction, respect for creation and
national sovereignty, as well as greater human security based on peace. 

The document also emphasizes the need of greater participation by civil
society, transparent negotiations and greater corporate social responsibility
and accountability. While looking for mutually beneficial agricultural trade,
trade and investment agreements should also give a special and differential
treatment to small, weaker and less developed states. 

Reversing the deterioration in terms of trade experienced by primary
exporters, and respect for the sovereign rights of peoples and nations to
choose a diversity of development paths, are also among the goals that trade
and investment agreements should pursue, according to the declaration. 

The document is intended for use as a tool to both educate churches and lobby
government and trade officials in Mexico, Canada and the USA. It is
complemented by a "Plan of action to guide collaborative ecumenical and
denominational efforts". 

The plan of action provides ideas and suggestions for denominations and
church agencies: These include developing "lifestyle integrity programs" to
foster just trade (e.g., Fair Trade purchasing, socially and environmentally
responsible investments, etc.), and the development of a "Community
Diagnostic Tool Kit" to measure the impacts of trade and economic
globalization. 

The Stony Point declaration is available at:
http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/jpc/stonypoint-declaration.html 

The Stony Point plan of action is available at:
http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/jpc/stonypoint-poa.pdf 

Media contact in the USA:
Ann Walle, Church World Service, (+1) 212 870 2654,
awalle@churchworldservice.org 

For further information, please contact Juan Michel, WCC  media relations
officer,  tel: +41 22 791 6153, mobile +41 79 507 6363, media@wcc-coe.org  

**********

The World Council of Churches (WCC) is a fellowship of churches, now 342, in
more than 100 countries in all continents from virtually all Christian
traditions. The Roman Catholic Church is not a member church but works
cooperatively with the WCC. The highest governing body is the assembly, which
meets approximately every seven years. The WCC was formally inaugurated in
1948 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Its staff is headed by general secretary
Samuel Kobia from the Methodist Church in Kenya.

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