Ryan Hayhurst (Environmental Design) - Web site review of www.wtoaction.org
As the powers and scope of the WTO expands, now is the time to seriously questioning the integrity and sustainability of the globalization movement. All over the world nations are queuing up to join powerful trading blocks that in many ways transcend other international institutions. Soon the biggest and perhaps most significant market on the planet, China, will join the WTO and expect to reap similar rewards to those that have preceded it. But what might the (unintended?) consequences be from this 'windfall of economic prosperity' and what are we doing about it? If you are curious, WTOACTION.ORG is a good starting point.
SITE CONTENT
At the epicentre of the anti WTO movement on the World Wide Web is WTOACTION.ORG, a website that co-ordinates research and action for anti-globalization activities (it's predecessor was WTOCARAVAN.ORG, which organized the Canadian contingent of Seattle protestors). The site provides news, links and research on various trade liberalization, corporate governance, and globalization issues with the aim of educating visitors on the potential dangers of unchecked and unbalanced development in international economic relations. Through its various sub-sections, links and bulletins, the visitor is presented with well-written and informative material that effectively demonstrates the primary concerns about globalization according to various contributors. While the site provides access to a broad range of material, from extreme activist propaganda to more moderate positions, some constant themes throughout the literature channelled to WTOACTION.ORG emerge:
· Concern over the transfer and control of social, economic and political decisions from elected representatives at local, regional and national levels to new forms of appointed, unaccountable and 'economics focused' organizations such as the WTO, the FTAA and the G-20.
· There is concern regarding the long term consequences of the apparent lack of attention being given to damages caused by resource extraction conducted with the sole intention of profit making and little regard for social and environmental factors.
· Concerns exist as to whether trade liberalization is perpetuating or contributing to income polarization trends. In, addition, many groups are concerned over whether trade liberalization will lead to economic advancement in all cases and if other development strategies are being ignored.
· What the repercussions will be if wealthy nations continue to increase their consumption and demand access to the growing scope of consumer goods that become available as new markets open. Many authors question whether the developed world should even be encouraged to follow the path to mass consumption when the consequences are already known.
ROLE & FUNCTION
Websites such as WTOACTION.ORG play an extremely important role in tempering mainstream ideology and present visitors with some ideas that are often shielded or ignored by mainstream, pro-globalization agendas. For some people the ideas found at WTOACTION.ORG and sites like it are nothing more than extremist views that lack academic support, while others sincerely believe that they represent a better future. While the truth may lie somewhere in between, the agenda of this site and those linked to it is clearly to take an active stance and mobilize the 'opposition' forces.
I believe one the most valuable functions of WTOACTION.ORG, is that it represents an alternative to conventional sites. It seems as though few people are willing to question globalization, trade liberalization and expanding corporate powers when they seem so inevitable and are so much a part of what has propelled Canada and other countries to reach the level of affluence we now enjoy. However, I believe that it is healthy to question where we are as a society and where we are going. The free market as it exists today is not what its inventor Adam Smith intended it to be, nor is it a 'natural' end point. It is a result of the power struggle that has seen the interests of corporations win out over less powerful, more localized interest groups who may have had more honourable intentions.
I would recommend WTOACTION.ORG to all who interested in learning more about the anti-globalization movement, which has taken to the streets as well as the web. While some areas of this site and its links take a more 'high impact' approach to delivering their message, the majority is impartial and fair. There are plenty of links to neutral observers, such as WTOWATCH.ORG, as well as links to some more widely recognized causes such as third world debt reduction (Jubilee 2000: Drop the Debt, www.dropthedebt.org) and agricultural reform (The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, www.iatp.org). However, the most important role for this site and its predecessor is as a voice and as a forum of communication.
On the Internet, freedom of speech prevails and taking a stance in cyberspace is a practice that has become expected from activist groups. To this end, I would recommend that site administrators at WTOACTION.ORG go one step further and set up a chat board for people that visit the site to allow them to communicate with each other and exchange ideas. The more people become involved with the site and realize that others share the same views, the more power the movement will gain and the likelihood to make progress increases. I would think that ultimately this must be the goal of sites like WTOACTION.ORG.