 |
|
|
|
Unions identify eight
global divides "This inequality has become so great that that it poses a threat to the sustainability of global integration and to global stability." Task Force statement The eight divides: Wealth – more than one billion people live on less than a dollar a day. Globalisation has increased wealth divisions within countries and between countries, many of the poorest countries do not benefit from growing world trade Power - many multi-nationals have more power than nation states, out of control financial markets create regional and global instabilities that harm the poorest most Rights – democracy still not universal, workers rights are often abused or curbed, Health – Infectious diseases still the world’s biggest killer, life expectancy has fallen in some countries, medical research concentrates on rich markets Education – illiteracy still widespread Environment – global warming, depletion of world’s resources, developed world consumes most of the reources Technology - a digital divide, a pharmaceutical divide, a patent divide Ownership of the global economy – still the prerogative of some governments, financial institutions largely unchanged since 1945 – and multi-national corporations. The solutions: Wealth - global commitment to halve number of desperately poor by 2015, dump the debt of poorest countries, fairer access to world trade, fairer income distribution, minimum wage, Power- end irresponsibility of some multi-nationals, global financial authority, global merger authority Rights - Universal Declaration of Human Rights, ILO core labour standards for trade union rights and collective bargaining, Health - Dump the debt, increased aid to meet 0.7% of GDP target, Millennium Declaration to provide universal basic health Education - Dump the debt, increased aid, Millennium Declaration for primary schooling for all by 2015 Environment – Rio and Kyoto commitments, sustainable environment for all Technology - Dump the debt, government investment within countries and international investment effort, greater assistance for developing countries to meet UN targets Ownership of the global economy - More inclusive decision-making for the global economy, people and their organisations to be included, to have a voice, more dialogue between global unions and global corporations. |
||
