Com. MURARI BOSE, EEFI IS GOING TO BRUSSELS, FRANCE AS A DELEGATE TO PARTICIPATE IN "THE RIGHT TO ENERGY MEETING ON 5TH MARCH,2002".
Mrs Loyola de PALACIO, European Commissioner will attend, with 13 other personalities from the trade union movement, International Institutions, Heads of companies of the Energy sector, Associations in charge of environment and sustainable development, this debate which will take place in Brussels at the headquarters of the European Union*.
Two panels are planned :
" "For a policy of common energy for all the European citizens" ;
" What regulation by the market or the public programming ?"
It is first time that such a debate, around these themes with so various personalities, is organised. This debate around the European energy policy has consequences on the world policy.
THE WORLD PRIORITIES?
(ANNUAL EXPENDITURE)
AMPLE RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE BUT NOT USED FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AS SHOWN IN THE TABLE
| BASIC EDUCATION FOR ALL | $ 6 BILLION |
| COSMETICS IN THE USA | $ 8 BILLION |
| WATER AND SANITARY FOR ALL | $ 9 BILLION |
| ICE CREAM IN EUROPE | $ 11 BILLION |
| REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH FOR ALL WOMEN | $ 12 BILLION |
| PERFUMES IN EUROPE AND THE USA | $ 12 BILLION |
| BASIC HEALTH AND NUTRION | $ 13 BILLION |
| PET FOODS IN EUROPE AND THE SEA | $ 17 BILLION |
| BUSINESS ENTERTAINMENT IN JAPAN | $ 35 BILLION |
| CIGARETTES IN EUROPE | $ 50 BILLION |
| ALCOHOLIC DRINKS | $105 BILLION |
| NARCOTIC DRUGS IN THE WORLD | $400 BILLION |
| MILITARY SPENDING IN THE WORLD | $780 BILLION |
| FRUITS OF GLOBALISATION. ISN'T IT ? |
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ARGENTINA
Following the deepening of the economic, political and social crisis in this country, which had just hosted two major international initiatives in the energy field - the Latin American "Right to Energy" Forum and the 18th Congress of the WEC - the IEMO sent our Argentinean comrades the following press statement:
"Once again, the mask of ultra-liberalism has tragically fallen in Argentina. A worsened, but foreseeable, unacceptable social situation - with daily increasing poverty, as well as a programmed explosion of unemployment with blind alignment on the dollar - have led to legitimate revolt.
Presented as a pioneer and model of success regarding all kinds of deregulation, especially in the energy sector, the situation in Argentina in fact symbolize their crushing defeat, as is the case everywhere.
The IMF and the World Bank are greatly responsible for this economic, social and human failure. Successive Argentinean governments are also responsible, as they have voluntarily and zealously obeyed the formers' orders and used their recipes.
The IEMO expresses its total solidarity with the Argentinean people and workers and their trade unions, who called a general strike against the authors of the disaster that has hit them and simultaneously obscenely enriches the Buenos Aires stock exchange".
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PRIVATISATION: MARKET HOLDS THE KEY OR THE TATAs
Control of the blue chip Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd (VSNL) has been handed over to the TATAs at a price less than the dividend earned by the Govt. from the company just preceding the sell off. On the pricing of the deal, the Minister-in-charge of the PSU-sell out swore by the Market-God.
But in the bidding process, the Govt. debarred MTNL and BSNL the telecom PSUs to bid for VSNL, as all other oil-sector PSUs were barred to bid for HPCL and BPCL. The market god was conveniently forgotten.
Now, VSNL under the TATA management has been planning for entering the national long distance telephony (STD service), the area where BSNL and MTNL are operating, and the Govt. has merrily allowed the same. Because, the market god must be honoured. But, the same Govt. has already refused to grant similar permission to BSNL and also debarred MTNL to enter into the international long distance telephony (ISD) segment, letting the market god go to hell.
More interestingly, the privatized VSNL has been gifted the "preferred carrier" status from BSNL, which means that BSNL is forced to route all its outgoing international calls through the VSNL gateway. Here, market is not to decide; rather a captive market is assured for the TATAs. But, the TATA owned VSNL has no obligation to route its incoming international calls through BSNL.
And the Climax comes when towards the end of January, BSNL staked claim for 26% share of VSNL and the government bluntly refused. Just a few days after, the Minister for Communication, Promod Mahajan indicated that the TATAs, even after taking over VSNL, would continue to be eligible to bid for BSNL and MTNL. All talks of market forces and competition etc. are there to deprive and sideline the PSUs or to facilitate their sale. In reality, it is not the "Market" but the TATAs' clan that holds the key.
(Source Business Line, 14-2-2002)
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INDIAN NGOS AMONG PROTESTERS IN DOHA
Protesters, including Indian NGOs led by environmentalist Vandana Shiva, today held a demonstration at the venue of the WTO Ministerial Conference here against the united States-European Union move to grab intellectual property rights which the protesters alleged were detrimental to public health concerns of the developing countries.
The demonstration, which lasted about 30 minutes, was followed by plays depicting women suffering due to non availability of affordable medicines.
Shiva, joined by 50-odd activists from Green peace and French Workers Union, protested against patenting and environmental issues. The protesters held placards screaming "No patents on life".
This is the second time the group held a protest at the venue which has been sanitized from violent demonstrations.
Laws are strict in Qatar and protesters could be imprisoned up to five years.
Although 800 NGO activists are here for the conference, they have been generally quiet, unlike in Seattle, where violent protests led to tear-gassing and lathi charge, leading to disruption of the ministerial conference.
"Poor farmers are becoming victims of pro-globalisation seed companies," Shiva said, adding that farmers commit suicide in India as a result free-market policies.
While the WTO talks too much about patenting of drugs, it does not give much attention to traditional medicines, genetic resources or expertise of various countries including India.
