Asian migrants say:
"Sweep out neoliberal globalization policies! Junk WTO!"
Press Statement
03 November 2005
For reference: Eni Lestari and Dolores Balladares
Spokespersons; Tel. No.: 96081475, 97472986
The Asian Migrants Coordinating Body shall rally thousands of migrant workers in the People's Action Week against the World Trade Organization (WTO) 6th Ministerial Conference in December. We shall join with our fellow workers, peasants, women and other anti-globalization and anti-WTO forces from all over the world who will flock to Hong Kong to once again defeat the agenda of neoliberal globalization that destroy our lives.
Why are we against globalization and its instrument for implementation - the WTO?
Globalization and the WTO attack the wage of workers, including migrant workers. With its firm adherence to maximum profit of big corporation, globalization and the WTO consider a just and decent wage as obstacles to investments and trade. Workers' wages are of no concern to globalization and the WTO.
Thus, the Hong Kong government - one of the most avid advocates of neoliberalism - has been shameless in attacking the wage of workers. It blatantly snubs petition of the working peoples of Hong Kong for wage increase. As what we have experienced with the two wage cuts in our Minimum Allowable Wage and the taxation charged to us disguised as a levy to our employers, the HK government also never hesitates in trampling on the wage of one of the lowest paid workers of Hong Kong, the foreign domestic workers.
The provision of public services is also not in the agenda of WTO. Instead, its main concern is on how public services can be used as a lucrative business for maximum profit. This is very much true especially in developing and underdeveloped countries, like our countries of origin - where public utilities such as water and electricity and social services such as education and health are offered for sale to multinational companies resulting to price increases and deterioration of services.
Even in Hong Kong, cuts in budget for social services have resulted to the worsening situation of the underclass and the underprivileged.
Employment protection has also been badly affected by globalization and the WTO. Neoliberal globalization policies aim to create a huge army of unemployed in order to insure corporations of never ending supply of cheap labor.
Finally, globalization and the WTO do not recognize the comprehensive rights of the people. From the economic, to the political, social, and cultural rights of the people, it has been very clear in our past experiences that our rights have no future with globalization and the WTO.
Thus, we fight. Globalization and the WTO have forced millions of people to seek employment abroad. The destruction that neoliberal policies have caused to our home countries have pushed us to work in other countries not to make our lives better but just so our families could survive the worsening crisis in our respective countries. Meanwhile, as migrants in host countries, we are faced with the same grave impacts of globalization and the WTO.
The WTO kills. It kills lives, families, wage, livelihood, rights, and countries. It kills our hope and dream of finally going back home to live a decent and humane life. Thus, we say: JUNK WTO!
Education for Mobilization
Migrants of HK shall be one of the biggest contingents in the December protests
Ten years of the World Trade Organization (WTO) are enough. Since October 2, we have been counting ten weeks before the December MC6 that will show the defeat of the WTO.
The 10-Week Countdown is the campaign launched by the AMCB in order to ensure the biggest and widest participation of the migrant workers in the People's Action Week.
As an active member of the Hong Kong People's Alliance on the WTO (HKPA), we are doing our utmost to significantly contribute to the movement that will defeat the WTO MC6.
Every Sunday, centralized and decentralized activities are being done foremost of which is the education campaign on globalization and the WTO. AMCB now have 65 migrant educators who go around hang out places of migrant workers - from Victoria Park to Central - to explain to our fellow migrants why we need to junk WTO.
We were also there when the HKPA rallied against the WTO council meeting. We were there when the HK people confronted WTO Director General Pascal. We will surely be there when the MC6 finally arrives.
This November, the countdown continues.
The AMCB shall spend this whole month to intensify our education and information drive on globalization and the WTO. We shall rally the most number of organizations of migrant workers to be a part of the anti-WTO actions.
Our education drive shall consist of widespread public teach-ins, seminars, mobile cultural presentations, seminars, forums and film showings. AMCB-trained migrant educators are all ready to lead discussion groups and go around in teams to reach the biggest number of migrant workers. Film showings for Filipinos and Indonesians are also set to be held.
On November 20, a big public forum on WTO will be organized by the Asosiasi Tenaga Kerja Indonesia (HK) at Victoria Park. At the same time, Thai migrants under the Thai Regional Alliance (TRA) and the Friends of Thai (FOT) shall mximize the Thai Father's Day celebration on December 4 to educate more Thai migrants on the WTO.
Our efforts will peak on November 26 in the big, colorful and creative "Hong Kong People's Mardi Gras Against the WTO". On this day we shall say, "Sweep out neoliberal globalization policies! Junk WTO!"
The Mardi Gras shall be participated in by no less than 3,000 migrant workers. It is a parade around Central where we shall feature in a creative way the grave impacts of the WTO on peoples lives as well as the people's aspirations. Local organizations are also expected to attend this big and historic event.
By December, migrant workers will be battle ready. By December, Hong Kong and the world shall hear from the migrant workers a resounding call to "JUNK WTO!".
In the fight against globalization and the WTO, we are never alone
Globalization and the WTO are global evils that impact on the people of the world. Thus we, the AMCB, shall march alongside with international, regional and national organizations of different sectors from various countries who will converge in Hong Kong to confront the WTO MC6.
Most important of those who will come to Hong Kong in December are the workers, peasants, women, migrants, youth, students and indigenous peoples who face the reality of globalization and WTO policies in their everyday lives. We the people are the concrete faces, the living reasons, why globalization must be stopped.
International and regional groups are all geared up to rally their members against the WTO MC6. They will ensure that protests against the WTO will not only happen in Hong Kong but all over the world where they are present.
The International League of People's Struggle - the biggest and most militant formation of grassroots and grassroot-based anti-imperialist organizations - shall bring its contingent of anti-imperialist activists to HK as well as coordinate anti-WTO activities in all regions of the world. It shall hold an International Conference on Trade and War in December 14 to discuss the current moves of imperialists led by the United States to intensify war and aggression in the world and its relations to the trade and economic policies of the WTO.
The Asia Pacific Research Network (APRN), a network of leading research groups and institutions in the region shall hold a People's Speak Out on December 10, International Human Rights Day, to hear concrete stories of the people on the WTO and globalization.
Peasant groups under the banners of the Pesticide Action Network - Asia Pacific (PANAP), the Asian Peasants Coalition and their networks of peasant groups shall show how WTO kills farmers and agriculture of developing and underdeveloped countries through the liberalization of agricultural. They hold a People's Camp on December 15 - 17.
Led by the Cordillera People's Alliance (CPA) from the Philippines, indigenous groups and other affected sectors shall hold a Mining Conference on December 10 that will focus on WTO policies that liberalize the mining industry and open up the world's resources to plunder of mining MNCs and TNCs.
Women's groups, meanwhile, shall put into trial the WTO on its crimes against women of world. Women workers, peasant women, young women, and our sisters from other sectors hold the WTO and globalization accountable to the worsened state of women. A Women's March and Women's Tribunal will be held on December 16 and 17.
The AMCB together with Migrante International in the Philippines and the ILPS Study Commission on Migrants, Homeless, Refugees and Displaced Peoples will lead migrants all over the world in the International Day of Action of Migrant Workers Against Globalization and the WTO in December 17. This day will consist of various types of mass actions that will show our strong protest with WTO's intensification of people's forced migration. Here in Hong Kong, the activities that will be held include a Workshop on GATS and Mode 4 and Embassy-hopping in foreign posts of major countries that export migrants to Hong Kong.
People's solidarity will show how united we are in defeating globalization and the WTO. Come December, there will be no more doubt that the people of the world are against globalization and the WTO.
By December, there will be no more doubt that the WTO will be defeated.
"Sweep out neoliberal globalization policies! Junk WTO!"
Press Statement
03 November 2005
For reference: Eni Lestari and Dolores Balladares
Spokespersons; Tel. No.: 96081475, 97472986
The Asian Migrants Coordinating Body shall rally thousands of migrant workers in the People's Action Week against the World Trade Organization (WTO) 6th Ministerial Conference in December. We shall join with our fellow workers, peasants, women and other anti-globalization and anti-WTO forces from all over the world who will flock to Hong Kong to once again defeat the agenda of neoliberal globalization that destroy our lives.
Why are we against globalization and its instrument for implementation - the WTO?Globalization and the WTO attack the wage of workers, including migrant workers. With its firm adherence to maximum profit of big corporation, globalization and the WTO consider a just and decent wage as obstacles to investments and trade. Workers' wages are of no concern to globalization and the WTO.
Thus, the Hong Kong government - one of the most avid advocates of neoliberalism - has been shameless in attacking the wage of workers. It blatantly snubs petition of the working peoples of Hong Kong for wage increase. As what we have experienced with the two wage cuts in our Minimum Allowable Wage and the taxation charged to us disguised as a levy to our employers, the HK government also never hesitates in trampling on the wage of one of the lowest paid workers of Hong Kong, the foreign domestic workers.
The provision of public services is also not in the agenda of WTO. Instead, its main concern is on how public services can be used as a lucrative business for maximum profit. This is very much true especially in developing and underdeveloped countries, like our countries of origin - where public utilities such as water and electricity and social services such as education and health are offered for sale to multinational companies resulting to price increases and deterioration of services.
Even in Hong Kong, cuts in budget for social services have resulted to the worsening situation of the underclass and the underprivileged.
Employment protection has also been badly affected by globalization and the WTO. Neoliberal globalization policies aim to create a huge army of unemployed in order to insure corporations of never ending supply of cheap labor.
Finally, globalization and the WTO do not recognize the comprehensive rights of the people. From the economic, to the political, social, and cultural rights of the people, it has been very clear in our past experiences that our rights have no future with globalization and the WTO.
Thus, we fight. Globalization and the WTO have forced millions of people to seek employment abroad. The destruction that neoliberal policies have caused to our home countries have pushed us to work in other countries not to make our lives better but just so our families could survive the worsening crisis in our respective countries. Meanwhile, as migrants in host countries, we are faced with the same grave impacts of globalization and the WTO.
The WTO kills. It kills lives, families, wage, livelihood, rights, and countries. It kills our hope and dream of finally going back home to live a decent and humane life. Thus, we say: JUNK WTO!
Education for Mobilization
Migrants of HK shall be one of the biggest contingents in the December protests
Ten years of the World Trade Organization (WTO) are enough. Since October 2, we have been counting ten weeks before the December MC6 that will show the defeat of the WTO.
The 10-Week Countdown is the campaign launched by the AMCB in order to ensure the biggest and widest participation of the migrant workers in the People's Action Week.
As an active member of the Hong Kong People's Alliance on the WTO (HKPA), we are doing our utmost to significantly contribute to the movement that will defeat the WTO MC6.
Every Sunday, centralized and decentralized activities are being done foremost of which is the education campaign on globalization and the WTO. AMCB now have 65 migrant educators who go around hang out places of migrant workers - from Victoria Park to Central - to explain to our fellow migrants why we need to junk WTO.
We were also there when the HKPA rallied against the WTO council meeting. We were there when the HK people confronted WTO Director General Pascal. We will surely be there when the MC6 finally arrives.
This November, the countdown continues.
The AMCB shall spend this whole month to intensify our education and information drive on globalization and the WTO. We shall rally the most number of organizations of migrant workers to be a part of the anti-WTO actions.
Our education drive shall consist of widespread public teach-ins, seminars, mobile cultural presentations, seminars, forums and film showings. AMCB-trained migrant educators are all ready to lead discussion groups and go around in teams to reach the biggest number of migrant workers. Film showings for Filipinos and Indonesians are also set to be held.
On November 20, a big public forum on WTO will be organized by the Asosiasi Tenaga Kerja Indonesia (HK) at Victoria Park. At the same time, Thai migrants under the Thai Regional Alliance (TRA) and the Friends of Thai (FOT) shall mximize the Thai Father's Day celebration on December 4 to educate more Thai migrants on the WTO.Our efforts will peak on November 26 in the big, colorful and creative "Hong Kong People's Mardi Gras Against the WTO". On this day we shall say, "Sweep out neoliberal globalization policies! Junk WTO!"
The Mardi Gras shall be participated in by no less than 3,000 migrant workers. It is a parade around Central where we shall feature in a creative way the grave impacts of the WTO on peoples lives as well as the people's aspirations. Local organizations are also expected to attend this big and historic event.
By December, migrant workers will be battle ready. By December, Hong Kong and the world shall hear from the migrant workers a resounding call to "JUNK WTO!".
In the fight against globalization and the WTO, we are never alone
Globalization and the WTO are global evils that impact on the people of the world. Thus we, the AMCB, shall march alongside with international, regional and national organizations of different sectors from various countries who will converge in Hong Kong to confront the WTO MC6.
Most important of those who will come to Hong Kong in December are the workers, peasants, women, migrants, youth, students and indigenous peoples who face the reality of globalization and WTO policies in their everyday lives. We the people are the concrete faces, the living reasons, why globalization must be stopped.
International and regional groups are all geared up to rally their members against the WTO MC6. They will ensure that protests against the WTO will not only happen in Hong Kong but all over the world where they are present.
The International League of People's Struggle - the biggest and most militant formation of grassroots and grassroot-based anti-imperialist organizations - shall bring its contingent of anti-imperialist activists to HK as well as coordinate anti-WTO activities in all regions of the world. It shall hold an International Conference on Trade and War in December 14 to discuss the current moves of imperialists led by the United States to intensify war and aggression in the world and its relations to the trade and economic policies of the WTO.
The Asia Pacific Research Network (APRN), a network of leading research groups and institutions in the region shall hold a People's Speak Out on December 10, International Human Rights Day, to hear concrete stories of the people on the WTO and globalization.
Peasant groups under the banners of the Pesticide Action Network - Asia Pacific (PANAP), the Asian Peasants Coalition and their networks of peasant groups shall show how WTO kills farmers and agriculture of developing and underdeveloped countries through the liberalization of agricultural. They hold a People's Camp on December 15 - 17.
Led by the Cordillera People's Alliance (CPA) from the Philippines, indigenous groups and other affected sectors shall hold a Mining Conference on December 10 that will focus on WTO policies that liberalize the mining industry and open up the world's resources to plunder of mining MNCs and TNCs.
Women's groups, meanwhile, shall put into trial the WTO on its crimes against women of world. Women workers, peasant women, young women, and our sisters from other sectors hold the WTO and globalization accountable to the worsened state of women. A Women's March and Women's Tribunal will be held on December 16 and 17.
The AMCB together with Migrante International in the Philippines and the ILPS Study Commission on Migrants, Homeless, Refugees and Displaced Peoples will lead migrants all over the world in the International Day of Action of Migrant Workers Against Globalization and the WTO in December 17. This day will consist of various types of mass actions that will show our strong protest with WTO's intensification of people's forced migration. Here in Hong Kong, the activities that will be held include a Workshop on GATS and Mode 4 and Embassy-hopping in foreign posts of major countries that export migrants to Hong Kong.
People's solidarity will show how united we are in defeating globalization and the WTO. Come December, there will be no more doubt that the people of the world are against globalization and the WTO.
By December, there will be no more doubt that the WTO will be defeated.
About Us
We say "Junk WTO!" and we unite with everyone who opposes the WTO for various reasons. We encourage you to participate in the People's Action Week spearheaded by the HK Peoples' Alliance on WTO (HKPA) of which we are a part. We hope that this blog continues even after MC6 in Hong Kong.
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