Real Talk!

We are grateful to the Washington Post, The New York Times, Time Magazine and other great publications whose directors have attended our meetings and respected their promises of discretion for almost forty years. It would have been impossible for us to develop our plan for the world if we had been subjected to the lights of publicity during those years. But, the world is now more sophisticated and prepared to march towards a world government. The supranational sovereignty of an intellectual elite and world bankers is surely preferable to the national auto-determination practiced in past centuries."

- David Rockefeller

We shall have world government, whether or not we like it. The question is only whether world government will be achieved by consent or by conquest.

- James R. Warburg (CFR)

The Council on Foreign Relations is the American branch of a society which originated in England in 1919 [and] believes national boundaries should be obliterated and one-world rule established.

-Barry Goldwater

We are not going to achieve a new world order without paying for it in blood as well as in words and money.

-Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., in "Foreign Affairs," July/August 1995.

OKAY... What is it really????

On Globalization: “that loose combination of free trade agreements, the Internet and the integration of financial markets that is erasing borders and uniting the world into a single, lucrative, but brutally competitive marketplace”- Thomas Friedman (American journalist, columnist and author.)

In his book “Globalisation: Threat or Opportunity?” Paul Streeten lists of 36 definitions of globalization, running the gamut from positive to negative. Some definitions focus on economics, others on technology and some, combinations thereof or on completely different issues. A few words do stand out.

Streeten repeatedly refers to ‘Internationalization’- suggesting the idea of the entire world becoming a marketplace and a great many arguments that anti-globalizationists make involve markets, market failures (often in the same sentence as ‘multinational corporations’), or ‘market creep’ – (markets moving into areas in which they are not wanted.) ‘Economic Interdependence’ is a repeated phrase and Information Technology is often identified as the driving force behind the growth of interdependence – as it provides the means with which people and businesses communicate worldwide.

Anti-globalization activists identify this interdependence in other terms, citing the push for globalization as exploitation around the world by money-grubbing tycoons…

And, as global magnates like Rupert Murdoch acquire ever increasing control of global media, it could be argued that freedom of expression and ideas are falling victim ever more frequently to economic decisions- (According to the 2009 "Forbes 400", Murdoch is the 132nd-richest person in the world, with a net worth of $4 billion.)

Certainly, the mass media often portrays anti-globalization movements as a loose, flighty, group of intellectuals who support obscure forms of action that have little meaning. Demonstrators are often vilified as opponents to the inevitable and are accused of stalling economic and political progress.

It does seem that the overall goal and effect of globalization is the rapid circulation of products, profits, culture and ideas- and many argue that the people at the bottom are being trampled in the mad rush.

Those against globalization, describe globalism as the unregulated political power of large, multi-national corporations and their power-exercised through trade agreements.

Further, they accuse these corporations of seeking to maximize profit at the expense of degrading labor standards, environmental conservation principles and the integrity of national legislative capacity. Working conditions aren't always sanitary, wages aren't always fair and the GDP isn't always distributed evenly or spent improving the country's standard of living and infrastructure.

Adam Smith (author of “The Wealth of Nations”) asserts that free trade should benefit all interested parties and in this work, he criticizes the implicit political corruption of mercantilism in limiting the benefits of trade to the elite classes. Smith, also, describes mercantilism as a system where one Country increase its power by getting excess gold on foreign transactons- a system fostered by merchants eager to achieve monopolies and easy profits. A world where democracy (one person, one vote) would be replaced by something more market driven (one dollar, one vote).

Economist Amartya Sen suggests that ‘development’, often tied to ‘globalization’, should be measured in terms of “human freedom”- rather than the traditional economic terms and methods: such as gross domestic product. Sen argues that democracy and civil rights should be a primary unit of measurement of development, rather than being described as in some way distinct from development.

Proponents of globalization argue that globalization aids in development and precipitates a spread of higher education and from that, more people who "do the right thing" and give attention to global concerns. Issues such as environmental protection will, they believe, in time, naturally become a priority.

Anti-globalizationists disagree and point to those unstable, volatile regions, where rebels looking to reap the benefits of globalization trade already patrol economic hubs and charge companies huge fees to protect their assets- for instance, Fruit giant, Chiquita has acknowledged paying money to the United Self Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) in return for "protection". Some believe that Chiquita also made payments to Colombia's main left-wing rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc).

Chiquita claims they aren’t the only ones who have made deals with drug lords and terrorists, for security. However, “Our actions were always motivated to protect the lives of our employees and their families,” company spokesman Ed Loyd told the Wall Street Journal.

Just the other day, I came across this sentence: “America, in addition to being a nation, is a brand.” No kidding.

And, without a doubt, there are aspects of Anti-Americanism contained within the anti-globalization movement. Unease at American corporate power and influence, as represented by McDonalds was the reason that José Bové (syndicalist, author, member of the alter-globalization movement and farmer) took part in the 1991 action during which a McDonalds in south-west France (near where they make Roquefort cheese) was dismantled by protesters- just days before it was due to open.

A 2nd April 2002 article produced by the BBC explains:

Bové has concerns about how the food sold in McDonalds is farmed, sourced, and processed. He opposes the bland homogenisation of culinary culture as represented by a soggy Big Mac. There were community concerns about litter, and the impact of a multinational on local businesses.

It was hormone-treated beef that finally sparked the action. Such beef, where the cattle are fed hormones to artificially speed up their growth had been blocked from entering European markets by the EU on health grounds. In tit-for-tat trade retaliation, the US, backed by the WTO, imposed high tariffs on some 'luxury' European food products, including Roquefort cheese.

This tariff was a severe economic blow to the farmers of South West France where Roquefort is made. The construction of a McDonalds nearby, to sell this hormone-treated meat to them in a sesame seed bun with 'French' fries seemed to add insult to injury.

Agribusiness uses genetic modification, hormones, fertilisers and pesticides to force ever-higher yields from the land in vast monoculture farms. Such farms possibly cause health and environmental problems, and certainly result in an excess of a bland crop. This excess is then dumped onto the foreign markets, undercutting the price of local produce and bankrupting the farmer.

And quotes Bové with saying:

Genetic modification is not the answer to the problem of hunger in the world... no one really believes that the problems of hunger and underdevelopment can be solved by technological means; economic, social and political conditions have to be taken into account.

Co-author of 'The World Is Not For Sale', Bové became a farmer in 1975 as a political act'. He advocates eating local produce, grown organically and farmed collectively. In effect, Bové's legal defense for the McDonald’s protest put globalization on trial.

Aside from local food being tastier, Bové argued that local consumption provides local employment and trade that is environmentally sustainable. This, he presented, in contrast to the standards of multi-national agribusiness and fast food outlets, who he portrayed as soulless and purely profit-motivated.

UH HUH

A wise man once told me… if you are confused… follow the money.

ADDENDUM: a friend sent me this link on August 12, 2009

http://www.eatrealeatlocal.ca/#/video CHECK IT OUT!