Date: Sat, 19 Sep 1998 23:52:20 +0100 Subject: Dangers to democracy of MAI -- Multilateral Agreement on Investment From: OW-jgh A conference organised by the Green Party on 19th Sept. on the dangers to democracy of the impending international MAI was attended by a range of environmental, political, trades union, human rights, church, charity and academic groups and individuals. The agreement, scheduled to be signed by the Gov.t in May, aims to prohibit discrimination by local and national governments against foreign investors, who must then be treated "no less favorably" than domestic investors; and to allow foreign investors to sue goverments for compensation for anything "tantamount to expropriation", (i.e. any legislation which affects their profits). *** In practice, this will mean that any multinational company can overrule governments at any level: on workers' rights, on safety, on environmental/pollution/LA21 issues, or anything else. *** (The sole exception will be in the U.S.A., where blanket immunity is to be given to both existing and all future legislation!) This has already happened under the North American Free Trade Agreement, (NAFTA), where Canada has just revoked a ban on a highly toxic petrol additive, MMT, and is paying 10 million dollars in an out-of-court settlement to the Ethyl Corporation. The European Parliament has voted _against_ MAI by 437 to 8. The Scottish Labour Party has passed an anti-MAI resolution. There is opposition by trades unions and a range of environmental (incl. Friends of the Earth and WWF) and human rights groups (incl. Amnesty) and the World Council of Churches: but the U.K. Government is wholeheartedly pro-MAI. Nestle and ailing Shell are the only two multinationals in the U.K. which are _publicly_ supporting MAI. Others are biding their time and being more discreet. Examples of these are believed to include BP, Esso, IBM, ICI, and RTZ. -- How many of these companies did _you_ vote for in the last election? To join the anti-MAI mailing list, send a message subscribe uk-anti-maif to the automated server at majordomo@iirc.net Write to your MP, urging them to sign the MAI Early Day Motions 1466 and 833, inviting them to attend the Parliamentary Seminar at the House of Commons on Wed., 21st October, 4-5 p.m., Grand Committee Room, and asking them to forward your concerns to: Peter Mandelson, Sec. of State for Trade and Industry, Clare Short, Sec. of State for International Development, and Michael Meacher, Minister for the Environment. Web sites of interest include: www.oecd.org/daf/cmis/mai/negtext.htm -- full text of MAI www.islandnet.com/~ncfs/maisite/mai-up.htm -- N.Z. 80% of "foreign investment" is mergers and acquisitions, i.e. buying up local companies. Boycotting companies or countries, e.g. for abuses of human rights, would become illegal. -- You may leave this list automatically by sending a message to list-processor@diversity.org.uk, containing a line that says unsubscribe outrage-world The 'lists' command will give information about other services