Public Eye on Davos 2002
Conference Program 2002 (03.02.02)
Conference Program 2002
"The Public Eye on Davos" in New York
International Conference from January 31 - February 3, 2002
Parallel to the World Economic Forum annual meeting, „The Public Eye on Davos“ has organized an independent international conference with representatives from Southern and Northern countries. The thematic focus was on the negative impacts of a one-sided economic globalization, and alternatives to the neoliberal model that are oriented around a socially just and environmentally sustainable development. The program* is divided into thematic blocks.
The conference took place from January 31 to February 3, 2002 at the United Nations Church Center, 777 UN Plaza, 2nd Floor, Auditorium, 44th & 1st Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. The conference was open and free to the public and representatives of the media.
Program details:
Thursday, January 31, 2002 - 12.45-1.15 p.m.
Welcome statement by
Kaspar Villiger, President of the Swiss Confederation
Thursday, January 31, 2002 - 1:30-3:30 p.m.
The Social and Environmental Impacts of Corporate Globalization
The globalization process is mainly driven by multinational corporations. The largest and fastest growing of them are members of the World Economic Forum. Corporations influence international economic policy through active lobbying on the national and international level. The liberalization they promote as the universal solution does nothing to reduce poverty or contribute to an environmentally sustainable development. Again and again corporations attract attention as a result of environmental catastrophes and human rights violations. But instead of changing their business practices, they counter this negative publicity with PR offensives.
Panel organized by: Berne Declaration
Thursday, January 31, 2002 - 4:00-6:00 p.m.
Export Credit Agencies, the Worldbank, IMF and the Debt Crisis: the Unholy Trinity of Destruction
Most large infrastructure and resource extraction projects in poor countries - dams, mines, oil development, nuclear projects, etc. - would never be financed without the unwitting support of Northern taxpayers through Export Credit Agencies (ECAs), World Bank and the Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs). In addition to the egregious social, environmental, and human rights impacts that these projects can have on local communities in developing countries, these loan packages are the biggest governmental sources of external debt for developing countries:
Panel organized by: Environmental Defense and Berne Declaration
Thursday, January 31, 2002 - 7:00-9:00 p.m. at the Church Center for the UN, 777 UN Plaza
An Interfaith Response to the World Economic Forum
Short Video Presentation:"The Whole World in Whose Hands"
Panel organized by: United Methodist Church
Friday, February 1, 2002 - 10:00-12:00 p.m
Corporate Power and Global Governance
Governments must set limits to the power of corporations, and the UN provides a suitable international framework. At the UN Conference for sustainable development Rio+10 (Johannesburg, South Africa, September 2002), NGOs aim to promote the discussion on legally binding rules for transnational corporations (TNCs). At the Public Eye conference, academics, activists and UN representatives will debate innovative models for the regulation of TNCs on the international level, and the failures of current voluntary codes of behavior.
Panel organized by: Pro Natura/Friends of the Earth Switzerland
Friday, February 1, 2002 - 1:00-3:00 p:m:
Foreign Direct Investment: Blessing or Curse for the South?
Foreign direct investments (FDI) are strongly promoted by corporations, but also by international organizations and governments, as the magic formula for “development” of the south. The investment liberalization promoted by the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and World Trade Organization, restricts the political options of Southern governments. There is no proof that foreign direct investment reduces poverty. In fact, the experiences of southern countries have shown that foreign direct investments often override any environmental or social considerations, and that economic growth does not lead to increased prosperity for all. The panel discussion will center on the risks and negative impacts of FDI, and will highlight alternatives: economic policies based on local needs are possible.
Panel organized by: Berne Declaration
Friday, Februar 1, 2002 - 4:00-6.00 p.m.
Corporate Takeover of Women's Lives: Employment and Privatization
Panel organized by: International Gender and Trade Network
Saturday, February 2, 2002 - 09:00-11:00 am
An Economic Critique of Free Trade Theory
Discussion of the theoretical failings of the neoliberal model is taboo both on the political and academic level. Numerous examples of market failures and misplaced economic approaches prove the necessity of a critical examination of the neoliberal model. The aim of the panel discussion is a critical examination of free trade theory and the presentation of alternatives based on Keynesian and ecological economics theories.
Panel organized by: New Economics Foundation and Friends of the Earth EWNI
Sunday, Februar 3, 2002 - 10:00-12:00 p.m.
NGO Experiences from within the WEF
Organized by Friends of the Earth US
Sunday, February 3, 2002 - 1:00-3:30 p.m.
The New Business of War: Security and the Global Economy
Following September 11, much attention has focused on security issues, but little of that attention has been devoted to the impact of corporate-led globalization on social and military conflict around the world. Global arms trading, increasing economic inequality, conflicts over natural resources, and trade in commodities such as conflict diamonds are key contributors to an international climate of instability. While efforts to understand the underlying causes of terrorism and war have focused almost exclusively on religious or ideological motivations, effectively addressing international conflicts over the long term cannot be accomplished without addressing these critical links between security and the global economy.
Panel organized by: Friends of the Earth US and World Policy Institute
International Conference from January 31 - February 3, 2002
Parallel to the World Economic Forum annual meeting, „The Public Eye on Davos“ has organized an independent international conference with representatives from Southern and Northern countries. The thematic focus was on the negative impacts of a one-sided economic globalization, and alternatives to the neoliberal model that are oriented around a socially just and environmentally sustainable development. The program* is divided into thematic blocks.
The conference took place from January 31 to February 3, 2002 at the United Nations Church Center, 777 UN Plaza, 2nd Floor, Auditorium, 44th & 1st Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. The conference was open and free to the public and representatives of the media.
Program details:
Thursday, January 31, 2002 - 12.45-1.15 p.m.
Welcome statement by
Kaspar Villiger, President of the Swiss Confederation
Thursday, January 31, 2002 - 1:30-3:30 p.m.
The Social and Environmental Impacts of Corporate Globalization
The globalization process is mainly driven by multinational corporations. The largest and fastest growing of them are members of the World Economic Forum. Corporations influence international economic policy through active lobbying on the national and international level. The liberalization they promote as the universal solution does nothing to reduce poverty or contribute to an environmentally sustainable development. Again and again corporations attract attention as a result of environmental catastrophes and human rights violations. But instead of changing their business practices, they counter this negative publicity with PR offensives.
 | Thelma Awori (Former Director UNDP Africa) |
| | John Passacantando (Director, Greenpeace US, Washington D.C.) |
| | Adam Ma'anit (Corporate Europe Observatory, Holland) |
| | Victoria Tauli-Corpuz (Director, Tebtebba Foundation, The Philippines) |
| | Moderator: Kenny Bruno (Corpwatch US, New York) |
Panel organized by: Berne Declaration
Thursday, January 31, 2002 - 4:00-6:00 p.m.
Export Credit Agencies, the Worldbank, IMF and the Debt Crisis: the Unholy Trinity of Destruction
Most large infrastructure and resource extraction projects in poor countries - dams, mines, oil development, nuclear projects, etc. - would never be financed without the unwitting support of Northern taxpayers through Export Credit Agencies (ECAs), World Bank and the Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs). In addition to the egregious social, environmental, and human rights impacts that these projects can have on local communities in developing countries, these loan packages are the biggest governmental sources of external debt for developing countries:
| | Mara Vanderslice (Jubilee USA Network. Washington D.C.) |
| | Aaron Goldzimer (Environmental Defense, Washington D.C.) |
| | Neil Watkins (Center for Economic Justice, Washington D.C.) |
| | Moderator: Christine Eberlein (Berne Declaration, Switzerland) |
Panel organized by: Environmental Defense and Berne Declaration
Thursday, January 31, 2002 - 7:00-9:00 p.m. at the Church Center for the UN, 777 UN Plaza
An Interfaith Response to the World Economic Forum
Short Video Presentation:"The Whole World in Whose Hands"
| | Reverend Marta Benavides (American Baptist, a decade for education for a culture of peace El Salvador) |
| | Imam Johari Abdul-Malik (Chaplain, Howard University, Washington D.C.) |
| | Donna Katzin (Shared Interest, New York and South Africa) |
| | Professor Dessima Williams (Former Ambassador/Professor/ Grenada Education and Development Program, Grenada and Boston) |
| | Reverend Peter Laarman (Former Communications Director, AFL-CIO, Pastor of Judson Memorial Church, New York) |
| | Sister Sharon Altendorf (PBVM, United Nations Economic and Social Council, ECOSOC, NGO Representative) |
| | Jason Caingleth (Resource Center for People's Development, The Philippines) |
| | Moderator: Marilyn Clement (United Methodist Women's Division Economic Justice Office, New York) |
Panel organized by: United Methodist Church
Friday, February 1, 2002 - 10:00-12:00 p.m
Corporate Power and Global Governance
Governments must set limits to the power of corporations, and the UN provides a suitable international framework. At the UN Conference for sustainable development Rio+10 (Johannesburg, South Africa, September 2002), NGOs aim to promote the discussion on legally binding rules for transnational corporations (TNCs). At the Public Eye conference, academics, activists and UN representatives will debate innovative models for the regulation of TNCs on the international level, and the failures of current voluntary codes of behavior.
| | Tony Juniper (Vice-chair of Friends of the Earth International, England) |
| | Peter Madden (Ministerial Adviser, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, England) |
| | Sathyu Sarangi (Bhopal Group for Information and Action, India) |
| | Yin Shao Loong (Third World Network, Malaysia) |
| | Moderator: Greg Palast (Author and Journalist, US) |
Panel organized by: Pro Natura/Friends of the Earth Switzerland
Friday, February 1, 2002 - 1:00-3:00 p:m:
Foreign Direct Investment: Blessing or Curse for the South?
Foreign direct investments (FDI) are strongly promoted by corporations, but also by international organizations and governments, as the magic formula for “development” of the south. The investment liberalization promoted by the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and World Trade Organization, restricts the political options of Southern governments. There is no proof that foreign direct investment reduces poverty. In fact, the experiences of southern countries have shown that foreign direct investments often override any environmental or social considerations, and that economic growth does not lead to increased prosperity for all. The panel discussion will center on the risks and negative impacts of FDI, and will highlight alternatives: economic policies based on local needs are possible.
| | Marcelo Lucca (former employee at the Industry Ministry of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; Speaker at the World Social Forum, Porto Alegre) |
| | Professor Yash Tandon (Director, International South Group Network, Zimbabwe; Speaker at the World Social Forum) |
| | Clare Joy (World Development Movement, England) |
| | Goh Chien Yen (Third World Network, Malaysia) |
| | Moderator: Danny Schechter (Editor Mediachannel, New York) |
Panel organized by: Berne Declaration
Friday, Februar 1, 2002 - 4:00-6.00 p.m.
Corporate Takeover of Women's Lives: Employment and Privatization
| | Sophia Emiliano (Labor Organizer, Guatemala) |
| | Karen Nussbaum (Director, Working Women's Department, AFL-CIO, US) |
| | Crystal Sylvia (DC Health Care Now Coalition, Washington D.C.) |
| | Moderator: Maria Riley (Global Women's Project, Center of Concern, Washington D.C.) |
Panel organized by: International Gender and Trade Network
Saturday, February 2, 2002 - 09:00-11:00 am
An Economic Critique of Free Trade Theory
Discussion of the theoretical failings of the neoliberal model is taboo both on the political and academic level. Numerous examples of market failures and misplaced economic approaches prove the necessity of a critical examination of the neoliberal model. The aim of the panel discussion is a critical examination of free trade theory and the presentation of alternatives based on Keynesian and ecological economics theories.
| | Graham Dunkley (Author of "The Free Trade Adventure", Australia) |
| | Steve Keen (Author of "Debunking Economics", Australia) |
| | Alexandra Wandel (Friends of the Earth Europe, Belgium) |
| | Moderator: Andrew Simms (New Economics Foundation, England) |
Panel organized by: New Economics Foundation and Friends of the Earth EWNI
Sunday, Februar 3, 2002 - 10:00-12:00 p.m.
NGO Experiences from within the WEF
| | Toni Juniper and Craig Bennett (Friends of the Earth International, England) |
Organized by Friends of the Earth US
Sunday, February 3, 2002 - 1:00-3:30 p.m.
The New Business of War: Security and the Global Economy
Following September 11, much attention has focused on security issues, but little of that attention has been devoted to the impact of corporate-led globalization on social and military conflict around the world. Global arms trading, increasing economic inequality, conflicts over natural resources, and trade in commodities such as conflict diamonds are key contributors to an international climate of instability. While efforts to understand the underlying causes of terrorism and war have focused almost exclusively on religious or ideological motivations, effectively addressing international conflicts over the long term cannot be accomplished without addressing these critical links between security and the global economy.
| | Professor Tom Reifer (Focus on the Global South. Institute for Research on World-Systems, IROWS, & Department of Sociology, UC Riverside) |
| | Irene Khan (Secretary-general Amnesty Internatinal, UK) |
| | Emmy Hafild (Director, Walhi/Friends of the Earth Indonesia) |
| | Moderator: Bill Hartung (Senior Fellow, World Policy Institute, US) |
Panel organized by: Friends of the Earth US and World Policy Institute
