At the Edge (11-13 November 1999)

AT THE EDGE
Towards 21st Century Internationalism

TNI 25th Anniversary (1974-1999)

These sessions were not transcribed. Please find here, brief descriptions of what the sessions were intended to discuss.

THURSDAY, 11 NOVEMBER 1999

US Hegemony, EU Alignment and Strategic Options for Regions in the South

While the USA and EU attempt to dominate and control global markets and world order, significant contradictions and tensions result. What space exists for emerging regional blocs in the South to resist being taken over by the expanding "Free Trade Agreements" blocs of the USA and the EU? Are there workable political and economic alternatives being mooted and/or pursued within regional groupings of/in the South? What are or could be the roles, orientations and programmes of social movements and civil society organisations in resisting corporate, elite-driven globalisation and regionalisation, and in shaping an alternative people-oriented, environmentally-friendly world system? This session begins with an analysis of globalisation and the new imperialist strategy, followed by comments from a panel comprised of activist-researchers engaged with these questions in relation to different regions of the South.

Speaker: Samir Amin
Discussant Panel: Dot Keet, John Saxe Fernandez, Candido Grzybowski and Gareth Api Richards
Chairperson: Brid Brennan

An Afternoon with Ariel Dorfman

Poetry readings by Chilean author, Ariel Dorfman, and the screening of two videos:

My House is on Fire: A filmed suspense of migrant children caught in a globalising world, written and directed by Dorfman and his son, Rodrigo. It is based on a story written by Dorfman while living in exile in Amsterdam 20 years ago. The original setting was the Chile being shaped by the neo-liberal experiments of Pinochet’s Chicago Boys. The adapted story is set in contemporary North America.

Dead Line: Bono, Emma Thompson and others animate this Channel 4 film based on Dorfman poetry.

Ten Years on: The Crisis in the CIS
A Worker’s View

Alexander Bukhvostov, President of the Belarussian Automobile Workers’ Union and founder of the Belarussian Workers’ Party, will speak about the legacies of the Soviet era and challenges faced by the democratic left in Belarus.

This session is co-hosted by the Transnational Information Exchange (TIE).

Europe Incorporated: Exposing the Political Power of Big Business

Accelerated processes of regional integration and globalisation have increased the political power of corporations and their lobby groups to the point that they pose a threat to democracy. In advance of the publication of their new book, Europe Inc. (Pluto, 1999), the Corporate Europe Observatory will present a summary of its detailed research providing the first real insights into the systematic ways in which transnational corporations shape EU policy. The result is marginalisation of the interests of small business, organised labour and individual citizens, and negative consequences for hard-won social and ecological rights and standards. Among other aspects of corporate power, issues to be discussed include corporate-state alliances; industry’s power through trade and investment treaties; and the need for enforceable (international) rules to regulate the activities of corporations in the increasingly deregulated global economy. The session will aim to stimulate a discussion about the possibilities of civil society campaigns for challenging corporate olitical power and strategies to achieve corporate regulation.

Speakers: Erik Wesselius and Jessica Woodroffe, with comments by Celia Mather.
Chairperson: Olivier Hoedeman

This session is co-hosted by the Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO).

The United Nations at the Edge of the 21st Century: Iraq, Kosovo, East Timor and Beyond

Critically appraising the role of the United Nations in relation to Iraq, Kosovo and East Timor, an eminent panel of speakers will address the pressing challenges currently faced by the UN. Fifty years on, is the United Nations able to advance the cause of world peace, war prevention and human rights? If not, why not? What rethinking and restructuring would be necessary for ensuring a more autonomous and effective UN in the new century?

Panel: Jose Ramos Horta, Phyllis Bennis, Mario Pianta
Chairperson: Cora Weiss

FRIDAY 12 NOVEMBER 1999

Global Transformations

Developing a fruitful angle on global transformations means revisiting history as well as the hegemonic framework of assumptions within which transformations have been viewed. Andre Gunder-Frank's Re-Orient and Samir Amin's Eurocentrism are examples of such global revisionism. This panel addresses globalisations backwards and forwards. On the one hand, revisiting the central role of Asian economies while destabilising eurocentric assumptions of modernity. On the other hand, examining ongoing transformations and the role of collective action, and efforts to move from questioning globalisation to shaping globalisation.

Panel: Andre Gunder Frank, Samir Amin, Jan Nederveen Pieterse and Peter Waterman
Chairperson:
Barry Gills

ATTAC-Netherlands Workshop
(in Dutch)

The Steering Committee of ATTAC-Netherlands hosts an inaugural workshop for Dutch activists to discuss a proposed five point action plan: a) implementation of a Tobin Tax on international currency transactions; b) a democratic say over national capital flows; c) the removal of tax breaks for companies; d) effective taxation on capital returns; e) public accountability of shareholders, financiers and company managers for the effects of their operations on the health of workers, consumers and the environment. For more information, contact attac@xminy.nl, or search http://www.attac.org

Speakers: Hans van Heijningen, Theo Ruyter, Robert Went

Launch of ATTAC-Netherlands
(in Dutch and English)

At the initiative of Le Monde Diplomatique, during the campaign against the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI) last year, the Association pour une Taxation des Transactions financiers pur l’Aide aux Citoyens (ATTAC) was first set up in France in 1998. Since then, 19 national chapters have been set up across the world, ten of which are in Europe. ATTAC-Netherlands is the 20th chapter to be established. It is open to any individuals who endorse the founding aims and principles of ATTAC. This session is primarily intended for members of the Dutch public interested to find out more about ATTAC.

Guest speakers: Susan George (ATTAC, France) and Eric Goeman (ATTAC, Flanders)

Dutch Complicity in US Intervention in Colombia

The Netherlands, with its history of support for peace initiatives in Colombia and its "harm reduction" approach to drug policy, surprised many in April by agreeing to host US military anti-drug bases on Aruba and Curaçao. These will play a direct role in furthering the USA’s interventionist strategy towards Colombia. The Dutch now facilitate widespread spraying of drug crops with herbicides, endangering the vulnerable eco-system of the Amazon and highland woods in the Andes. Moreover, the "Forward Operating Locations" will be used to gather intelligence for counter-insurgency operations against Colombian guerrilla groups. Negotiations towards a ten-year treaty facilitating a US military presence in the Dutch Antilles are well underway. Why have the Dutch become complicit in the raging dirty war in Colombia, one in which daily human rights violations and massacres are so commonplace, they are no longer considered newsworthy by the international press? This session will seek some explanations and debate what the role of the Dutch government should be.

Round table discussion led by Gregorio Wolff, Martin Jelsma and Theo Roncken

América Latina: los retos de la democracia y la izquierda
(Democracy and the Left in Latin America)

Historically, the struggle of the Latin American left has been aimed at constructing participatory democracy and promoting a ‘popular project’ based on social and economic justice. While democratic governments have replaced the dictatorships of the previous decades, democracy has proven fragile. Socio-economic marginalisation continues to grow and the high rate of voter abstention on the part of the poor suggests a lack of confidence in the new political establishment. Moreover, the Left is weakened by internal splits (such as in El Salvador or Nicaragua) and despite new promising efforts (Mexico, Brazil) fails to be a serious challenger to the traditional political system. The result has been a renewal of armed struggle (Mexico, Colombia), support for new populist projects (Venezuela) or a focus on local government. Will a ‘popular project’ of the Left still have meaning in the new century? Where do we see signs of inspiring and new alternative visions and practices emerging in Latin America?

An informal round table led by Carlos Vilas, Jenny Pearce and others, broadcast to the Spanish-speaking world by Radio Nederland.
Chairperson: Kees Biekart

SATURDAY, 13 NOVEMBER 1999

USA Politics Today: A View from the Inside

Interview: Marcus Raskin, Distinguished Fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, will discuss the current internal American political situation.
Conducted by Basker Vashee

Temporary Autonomous Zone

An ongoing catwalk of activist projects from Amsterdam to Zanzibar, this multi-media environment will highlight inspiring initiatives and facilitate unexpected encounters with only one limit: a maximum of 15 minutes exclusive exposure! Organised, mediated and entertained by Jo van der Spek. Contact him if you want a spot!jo@xs4all.nl

King: A Street Story

John Berger and his daughter, Katya Andreadakis, read from the story of King, a voice for the poor and marginalized millions who daily live the effects of neo-liberal globalisation. Delivered in English and French, King’s lyrically furious homage to the homeless will demand to know what YOU are going to do about it?