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Subject: [disabilitystudies] Disabled and Globalization Listserve
Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2001 04:42:59 -0000
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My dearest Colleagues,
I have created a Listserve dealing with the subject
of 'Globalization and the Disabled Community'. For those of you
unfamiliar with the topic, Global organizations (i.e. The World Trade
Organization)now have the power to declare any country's laws to be
unfavorable to trade, which invalidates them. The WTO has its
own 'Court', and it has more power than our own Government. You may
have heard about large mobilizations in Seattle, Washington and
Washington D.C.. People from different communities came together to
oppose the privatization of health care, education, and other vital
human neccessities (in some cases this includes water, seeds, and
food).
I was in Washington D.C. on 16 April 2000 at the protest of the
International Monetary Fund (IMF). I saw Gay people, Union
Organizers, Femininst, and every other constituency. However, Where
was our representation in this event? There was none, because 'we'
didn't come to it.
Globalization will affect us disproportionally, because we were
mostly poor and at least somewhat reliant upon social programs
(please note, I am not casting aspersions on persons who recieve help
from government or state programs; These programs make it possible
for me to attend Graduate school and get out of bed.). And
Furthermore, Shouldn't we be concerned about disabled people in other
parts of the world? How can any country sustain a fledgling
disablility rights movement when it doesn't have the health care
infrastructure to keep disabled people healthy, independent, and
alive. From a purely American perspective, as well, we need to
realize that the laws which have been fought for by disabled people
for many years can also be attacked or repealed as unfair barriers to
trade or competition, after all, How can an American company be
expected to compete with a Latin American or European country shich
doesn't have to install ramps in their stores, or accomodate their
employees with disabilities. Can't you see the corporations 'eating
this one up'?
The whole reason that I started this Listserve is that there is a
major mobilization occuring in Quebec City, Canada on 20 - 22 April
2001. The purpose of the mobilization is to bring attention to the
FTAA (Free Trade Area of the Americas)Agreement, if this is passed it
will extend the North American Free Trade Agreement to every country
in the Western Hemisphere (except for CUBA). According to research
done by major academics (citations provided upon request), NAFTA has
produced great difficulty for disabled persons in Mexico. If you
cannot go to Quebec City, solidarity actions will occur throughout
the country.
Even if you are not interested in attending or supporting this
mobilization, please consider joining this Listserve to become
informed. To subscribe, please send an e-mail to disabled-global-
[log in to unmask] Thank you for your time and I am sorry
if this e-mail was too long.
Sincerely,
Martina Robinson
The Disabled Global Action List Moderator
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