International Relations
REPORT 2005
Make Poverty History - more to do
The big event this year was obviously the Make Poverty History
March in Edinburgh on July 2nd. Lots of our branch members took
part in the largest demonstration ever in Scotland, alongside
many other branches and national UNISON delegations. UNISON's
support was evident in the supply of the stewards' tabards;
and the stall in one of the marquees.
As a member of the UNISON Scotland International Committee
I had represented UNISON on the Scottish Make Poverty History
Coalition. Our contribution there was to make connections to
poverty in the UK as well as in developing countries; and between
liberalisation conditions imposed on other countries with privatisation
here. Make Poverty History was seeking significant changes on
the issues of Aid Trade and Debt in 2005, and in particular
from the meeting of the G8 Heads of State in Gleneagles.
That they did come up with some movement, particularly on Africa
and debt, was due to the mobilisation of popular opinion. However
as so often happens there is a gap between promise and delivery.
Let alone the gap between the problems of world poverty and
what was offered.
The questions relating to trade were mostly left to the December
meeting of the World Trade Organisation in Hong Kong. This confirmed
the impasse created by the unwillingness of developed countries,
particularly the EU and the USA, to shift on their own agriculture
subsidies which will be key to allowing countries access to
world markets.
In addition the main donors and the international organisations
like the IMF continue to require countries to privatise and
liberalise before letting them have any of the promised aid
or debt relief, even though this recipe has proved an economic
disaster over and over again. So there is still a lot to do.
I have also represented UNISON Scotland on the Steering Group
of Scotland's for Peace. This is a broad-based campaign set
up by Scottish CND (Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament) to express
the intention that Scotland should be known for its contribution
to international peace and justice, rather than making war.
It's main focus now is opposing the replacement of Trident nuclear
weapons. It is supported by UNISON, STUC, Church and Nation
Committee of the Church of Scotland and a range of other religious
and peace organisations.
I am currently seeking to pursue branch and UNISON policy on
Global Warming. At Scottish level, this is bearing fruit in
plans for an event to be organised through the STUC which will
look at the scale of the challenge and seek to develop union
policies to the point at which they, collectively, offer an
adequate response.
While I am International Officer I will maintain an International
Contacts list through which interested members can be alerted
of key events or requests for action. Anyone wanting to be on
this can contact me via the Branch Office.
Matthew Creighton
International Officer
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