By Mario deSantis, December 7, 1999

I visited the web sites for The Regina Leader Post and The StarPhoenix and I was impressed about the articles "Lingenfelter disappointed with WTO talks(1)" and "WTO protests democracy in action, activists say(2)". Lingenfelter was very disappointed about the talks since the European delegations were opposed to any reductions in subsidies to their grain farmers. Therefore, in leaving Seattle, Lingenfelter reiterated to federal Agricultural Minister Lyle Vanclief. that Ottawa needs to provide $1 billion in financial support to the cash-strapped Prairie farmers.

In the mean time, 30 Saskatonians who attended the World Trade Organization (WTO) demonstrations came back home this week end and stated that the demonstrations were a "taking back of democracy" by people fed up with corporate influence on their governments. Nettie Wiebe, former president of the National Farmers Union, attended sessions inside the convention and participated to the various demonstrations as well. Wiebe said that the governments and corporate delegates seemed to be out of touch with the realities of the average person and she questioned their right to make decisions affecting the public interests of the many countries affected by the rules of the WTO. She indicated that the WTO is anything but democratic, and in particular she added that globalization has devastated the family farm and benefited the few very large multinational corporations.

In Saskatchewan, our public agencies are overspending millions and millions of dollars in the name of globalization and on behalf of multinational corporations(3), while at the same time we blame the WTO for today's conditions of the family farm. I find such a situation quite contradictory, and therefore I would suggest that our hypocritical leaders would better do some work by recognizing our own shortcomings and take immediate measures to clean up our house first.

Endnotes

1. Lingenfelter disappointed with WTO talks, by Tyler McMurchy, The Leader-Post, December 6, 1999, Regina, Saskatchewan

2. WTO protests democracy in action, activists say, by Jason Warick, The StarPhoenix, December 6, 1999 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

3. Our leaders can't recognize an asset from a hole in the ground, by Mario deSantis, December 2, 1999