WUNRN
Text from Birthing Justice - Women
Creating Economic & Social Alternatives
From Introduction: Under
globalization, women have been pushed to the margins of unforgiving economies.
The poverty is largely feminized, which means that women bear the burden
disproportionately, since the needs of the whole household are usually their
responsibility. As scarcity increases, so do their burdens. It is largely up to
women to work doubly hard to compensate for the health care and education that
many low income governments no longer cover as needed, thanks to the World
Bank, International Monetary Fund, and World Trade organization....the large
financial institutions. It is largely up to women to secure adequate food for
their families amidst a global food crisis....No one stands more to gain
fromfinding a way out ofthe current economic model, than poor women, except
their even more vulnerable children. Because of this, many women have stepped
forward as advocates, activists, and visionaries. They arte bringing strength,
imagination, and creativity to make another world possible, a more just and
humane world.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
By Deborah James, Director
International Programs
Center for Economic & Policy
Research
Written for Birthing Justice
Publication
REWRITING THE RULES OF THE GLOBAL ECONOMY: CREATING ECONOMICS
THAT IMPROVES PEOPLE'S LIVES - WOMEN
In writing the "rules" for
economies, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Trade Organization
(WTO) are the major proponents of neoliberal ideology. That ideology is based
on the theory that slashing government spending, reducing tariffs, privating
public resources, and promoting corporate investment will result in higher
economic growth, and that this will eventually result in a reduction in
poverty. This is directly opposed to more human rights
development viewpoints that say in order to reduce inequality, we need to
invest in health care, education, and opportunities for the poor.
When it comes to economic policies,
we would be better off if the people affected by the issues had more voice and
power over such policies.
The mandate of the International
Monetary Fund is to help countries overcome short-term financial difficulties
by giving our loans. However, these loans are only provided if countries
restructure their economies, cut government spending as for social programs,
and thus result in what may well be a reduction of growth and development, and
more unemployment. Thus, while the creditors are bailed out by the IMF, often
the borrowing country is unable to repay the loan, resulting in an endless
cycle of impoverishment and indebtedness.
Similarly, the World Trade
Organization develops and enforces rules for trade and investment. It favors
rights for corporateions to trade, over the rights of governments and peoples
to develop healthy and sustainable economies. We know that trade can be an
engine for growth if used strategically by a country, but trade can also be a
vehicle to boost corporate profits that actually limits the ability of local
economies to develop, and puts society and workers in a "race to the
bottom".....
.....At a time when courtries are
still suffering from the global crises, and governments are imposing
"austerity" instead of spurring economic development through
investment, we need a global movement for fiscal stimulus - for the idea that
government funds should be invested where the public will benefit the most like
health care, education, and food security.
.....As movements for justice, we
need to work to bridge the efforts among those challenging the overarching
institutions that design the architecture of the global economy, and those
working for economic empowerment on the local scale.How can we ensure that
those working on economic justice on the local level have access to information
so that they can advocate for their interests in the bigger scheme of things.
We need to ensure that we don't just convey this information, which is key, but
also that we connect the bigger picture economic struggles to the problems
people experiences in their communities, in a way that people can understand
and really feel motivated to come together and work to improve people's lives.