Report from the Older Women's Network. - Globalisation.

This was our second attempt at a discussion on globalisation and this session included a talk by Pat Ranald. We found this to be extremely informative and helpful. As a result we think our response to the questions is far more coherent than it would have been otherwise.

Our response is contained in the following points but they are not necessarily in any order of priority.

• Cancel third world debt. We understand that sometimes that the word "forgive" is used in this context but we think it is inappropriate, as it implies fault being committed.
• The influence of the United Nations Organisation needs to be strengthened so its role includes intervention on economic issues.
• We support the Tobin Tax to the extent that it slows down market transactions but perhaps more is needed.
• Support for the positions of developing countries in the WTO.
• Resistance to the unethical employment and environmental practices of transnational corporations. We understand that much is done to organise various campaigns on the internet, and we support the dissemination of this information as widely as possible. We believe that these campaigns should be directed both at government and corporations.
• Monitoring the discussions of the WTO, We understand that part of their agenda is the privatisation of education and health provision and disagree strongly with this move.
• The deliberations of the WTO should be made public; their meetings open to observers. Any decision should go to government in the form of recommendations for parliamentary discussion. No agreements should be signed without the knowledge of the populations of the countries concerned.
• What constitutes Fair Trade as opposed to free Trade needs continual discussion and definition.