23 January 2003
The US and its allies (including little
old New Zealand) are currently reverting to a very old form of “globalization”,
namely that enforced at the point of a gun. Starting with Afghanistan, and in
preparations for Iraq, it is aiming to reshape the world into something more
amenable to its wishes, and more profitable for its biggest of Big Businesses. Globalization
simply means the increasing domination of the global economy by transnational
corporations (TNCs), whether achieved at gunpoint or bloodlessly. Nowhere is
this more true than in New Zealand, where they exercise an even greater
influence in the economy, despite our having a “Centre-Left” government. Little
or nothing has been done to change the policies of the past 18 years.
The two Christchurch-based groups(CAFCA
and GATT Watchdog) which organize the annual Roger Award say that TNCs are the
real “government” of New Zealand; we asked the public to nominate the worst of
2002, and now the finalists are off to the judges.
The six finalists are: Tranz Rail;
Novartis; Carter Holt Harvey; Shell; Telecom and Sky City.
The criteria for judging are by
assessing the transnational that has the most negative impact in New Zealand in
each or all of the following fields: unemployment, monopoly, profiteering,
abuse of workers/conditions, political interference/running an ideological
crusade, environmental damage, cultural imperialism, impact on tangata whenua,
impact on women, health and safety of workers and the public.
The judges are: Sukhi Turner, Mayor of Dunedin; Dr Ranginui Walker, Emeritus Professor at Auckland University, Prue Hyman, academic and feminist, of Victoria University; and John Minto, National Chairperson of QPEC (Quality Public Education Coalition) and community activist. The winner(s) will be announced in Auckland, in April.