Apec And Globalization Essay Research Paper The

Apec And Globalization Essay, Research Paper

The question is “Can the Canadian government maintain its commitment to globalization without compromising its stand on human rights and why or why not.” The answer is no. Canada’s commitment to globalization compromises it’s stands on human rights for different reasons. The main reason being APEC. The following paper will ague just that and how APEC is causing many problems in societies all over the world.

APEC is a group of 18 “economies,” these economies have a goal and that goal is to inflict a “free trade” zone in the Asia-Pacific region. Regardless of the term free, there is no deal in “free trade”, there’s nothing free about it. APEC is the compelled change of rules done in the interests of corporations at the expense of the environment, the government and the people. According to Joan Spero, the US Under-secretary of State for Economic Affairs, “APEC has a customer. APEC is not for governments, it is for business. Through APEC we aim to get government out of the way, opening the way for business to do business.” (1) APEC`s language reveals it’s particular phenomenon. The words “government”, “state” and “nation” are lacking, and are replaced by the words “economies” and “members.” Apparently these modifications were done in order to reconcile interrelations between Taiwan and China, but in doing so it has also managed to diminish labour, democratic, environmental, and human rights issues in APEC fora.

The Termination of our Social Safety Net

In the international market, there are cut backs made under the excuse of luring investment on employment insurance, welfare, education and health care. Any word of increasing taxes is extinguished by corporations forewarning to withdraw for a “preferable” business environment. Regardless of the skyrocketing profits, corporate contributions to tax revenues have plummeted. During the 60’s it was 50% and now it’s less than 8%. It is suspected that it’ll be sooner then later that Canada will adopt the impoverished American model – no safety net, just cold concrete.

APEC has negative effects on the Environment

APEC and “Free trade” agreements similar to it, reduces international environmental standards by making the process of moving between states easier for businesses. In order for there to be competition, countries are obliged to slacken their environmental regulations to the lowest they can be by law. Some of the biggest polluters on the planet, such as Canadian mining industries have been abusing trade agreements like APEC by transferring to countries where they may operate without being disrupted by environmental protection. “Free trade” has already granted a ghastly amount of power to businesses, permitting them to effect government policy. (1)

The Corrosion of Human Rights

APEC`s stress has always been on liberalization and commerce, this is evident in their policies and statements. APEC believes commerce and liberation to be the foundations in order to improve well-being. “Concerns about human rights, labour standards, environmental issues, and social equity are either downplayed or considered irrelevant to the mission and mandate of APEC. But, it is clear that APEC promotes a particular world vision, one that equates globalization with liberalization of trade and investment.” (3) Secretary of State (Asia Pacific), Raymond Chan, expresses our governments position, affirming that “discussion of human rights and social development might impede progress on economic and trade issues.” We give praise to and give special treatment to mass murderers such as Jiang Zemin of China and General Suharto of Indonesia, when APEC pays a visit. Jiang Zemin was compliant in the Tiananmen square massacre, referring to it as “much ado about nothing,” and was liable for the heavy crackdown that ensued. Suharto is accountable (among other things) for the appeals from dissidents in both countries, Canada withholds their position on human rights and refuses to take a stand against it’s abuses. (1)

In order to save their reputation, Canadian government puts through “constructive engagement”. Constructive Engagement is a policy that allows the people of Canada to believe that the Canadian government is concerned with human rights, when in reality, it is business that they are really concerned with. Constructive engagement, for Canada, means voting against or abstaining from every UN resolution condemning Indonesia’s invasion of East Timor. However, we persist in the selling of weapon parts to the Indonesian military. Ultimately, “Constructive engagement” means we have a fatal fall back from life or death issues. (1)

We should perhaps examine what’s happening on our own territory, in addition to giving support to dissidents overseas. Canada and the US are recognized as professionals in the area of maltreatment of native peoples.

There’s no democracy in APEC

Although it’s only been sice 1989 that APEC has been around, most people have probably only heard about it recently due to it’s arrival in Vancouver. This is not surprising as APEC functions through closed door meetings of politicians, big business representatives, bureaucrats, and academics. The APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), is the only institutional presence in APEC, that is not apart of the government. ABAC is made up of CEOs. Those who are affe