"THE WTO AND THE GLOBAL WAR SYSTEM" & "GLOBAL VILLAGE OR GLOBAL PILLAGE?"

These two North American videos, totalling 50 minutes in length, were both made in 1999. They both deal with the negative effects of globalisation. "The WTO And The Global War System" is a record of one of the conferences held in Seattle during the momentous events that have become known as the 1999 "Battle of Seattle", events which stopped the World Trade Organisation’s Millennium Round dead in its tracks. The four speakers detail the links between "free trade" and the military muscle used to "make the world safe for democracy" (read "capitalism").

"Global Village Or Global Pillage?" is an overview of globalisation, covering topics such as First World factories being relocated to the Third World, sweatshops, international worker solidarity, Third World debt, etc. It concentrates not only on the problem, but also on what is being done to counter it. Together, these two videos constitute a damning indictment of globalisation, the modern name for imperialism (but this time it’s colonisation by companies, rather than by countries).

They are available for hire, for $10 each (payable in advance), for one week. The hire cost includes postage. Make cheques to CAFCA, Box 2258, Christchurch.

For the past several years, Murray Horton has used his "A Beginner's Guide to Foreign Control" as the basis for speeches and papers delivered in Christchurch, and around the country. He makes sure that it is regularly updated. But at 50 pages it's far too long for us to consider publishing.

That's why we have decided to make copies available to members who request them. It covers: the global context; foreign control in Aotearoa; myths about foreign control; future trends; "free" trade; WTO/MAI/APEC; and what we can do about it.

You can order it from CAFCA. Enclose $10 to cover copying and postage. Or you can now access it on our Website http://canterbury.cyberplace.org.nz/community/CAFCA

Please ensure that your cheques, for membership, donations, purchases, etc, are made out to CAFCA, and nobody else. If you wish to make a donation towards Murray Horton’s pay, then make your cheque out to the CAFCA/ABC Organiser Account (which is a separate account).

One of the practical initiatives that came out of the 1998 Taking Control: The Fightback Against Transnational Corporate Power Conference was the creation of the Taking Control list server (electronic discussion group). It serves as a useful (and private) electronic network for circulating and discussing material relevant to the fightback against transnational corporate power. For instance, CAFCA regularly sends out press releases and other material through Taking Control.

If you’re interested, then e-mail us at:

cafca@chch.planet.org.nz

Membership is free but conditions apply.

And, on the subject of new members, we believe the most effective means of getting our message around is by word of mouth. If you’ve got relatives, friends or workmates whom you think are likely to join CAFCA or be interested in what we have to offer, then put them in touch with us. We’re always ready to welcome new members. You, our existing members, are our most effective recruiters.

Thanks to the generous help of Converge which provides free web facilities to worthy organisations, Foreign Control Watchdog has its own web site at

http://www.converge.org.nz/watchdog

Every member of the Campaign Against Foreign Control of Aotearoa receives a copy of each issue of Foreign Control Watchdog.

Thanks to Greg Waite for his hard work setting up and running the site. Greg is living proof of the changes in the way things are published. A decade ago, he used to, singlehandedly, print Watchdog on an old press in a Christchurch garage. Now he is our Webmaster, and he doesn’t even live in New Zealand.

The site already has Watchdog 94 (August 2000), 93 (April 2000) and 92 (December 1999). This issue, and subsequent ones, will join them.

It’s a no frills site – all text, no illustrations. What you see is how it goes to layout (complete with the odd layout instruction), not as it finally appears in Watchdog. We have neither the time, nor the expertise to make it look better. Maybe in the future.

Overseas Investment Commission decisions will not go there because they are already available on CAFCA’s web site at

http://canterbury.cyberplace.org.nz/community/CAFCA

In March 2000, the Government increased the minimum wage by 55 cents per hour. This means that the CAFCA/ABC Organiser Account now pays Murray Horton an extra $22 per week gross. This increase poses no immediate threat to the viability of the Account, but it could definitely pose a longer term threat. As it is now, regular pledges are not enough by themselves to pay Murray at the previous minimum wage rate. Donations are the vital ingredient. Pledges constitute 60% of the Organiser Account’s income; donations the other 40% - the percentage of pledges used to be higher.

So we’re appealing for more pledgers. Five more people pledging a mere $5 per week would more than cover the increase. Please think about it. And definitely keep those donations rolling in. They are invaluable.

On one earlier occasion when a similar appeal was made, a well meaning suggestion was made that Murray go onto some kind of benefit. That is not a viable option, even if he was so inclined, for a number of very valid reasons. As things are, Murray’s income is independent of the State and any funding agency – he is financially answerable only to our members and supporters. And that’s exactly how we want to keep it.

Watchdog 94 included an appeal for more donations, the first time we’ve had to ask our members and supporters for money towards our actual running costs, as opposed to some special project. Your response was magnificent – many thanks for your generosity. We’re heartened by the level of support, financial and otherwise, that you have demonstrated.

There was no financial crisis – but there could have been at some time in the future if we hadn’t done something about it. Just to reassure you, though – CAFCA has no debts to anyone, we pay all our bills in full and on time, we spend nothing on wages (Murray Horton is self employed and funded through the independent CAFCA/ABC Organiser Account), or a building; we don’t have to depend on the State or funding agencies for anything; and we have no head office to tell us what to do. We depend on, and are answerable solely to, our members and supporters. That suits us just fine.