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As I was walking to work this morning, I happened to spot the headline of today's National Post (Canada's fine right-wing national newspaper) which boldly proclaimed:
Globalization cures poverty: study.
It made me laugh, so I looked it up when I got to the office. Here's the link to the article. It's full of statements like this:
Critics charge globalization with increasing inequality, polluting the environment, exploiting workers, undermining the ability of governments to raise taxes to provide health care and welfare and with causing economic instability.
Untrue, according to the study.
and:
The study...was unambiguous in saying that almost every criticism levelled by free trade's skeptics is wrong.
This study was conducted by 'respected economists', and definitely focusses on the economic benefits of free trade. That being said, it's not surprising that it seems to completely overlook all of the other parts of life like dignity, say, and having trees and clean water and local culture.
What do you think? Since every country in the world has had the American Dream sold to them on television for 50 years, do you think that the article's assertion that "a salary of $5 a day may seem "shockingly poor" to protesters in rich countries, that is often five times more than the workers would have gotten by staying in traditional industries such as agriculture" is just corporate propaganda? Or do you think that our outrage at sweatshops and free trade is some aspect of our privilege as people living in the first world, ie that we can afford to think about it because we have access to fresh produce all year round (thanks to Free Trade)and jobs which pay relatively well (more than $5/day, anyway...)?
(It should be noted that many first world nations are now falling prey to the same problems plaguing developing nations- like Jamaica - in terms of a lack of local agriculture, reduced subsidies for farmers, and an influx of cheap produce all year round from the USA and Mexico. Not to mention the fact that the world's only superpower gobbles natural resources at an alarming rate...)
So what can we do to help developing countries in a way that is not condescending and hypocritical? Living under capitalism contributes to the problem, but going to 'share the lives of the poor' seems almost worse, because the poor don't have the option of leaving, and it seems like arrogance to show up as a martyr to 'share their suffering'. How can we live ethically?
Thoughts? |
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