Could someone explain why people protest globalization?

[RPatrick]

It seems every world economic meeting draws crowds of protesters...

I know very little about these meetings and what they actually talk about. I assume it is about different countries and companies doing business with one another.

What exactly is globalization and why do people protest against it?

Very curious,

RPatrick

 

[venk]

I belive it has something to do Work conditions in other countries. Globolization makes it easier for the Nikes of the world to have their products made in sweatshops.

 

[Red Dawn]

Hey it's something to protest. People use protesting as a way to pick up chicks.

 

[Ornery]

Anti-Globalization Protest Peculiarities - Jonah Goldberg, February 4, 2002

• "What is the World Economic Forum? Oh, just one of these big get-togethers for international capitalists, politicians and assorted muckety-muck economists and journalists. In other words, it's precisely the kind of group the anti-globalization left holds responsible for all the evils of the world."

I met my wife at a save the snail darter protest. We were both on the side for killing and eating the snail darters!

 

[jjones]

Globalization is the evils of capitalism at its best. The poor and under-priviledged are plotted against by plutocrats to keep them poor and under-priviledged.

 

[misle]

<< Globalization is the evils of capitalism at its best. The poor and under-priviledged are plotted against by plutocrats to keep them poor and under-priviledged. >>



Umm... How so? Maybe I just don't understand your logic. Can you please explain?

 

[bizmark]

I think it has a lot to do with the loss of local cultures and customs. The forces of greed are homogenizing the world. Some people would rather not see their traditional ways fall by the wayside to capitalism, individualism, materialism, etc.

 

[duke]

PBS had an awesome 3 part program explainging the global economy. I think episode 2 would explain why some people are opposed to it. Check it out.

 

[AaronP]

they protest globalization because they want poor people in 3rd world countries to be unemployed rather than have low paying jobs.

 

[Ornery]

Some people would rather not see their traditional ways fall by the wayside to capitalism, individualism, materialism, etc

 

[jjones]

<< Umm... How so? Maybe I just don't understand your logic. Can you please explain? >>


You must have misplaced your sarcasm de-coder ring this morning.

 

[sandorski]

One of the main reasons for concern with this issue is the secrecy in which globalization is being constructed. One policy being discussed particularly troubling, that being protections of Corporations against Government policies. In essence, foreign Corporations will be protected by domestically Democratically elected governments, which limit the power of government and the peoples current rights to determine government policy.

Another concern would be, who is globalizing? Is the US doing so or, as it has in the past, will it only abide by the agreement as long as it is within it's interest. There's nothing worse than making a deal then having the stronger partner break that deal whenever it wants just because it can. In short, if the US(or others for that matter) doesn't abide equally, then everyone else is little more than a Roman Province or a member of the Warsaw Pact.

 

[b0mbrman]

<< I belive it has something to do Work conditions in other countries. Globolization makes it easier for the Nikes of the world to have their products made in sweatshops. >>


There's sweatshops in those countries regardless of whether or not Nike is there.

People work at their factories because they pay more than the shop down the street.

 

[b0mbrman]

<< they protest globalization because they want poor people in 3rd world countries to be unemployed rather than have low paying jobs. >>


Woohoo! Exactly true


<< Hey it's something to protest. People use protesting as a way to pick up chicks. >>


Protest chicks are so nasty...they have a distinct smell that's a mix of weed and BO. :disgust:

 

[Ultima]

Because they can't go in to the meetings to have their own say, and are blocked out. Also, they protest because of sweatshops.

 

[HermitGuy]

Some people would rather not see their traditional ways fall by the wayside to capitalism, individualism, materialism, etc.

I'll take my chances with capitalism and individualism, rather than accept the subjugation of the individual to the state which seems to be the alternative many of these people think is some sort of utopia. Remember the only institution we give the power to compel us to comply with their demands through the barrel of a gun is government. That is a very dangerous power, Bill Gates does not have that power neither does big oil, just government. I don't trust either one, but I have never had Bill Gates pull me over with a gun on his hip for not using his operating system.

 

[ElFenix]

a lot of globalization seems to subvert a state's sovreignty. which i suppose is worth protesting as it could lead to the disposal of domestic ideals by some far-off board of non-democratically-elected officials.

 

[HappyPuppy]

I met my wife at a save the snail darter protest. We were both on the side for killing and eating the snail darters

WoooHaaaaaaaaa! Goddamn! A man after my own heart!

Sautee that snail darter in butter with salt, pepper, fresh ground cummin and a sprinkle of oregano! I can't wait until I can smoke a spotted owl over some mesquite chips with a dry pepper rub. Talk about good eatin'.

Back to topic: Overpopulation has created a situation where there are more people than there is food, jobs, medical treatment or money to support our overpopulated planet. "Globalization" is "socialism" or "communism" under a different name. It is the taking from the few who are fortunate enough to have "enough" to give to the rest of the world population who will never have enough. If all the world's wealth and prosperity was spread among all the people of the world (which is the goal of communism or socialism) then nobody on earth would have enough to live a decent life. Why? Because people would keep breeding and the finite resources of Earth, which are already overtaxed, would be stretched even thinner.

If I was a Somali living in the garbage pit of Mogadishu I would be all for it. But, as an American who has had the good fortune to be born in a prosperous, capitalistic, democratic republic and who has fought for his continued good fortune, why should I willingly give up what I have?

 

[Rakkis]

My my my how lost a few of us are.

Globalization is the free movement of goods, services, capital and ideas across national borders.

This pretty much boils down to the existance and operation of multi-national corporations. The Nike's, GE's and Nestle's of the world. This in turn translates to companies having a much larger pool of resources to draw from. The most 'benefitial' to their bottom line are cheaper labor and weaker environmental and operational laws.

When you have huge conglomerates operating world wide, these companies also gain something really really nice.. a HUGE market to which to sell their goods and services. This means that you AND a 5 yrs old girl in Nepal can both buy a Coke from your closest market.

These are the main gripes that some people have against globalization. Exploitation of cheap labor and a dilution of local customs by "Americanising" the world.

While I don't believe that paying cents a day for hard labor is fair, the fact remains that this world is NOT fair. Companies are not going to pay off-shore workers the same rate you would expect in the US if they can get away with paying 10% of it. And for those that don't know much about the world, people abroad will gladly work for a pitance. Realize that you're lucky to be living in the richest cesspool of the world.

Some people realize that greed is ruining our environment, widening the gap between the rich and the poor of the world, and making billionaires at our future's expense. They are the one's protesting and lobbying legislation to try to regulate how companies do business.

To clarify a couple of things, it's not all black and white. Capitalism is great. Globalization is great. Then again... even communism is in principle. I believe that companies should be restrained a lot more than they are now if things are to improve.

 

[HermitGuy]

If all the world's wealth and prosperity was spread among all the people of the world (which is the goal of communism or socialism) then nobody on earth would have enough to live a decent life.

The problem with socialism and communism are at least two fold. First both have a tendency to destroy prosperity for everyone but those in positions of power in government, remember it was not them standing in line for coffee and toilet paper in the old soviet union. Secondly socialism and communism put to too much power in the hands of government officials, once they have that power they never give it up easily, it usually takes many dead bodies in the streets, and usually not with the intended results, check Tiananmen square for that one.

 

[HermitGuy]

I believe that companies should be restrained a lot more than they are now if things are to improve.

While I agree with you to some extent, too much restraint i.e.. Government regulation kills the goose that laid the golden egg. I certainly believe that those who run corporations should abide by the laws of the land and consider the public good, as should everyone. But the main problem today is that so many people, even those who would not consider themselves to be socialistic have developed an anti capitalist mind set, let these people make the laws from out of that bias and you will destroy the very engine that has created an economy in which even poor people seem rich by comparison to the rest of the world. The trick is to spread that prosperity to the rest of the world.

 

[abaez]

One McDonalds executive once said they want people around the world, "Eating
the exact same hamburger, fries, and drink anywhere from India to Europe." (Or
something to that effect.) For me globalization stifles any sort of variety in the world.
It also makes it really really hard for anything BUT big corporations to succeed
in any kind of market.

For example say you have a coffee shop Third Street Coffee, independently owned.
Let's say a Starbucks opens two blocks away, 95% of the time the Third Street Coffees
will have to close because *everyone* will be going to Starbucks. (Even though
the Third street coffee offers the same quality and taste that Starbucks does.) It kind of sucks,
you can also see it with the Mom and Pop video stores, when was the last time
you didn't rent at a Blockbuster or Hollywood video?? Big companies offer the convenience
of a guarantee that a certain movie will be there, but it also eliminates any sort of
innovation or variety in your choices because you will always end up going to Blockbuster
or Starbucks as there won't be any other choice. That's what globalization is to me at least,
while people can protest about working conditions and low wages, I highly doubt you can
eliminate that completely, but when people don't buy the items corporations sell, they
will change their ways *really* quick.

 

[sandorski]

Though "Americanization" is an issue in various parts of the world, it is not the primary issue of Globalization protestors. The primary concern is one of surrendering Goverment powers, many being chosen by the citizenry(Democratically elected), to Corporations. I know that some think governments suck, and they often do to various extents, but they are a citizens only voice in a democratic society. Corporations, OTOH, answer only to shareholders.

 

[ThisIsMatt]

Probably because we get shafted when we enter agreements with other nations, such as NAFTA. Look at California...we have MTBE in the gas poluting our ground water. People knew it was bad before it even started. People showed that it didn't help. Now we have some lame-ass contract with the manufacturer saying we're buying the sh*t for another X amount of years...they're taking it out, or planning to, but we can't get out of the contract and now the manufacturer is suing us.



<< However, this is not the end of the problems associated with MTBE. Under rights created by the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Methanex, a Canadian-based corporation that manufactures a precursor to MTBE, has filed a claim against the US Federal Government. This claim states that if California does not repeal its MTBE ban, Methanex must be compensated $970 million for lost business expectations. Governor Davis and the U.S. State Department are currently preparing to fight this suit in the binding resolution process set up under the NAFTA.

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