the word! AT THE DAWN OF \the third millennium, humanity has never disposed of so much in terms of materal resources and human wealth.
An equitable management of these means would allow everybody to finally accede to well-being and dignity.
And yet, around us, despite the efforts of so many communities, we see only misery, famine, war, despair, ecological catastrophes and rising hatred.
This is not inevitable.
The cultural, ecological and social pillage of our common heritage, with its appalling human consequences, is the deed of a minority whichmanages the world in order to maximise its profits.
Its instruments are the institutions in charge of the planet; the WARM Bank. the IMF and the World Trade Organization.
All specialise in a hypocritical media discourse, It is also necessary to abandon a system which disguising the most ap palling and cynical prac- attempts to impose a sinLICeS. In particular the gle economic model on management of the Debt the planet. under the prerepresents the most for- text of favouring growth midable instrument of and competition. In fact a blackmail and terror to the regime of endless ecodetriment of the rights nomic war has been inand dignity of the peoples augurated. of the third world. We wish to participate in The people of eastern the construction of a pluEurope are now in their ral world, rich in its diverturn entering into this ter- ciTIec where cooberator rible process. between peoples will asThe structural adjust- sure to each the possibilment programmes, the ity of organising and mega-projects initiated by creating their own future. the World Bank, the dicta- The invention of such a torship of the market de- future requires some firm prive people of any decisions. autonomous initiative. The women of the South, Another road is possi- like those of the North. ble. are the first victims of the The cancellation of the so-called economic rethird world Debt remains structuring policies. Their the starting point. This effective narticination in must be accompanied by decision-making, and taka freeze on the fortunes ing into account their stolen by the dictator- needs and interests, ships and often hoarded must be recognised as priabroad, so that they can orities. be returned to the local The attempt to make a people to contribute to part of the world an imtheir development. pregnable fortress has quickly led to inhumanity. A policy of positive welcome to immigrants must be implemented. As to the right of exile, it must be absolutely respected.
We are told today that the only worthwhile growth is that of consumotion. An ecologically viable world implies on the contrary a disassociation between the growth of the market economy and a better quality of life.
Ecology
We affirm that the ecological struggle for the respect of the planet and the political struggle for the emancipation of the peoples is one and the Came Suee.
If there is a single sole of the pointless waste of the efforts of humanity, the perverse diversion of creativity, it would be the arms race.
We demand a drastic reduction of military expenditure, the reconversion to civil ends of the armaments industries, an end to the arms trades, first steps towards an integral disarmament.
We know well that the problems aren't posed in he same way in the North and the South. The solutions are often different.
In the South, too often it amounts to the conquest of elementary political and social rights. An agrarian reform is necessary so as to guarantee the greatest number ac cess to the land.
In the North, the struggle against unemploy ment implies the creation of millions of socially useful jobs and the reduction of labour time. But what we do know is that we have the same adversary, North and South.
We appeal to all those -political parties, trade unions, associations - who struggle against this adversary to unify their efforts and to invent new forms of international solidarity. • Free University, Brussels, March 18 1995.