Globalisation on trial

By KOFI ANNAN

Many people have asked me why I agreed to attend the World Economic Forum this year. Some people even seem to think that, by doing so, I aligned myself with the glitterati and the global elite, turning my back on the downtrodden masses who - in these people’s eyes-are the victims of globalisation.

If anything, the opposite is true. I saw the Forum as an opportunity to address that global elite on behalf of those downtrodden masses: on behalf, especially, of well over a billion people in today’s world who are living without enough food to eat, without safe water to drink, without primary schooling or healthcare for their children-in short, without the most basic requirements of human dignity.

Personally, I do not believe that those people are victims of globalisation. Their problem is not that they are included in the global market but, in most cases, that they are excluded from it.

But it is up to the global elite-to business and political leaders from the more fortunate countries--to prove that perception wrong, with actions that translate into concrete results for the downtrodden, exploited and excluded.

It is not enough to say-though it is true that without business the poor would have no hope of escaping their poverty . Too many of them have no hope as it is. They need to be shown, by tangible examples making a difference to their own lives, that economics, properly applied, and profits, wisely invested, can bring social benefits within reach not only for the few but for the many, and eventually for all.

Many business leaders still think these are problems for governments to solve, and that business should concern itself only with the bottom line. But most of them understand that in the long run the bottom line depends on economic and social conditions, as well as political stability. And increasing numbers are realising that they do not have to
wait for governments to do the right thing-indeed, that they cannot afford to. In many cases, governments only find the courage and resources to do the right thing when business takes the lead.

Sometimes companies can make a massive difference with really small investments. Take the case of the world’s salt manufacturers. Working with the United Nations, they have made sure that all salt manufactured for human consumption contains iodine.

The result is that every year, more than 90 million newborn children are protected against iodine deficiency, and thus against a major cause of mental retardation.

We need many more examples like that-- examples of companies helping to mobilise global science and technology to tackle the interlocking crises of hunger, disease, environmental degradation and conflict that are holding back the developing world. It is true that, for most such initiatives to succeed, business needs enlightened partners in government. But it need not wait passively for them to appear. In many countries, the voice of business leaders plays a very important role in moulding the climate of opinion in which governments take their decisions.

Indeed, no one is better placed than business leaders to refute the arguments of protectionists and penny-pinchers. They are the ones who can make the most persuasive case for opening the markets of rich countries to labour-intensive products from poor ones, and for an end to the farm export subsidies which make it impossible for farmers in poor countries to compete.

And they are the ones who, as leading taxpayers, can argue most persuasively for debt relief and official assistance to developing countries, as well as a chance for those countries to make their voice heard when decisions affecting the world economy are being discussed.

All those things are essential if today’s poor countries are to grow and prosper. Of course they need to get their own houses in order, so that they can mobilise domestic resources, and attract and benefit from private foreign investment. But they must be given a fair chance to export their products, and many of them need financial and technical help --to build up their infrastructure and capacities-before they can take advantage of market opportunities. Even when a door is opened, you cannot walk through it without leg muscles.

Next month, at the Monetary Conference on Financing for Development, both political and business leaders will have the chance to show, by tackling these issues seriously, that they intend to make sure globalisation offers the poor a real chance to escape from poverty.

They can strike a truly decisive blow against the forces of envy, despair and terror, by sending out a clear message of solidarity, respect and above all-hope.

(The author is Secretary-General of the United Nations)

Waiting for dawn

By KAMANA SINGH BASNYAT

Getting up every morning from a dirty and stained mattress, he starts rubbing his eyes with his small and dirty hands. With his thin, untidy, shabbily dressed body and bare feet, he begins yet another day in the streets of Kathmandu. Every morning brings the same challenge- how to survive. With red rimmed puffy eyes, a nose that never seems to stop running and a hungry stomach, he searches for someone who is ready to give him food. He waits and begs: " Two rupees sir, I’m hungry since two days, please give me some money". After much begging and persuasion, he manages to get some money.

Weekend brings about a sense of relaxation. With his measly weekly savings, he rushes to the nearby theatre to watch the latest release. And he does not forget to carry a cigarette in his hand. This is the condition of the street children known as Khates. Shivering in cold and starving with hunger, at night these children huddle together on a pavement. This has become a permanent feature of their life.

Not all treat these children well. Many people are indifferent towards them. Only a few give money, while others scold and yell at them. Poverty and ill treatment drive Khates to crime. Sometimes they even grab your bag and run away with it.

The number of street children is on the rise. Most of these kids are from rural areas. They come to city in search of employment, and to escape from domestic violence and turbulence.

People are very much disturbed, disgusted and annoyed by the activities of these children. Even tourists sometimes find unbearable to deal with these children who just pester them.

Government and non-governmental organisations are making efforts to uplift their socio-economic status. Unfortunately, it is still far from enough. In order to resolve the problem of street children, concerted effort is needed. And every responsible citizen must help to the best of his or her ability.

Saving democracy

By SHYAM KC

The multi-million rupee question on   everyone’s lips these days is: can democracy survive in  Nepal, given the politically volatile, economically bankrupt and emotionally divided situation? With help from what looks like a highly orchestrated campaign by the ruling party president, Girija Prasad Koirala, democracy in the country is indeed in peril. The ruling Nepali Congress (NC) party seems to care two hoots about the country and instead is enmeshed in a perilous and dangerous power game which can only help and encourage divisive forces that pose an alarming threat not merely to democracy (this comes from the totally self-centred behaviour of the political parties themselves) but the very survival of the nation as an independent entity. The former prime minister and NC strongman, Girija Prasad Koirala in his first stint as prime minister in the early 1990s, complained to some select journalists including this writer that the then party chief Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, and party strongman Ganesh Man Singh were not allowing him to function properly and to perform. Compared to what he himself is doing these days to a government run by his own party, the timid jabbings by Ganesh Man Singh and K P Bhattarai in those early days seem nothing more than child’s play. The present Koirala antics would have come as long needed comic relief but for the fact that the country is passing through its gravest ever political and economic crises. The Maoists may have found it difficult to congregate and attack in force but they have adopted the classic terrorist tactics of hitting civilians and making the people in general feel insecure. To do this they do not need a so called "liberation" force. A few dedicated and highly motivated cadres are enough to wreck havoc and create a sense of insecurity among the people, given the kind of intelligence network we have and given the open border in the south across which the Maoists from the top leadership down to the ignorant but dedicated workers can vanish into thin air. And because of the open border, it is almost certain that the Maoists have links with similar parties in India.

The other political parties including the main opposition in parliament, the United Marxist-Leninists, so adept at adopting a dual and highly ambiguous policy on any given issue and deferring a final decision until the last moment, have not helped matters in any way. The UML is supposed to be the government in waiting that should have had definite plans and policies of its own over each and every issue that concerns the nation. But even on a grave matter like the state of emergency, the political parties only want to indulge in horse trading. If the government does these and other things including amending the constitution, it will get necessary help to extend the emergency, otherwise, no. This is the attitude. The question should have been, is the state of emergency in a democratic set up necessary in the present context? If so, it should be extended. If not, it should not be. It should have been as simple as that. It is not something to be haggled about and bargained over. Yet that is precisely what our political parties are doing.

Corruption is said to be rampant and nothing gets done without bribery of one kind or another. The anti-corruption bodies that abound in the country have been able to do nothing to reign in corruption. In all these years of liberal western style democracy, not one known political figure has been dragged to court for corruption. Unless the big fry are thoroughly investigated and brought to court, cancerous corruption will go on spreading and go on weakening our nation. Corruption has brought this country such a bad name that even foreign diplomats and ministers talk freely about it and about bad governance here. And we have only ourselves to blame because we continue to suffer leaders of Lilliputian struggle whom our equally corrupt political parties throw up. In fact, one place to begin the house clean up is the political parties themselves. Political parties must be brought into the ambit of the law. If no such laws exit, it is necessary to bring in the necessary legislation. We talk of illegally earned wealth of individuals and companies. But have our ministers ever wondered how political parties get their funding? How is it that in a land of poverty, the top political parties find the land and the funds to erect multi-million rupee buildings? How do our parties fund the always-exceeding-the-limit election spending of their candidates? Where do these kinds of money come from, if not through corruption? Bills to regulate and make political parties transparent are always said to be on the anvil but somehow they fail to materialise in parliament. Transparency in the functioning of political parties will not only pinpoint if some parties are being financed from outside but also indicate which top business/industrial houses are financing which parties and what they expect to get in return (another form of corruption).

There is always some light at the end of the tunnel. But the present situation is such that democracy as it is practiced now is perverted. Some say democracy has been derailed. Yet we all agree that democracy is the best form of government simply because it gives the people their say, their choice. But if the present situation is to continue, the survival of democracy in Nepal will become increasingly difficult, if not impossible. The survival of this nation as an independent entity and a properly functioning democracy are the two most important things before us. It is doubtful if the present crop of leaders, no matter of what political hue, will be able to rise to the occasion. Which is why it is of paramount importance that everyone including the political parties encourage the emergence of able, dynamic, visionary young leaders and help put our nation and our democracy on the right track, weeding out all the evils, including corruption of all forms and bad governance. The time to do so is now, before it is too late.