Unofficial final copy
Economic Globalization
2003 UUA Statement of Conscience
Summary of the Statement of Conscience
While economic globalization has helped some people attain
higher standards of living, it has marginalized and impoverished
many others and has resulted in environmental degradation
and the depletion of natural resources. The benefits of
economic globalization have been inequitably distributed
and have not reached many people around the world. Seeing
the world as an interconnected web challenges us to turn
from self-serving individualism toward a relational sense
of ourselves in a global community, and toward practices
that help create economic structures designed to serve
the common good. We are called to bring our Unitarian
Universalist principles to our understanding of economic
globalization and to help mitigate its adverse effects. |
Economic Globalization and Its Consequences
Economic globalization, broadly understood, is the growing
global integration not only of markets but also of systems
of finance, commerce, communication, technology, and law that
bypass traditional national, cultural, ethnic, and social
boundaries.
Proponents of economic globalization argue that it leads to
more efficient division of labor, greater specialization,
increased output, generation of wealth, higher standards of
living, and ultimately to the end of poverty.
Proponents also argue that recent economic growth has greatly
contributed to the high standard of living enjoyed by many
within the developed world and has raised living standards
of many people formerly living in abject poverty. Many others
have not made such gains.
Opponents argue that economic globalization detaches markets
from essential regulations meant to protect national sovereignty,
the democratic process, human rights, labor rights, and the
environment. Opponents also argue that the policies and practices
of industrialized countries and transnational corporations
drive market forces of economic globalization. There is no
effective global political regulatory or policing system that
controls critical aspects of economic globalization.
The rules governing economic globalization have been created
through trade agreements, international law, and institutions
dominated by industrialized countries. These rules favor those
with access to capital, legitimizing measures such as dropping
tariffs, eliminating capital controls, enforcing intellectual
property rights, privatizing public services, and weakening
regulations that protect labor, health and safety, and the
environment. Economic globalization is increasingly perceived
by the rest of the world as American economic imperialism.
Many Americans, accustomed to an individualistic and competitive
culture, are insensitive to the realities of abject poverty,
cultural erosion, and environmental degradation. Systematic
exploitation of labor and the environment thus goes unnoticed
as do coercive monopolistic pricing of goods and services,
criminal evasion of local legal controls, growing debt among
developing countries, widening economic gaps between people,
and devastation of traditional cultures. Unitarian Universalists
are concerned about the concentration of power and wealth
in the hands of a corporate elite who are dictating the terms
of major economic and social parameters throughout the world.
Together these factors generate profound anger and despair
that fuel ideological and religious fundamentalism, increasing
violence, and international terror.
A Unitarian Universalist Response to Economic Globalization
As people of faith, we are challenged to find ways to promote
global economic fairness while maintaining the dynamism of
the marketplace. As Unitarian Universalists, we affirm and
promote:
- The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and
justice for all; and justice, equity, and compassion in
human relations. Wealthy countries need to open their markets
to agricultural goods, textiles, and other products from
developing countries. We must become more effective advocates
for increased funding of international economic, environmental,
and humanitarian assistance as well as the expansion of
educational opportunity. Existing debt of the poorest nations
should be forgiven as part of a strategy under which such
countries become self-sustaining. Certain public goods like
water and education should remain under the protection of
the state for the benefit of all citizens. We need to work
to ensure that intellectual property provisions in international
trade agreements take into account the rights of all people
to medications, seed, fertilizer, and pest control.
- The right of conscience and the use of the democratic
process within society at large. We must commit to participate
in local, state, and national affairs regarding economic
globalization, and to partner with other progressive community
organizations to advocate for just economic policies and
laws. We need to hold our political and corporate leaders
accountable for their policies and actions. We advocate
the increased use of socially screened investment policies
and participation in shareholder accountability initiatives.
Trade agreements, such as NAFTA (The North American Free
Trade Agreement) and the FTAA (Free Trade Area of the Americas),
should safeguard democratically decided public policies,
statutes, and regulations that protect children, labor,
and the environment of all parties. The International Monetary
Fund, the World Bank, the World Trade Organization, and
other international financial and trade institutions must
become transparent and democratic and support self-determination
for communities and countries.
- The inherent worth and dignity of every person. We are
called to participate in the work of organizations that
advocate for human rights, fair employment standards, and
environmental justice. Countries have the responsibility
to require foreign and domestic companies to pay fair taxes,
ensure their workers a locally defined living wage, provide
a healthy and safe work environment, and respect the right
of their workers to bargain collectively in independent
labor unions and to engage in strikes and other job actions
when necessary. The standards of the International Labour
Organization of the United Nations should be incorporated
in all trade agreements. We advocate measuring the success
of an economy not only by fiscal performance but also by
quality-of-life indicators such as child mortality rates
and literacy and education levels. We recognize that developed
nations, such as ours, need to reduce consumption of resources.
- Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of
which we are a part. We open our minds and hearts to the
ideas, ideals, and dreams of others pursuing a more equitable,
sustainable, and environmentally sound global community.
We advocate for trade agreements and other international
accords that safeguard the environment, and we must monitor
their enforcement. We need to hold corporations, as well
as governments, accountable for the damage they do to the
environment by their policies and practices. We need to
guide our investments and consumption toward companies that
produce, provide, and purchase goods and services that are
in accord with environmental, health and safety, and fair
wage standards. We acknowledge our own responsibility to
refrain from disproportionately consuming natural resources
or transforming resources into waste and pollution.
Conclusion
We are challenged by the reality that many of us work for
the very institutions driving economic globalization. We
acknowledge our fears and resistance to change as we benefit
from the global economic processes that foster inequity.
The transformation we experience as we move from ignorance
to knowledge and from speech to action is not easy. Nonetheless,
we are called to become competent advocates. Seeing the
world as an interconnected web challenges us to turn from
self-serving individualism toward a relational sense of
ourselves in a global community, and toward practices that
help create economic structures designed to serve the common
good.
Background: This Statement of Conscience
of the Unitarian Universalist Association builds upon five
social witness statements on economic, environmental, and
labor issues adopted by the Unitarian Universalist Association
between 1972 and 2001. In June 2001, the General Assembly
of the UUA selected “Economic Globalization” as
the issue suggested to congregations for two years of study,
action, and reflection. The Commission on Social Witness (CSW)
received initial reports from congregations and districts
in March 2002. In June 2002, the CSW held a workshop on this
issue at General Assembly. A draft Statement of Conscience
was distributed to all congregations and districts for their
reflection and feedback. Comments were reviewed by the CSW
at its March 2003 meeting. A revised draft was on the final
agenda of the 2003 General Assembly. A Mini-Assembly was held
on Friday afternoon, June 27 to receive proposed amendments.
Delegates of the 2003 General Assembly passed this statement
with a clear required two-thirds majority. This text is available
for immediate media release but remains unofficial until confirmed
by the Board of Trustees. The text of other UUA Statements
of Conscience can be found at the CSW website (www.uua.org/csw).
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