Feature: Hot Spring 98

In the first six months of 1998 the national, regional and international processes will see a wave of conferences, meetings, summits and back room hand shakes, aiming at consolidating the economic and political power of a handful of transnational corporations.

Hot Spring is an initiative aimed at uniting people's action against corporate rule and laying down a challenge to corporate led governments and transnational corporations.

The forces of globalisation and 'free' trade are growing and determining our lives more and more. They are in our food, in our homes, in our education, in our government. It is the result of actions of a number of entities that all work in one direction: the creation of a completely liberalised world market, into which every corner of the world is integrated. These entities are a distinct group of 'world leaders' of industrialised northern countries, an army of uncontrollable bureaucrats in institutions such as the European Union, the World Bank, IMF and WTO; top managers of transnational corporations, all aided by PR firms, 'scientific' think tanks and obedient media to spread their news.

Below is an overview some up-coming meetings, contacts are coordination points for actions:

1. European Union (Great Britain Presidency)

Great Britain will hold the presidency of the EU. Informal and formal meetings of ministers and heads of state are planned throughout the year. It will mainly be a push for the Single Market, the European Monetary Union and the expansion of the Union towards the East.

* Agenda 2000 Meeting (EU expansion) - London February 25
* Trade Negotiations EU-Mexico - UK March 1
* Negotiations new EU members - UK March 31
* EU Heads of State Summit - Cardiff June 14-16

Contact Reclaim Europe! (see contacts).

2. WTO (World Trade Organisation)

In May the 2nd Ministerial Conference of the WTO will take place in Geneva. It coincides with the 50th anniversary of the GATT. The WTO will take further steps to deepen the liberalisation of trade in all sectors and secure Intellectual Property Rights for TNCs.

This February, the Peoples Global Action against 'Free' Trade and the WTO will have its first conference in Geneva, where it will launch a worldwide coordination of resistance against the WTO, uniting activists from the North and South.

* PGA meeting - Geneva February 23-25
* WTO Meeting - Geneva May 18-20

Contact People's Global Action, PFE! (Germany) +49-241 80 37 92.

3. MAI (Multilateral Agreement On Investments)

Once a month in the period January-April, the OECD (Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development-consisting of the 29 most 'developed' countries in the world) will meet to try to come to an agreement on the MAI. The MAI, should it be signed in its current form, will MAI will put an end to the last remaining obstacles for large multinationals to invest in any country, in order to maximise their profit, on the basis of bad labour conditions, lack of environmental regulation, destruction of local economies and lack of democracy.

* MAI Negotiating Meeting - Paris, March 16-17, April 14-17
* Planned Signing of MAI - Paris April 18

Contact Corporate Watch (see contacts).

4. WEF (World Economic Forum)

The WEF is a group of 1000 (!) of the world's most influential heads of state and top managers of the biggest multinationals. They meet once a year in the Swiss Alps

* WEF Meeting - Davos (CH) Over. Actions have happened in 54 countries.

5. IMF (International Monetary Fund) & World Bank

These two institutions are crucial in the globalisation process. Through their Structural Adjustment Programmes, imposed on all countries that seek credit from them, they force countries to liberalise their economies and open the door for foreign investment. The Spring meeting will, among other things, seek further funds for the IMF to deal with crises such as now happening in Southeast Asia.

* IMF/Worldbank Spring Meeting - Washington April 17-19

Contact Roberta Cowan, FOE Int. +31-20-622 1369.

6. Life Patent Directive

The Directive would legitimise corporate raiding of the biodiversity and indigenous knowledge of Southern peoples, promote the genetic manipulation of animals and plants and the ultimate piece in the jigsaw of corporate control over humans around the globe. The industry has been successful until now in the European Parliament.

*- Life Patent Directive Final Vote - European Parliament, Brussels April

Contact the Genetic Engineering Network (see contacts).

7. EBRD (European Bank On Reconstruction And Development)

In May, the EBRD will have its annual Meeting in the Ukraine. The EBRD was set up by the West to finance the transition of Eastern Europe to a market based economy. It finances infrastructure projects as well as investments from the private sector. The EBRD is heavily involved in the supporting the nuclear sector, the massive expansion of road schemes etc.

* EBRD Annual General Meeting - Kiev Ukraine May 8-12

Contact For The Earth (Bulgaria) +359 2 658216 ftearth@bulnet.bg

8. G8 (USA, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Italy & Russia)

The G8 are the eight largest industrialised nations in the world. They meet once a year to stem their policies towards the common goal of a 'free' world market. These discussion are usually joined by the presidents of the World Bank, WTO, IMF and the Secretary General of the United Nations.

* G8 Annual Meeting - Birmingham May 15-17

Contact Radical Routes (0121) 551 1132.

9. Eurosatory

Eurosatory is an international annual arms trade fair which promotes the arms trade.

* Eurosatory ArmsFair - Paris June 1-3

Contact: Eco-Action EF! France (see contacts).