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Global Social Policies

Disturbing thought

World Trade Organization proposes positive slavery in Africa?

The press release "Press/388 November 13, 2006 urged us to Listen to Voice of America broadcast about the Dec. 11, 2006 proposal read like this:

WTO Announces Formalized Slavery Model for Africa

They have a note that they must have added after people got upset by their choice of words.

Important Note: Many visitors from all over the political spectrum have read this release and believed it to mean that the WTO is officially in favor of slavery. In actual fact, we at the WTO would never, ever wish to suggest that the modern version of the West's free trade with Africa is tantamount to its older form, slavery, or even worse than its other older form, colonialism.

That would fly in the face of everything that we stand for. The catastrophic failure of free-trade policies in Africa may be one partial source of this confusion. The actual, literal slavery that flourishes under the auspices of free trade (in Brazil, Jordan, and elsewhere) may be another.

The conference took place on Saturday, November 11, 2006 at Wharton University. The panel on which Schmidt spoke was entitled "Trade in Africa: Enhancing Relationships to Improve Net Worth." Some of the other panels in the conference were entitled "Re-Branding Africa" and "Growing Africa's Appetite."

Throughout the comments by Schmidt and his three co-panelists, which lasted 75 minutes, Schmidt's stewardee, Thomas Bongani-Nkemdilim, remained standing at respectful attention off to the side.

"This is what free trade's all about," said Schmidt. "It's about the freedom to buy and sell anything—even people." Amazing what a major international reputable firm such as WTO brings to a fine educational institution like Wharton without drawing instant criticixm.

We must pay attention if we don't want the world to go backward. What was the most frightening aspect of the hoax was the questions it elicited from the audience instead of a riot or a walk out. One of the questions of the attendee's was not so very humorous: "What should you do with the "Stewardee" (Slave) once they are too old to work?" Scaree!! It is not funny and points out how frighteningly believable those attitudes are even today. We must pay attention to what is going on around us, if civilization is to survive.

While many find the action of the fictitious "Hanniford Schmidt" offensive the Yes Men succeeded in demonstrating a terrible point. It is believable that human trafficking is going on today. After researching the topic we found that it is a trade that is growing. Hanniford Schmidt is one of the "Yes Men" who pretended to be a WTO representative. The Yes Men are performing artists who draw attention to very serious topics in a humorous way.Clearly not everyone thinks it is funny! Learn more about the Yes Men an their book
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What is disturbing is that the audience didn't realize it was a hoax and if they thought it wasn't a hoax they did not express any opposition. http://www.gatt.org/wharton.html