Leaders Urged To Be Honest About APEC Impact

SCOOP NEWS: Representatives of 21 NGOs from the Asia Pacific region have delivered an open statement urging APEC leaders to "stop making claims" that APEC reduces poverty. The group gathered in the heart of Sydney's CBD outside the city's Town Hall while New South Wales police stood nearby to ensure Sydney-siders would be spared hearing comments critical of APEC.

Police had informed the group they would be permitted to display signs critical of APEC but not chant, speak, or rally in public.

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The group instead handed out statements to public which read: "Those who have prospered from APEC are the corporations that have a privileged seat at your table. It is no coincidence that the heads of government, trade ministers and the leaders of the transnational corporations in the region have to meet behind the tightest security cordon in Australia's history.

"You claim to care about people, but all you really care about is the profits of big business. The most pressing issues for APEC in 2007 are all being converted into commercial opportunities through free trade agreements and foreign investment rights so the largest companied in the region can profit from climate change, renewable energies and human security." For more, see…

New Zealand's Professor Jane Kelsey, an opponent of the free trade liberalisation ideology is in Sydney and will be delivering a key-note speech at midday Friday at Sydney's Hyde Park. Prof. Kelsey said: "The US needs APEC as a forum to maintain visible presence and inject its agenda in the changing Asian region, with assistance from its allies in Australia, Japan and the Philippines, among others. Next year’s meeting in Peru; that government apparently intends to invite Brazil’s Lula to attend. APEC’s already incoherent political and economic agenda seems destined to become even more complicated and ultimately unsustainable."

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Among the Australian population there is a creeping unease at United States influence here. Prime Minister John Howard openly flaunts a close and 'matey' relationship with the controversial US president. On arrival in Sydney to attend APEC, George Bush was asked how things were going in Iraq. "We're kicking ass!" he said. The remark seems to epitomise the US leader's regard for the degree of sacrifice Australians have made over Iraq.

Consequentially, a GetUp! survey conducted by Roy Morgan Research has found that over two-thirds of Australians say that John Howard’s support for George Bush on issues such as climate change and Iraq has hurt Australia’s reputation.

GetUp released details of the poll displaying how only 16% of Australians say Howard’s support for Bush has helped Australia’s reputation.

“This research shows that Australians believe this association is in fact doing the nation more harm than good,” said GetUp Executive Director Brett Solomon. For more, see…

New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark arrives in Sydney early Friday afternoon. Her first port of call is to visit Chinese President Hu Jintao at the Sofitel Hotel where Hu is staying. Shortly after Helen Clark meets Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper. On Saturday the Prime Minister will meet with Chilean : President Michelle Bachelet and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsieng Loong. On Sunday she is scheduled to meet with the Prime Minister Of Papua New Guinea, Sir Michael Somare (who is clearly continues to be chilled by the Australian government over the Julian Moti affair.

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