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International Responsibilities Task Force of the American Library Association's Social Responsibilities Round Table |
Resolution on the Multilateral Agreement on Investments (MAI)
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International Responsibilities Task Force of the American Library Association's Social Responsibilities Round Table |
WHEREAS the Multilateral Agreement on Investments (MAI) is a pending global trade agreement which will require signatory governments to relinquish a degree of sovereignty to multinational corporations; and
WHEREAS the MAI is being negotiated in secret under the auspices of the
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), a grouping
of the world's 29 wealthiest countries; and
WHEREAS the MAI will require governments to provide equal treatment for
domestic and foreign businesses, meaning that laws offering preferential
treatment to businesses or organizations in a given locale or situation
would be subject to lawsuits to be heard in courts and as-of-yet unnamed
international tribunals, opening them up to unlimited liability for the
continuation of democratically created laws; and
WHEREAS the MAI is intended to apply to all levels of government (national,
regional, local, community) regardless of whether or not the governmental
body in question ratified the treaty, meaning that local ordinances may
be challenged by multinational corporations; and
WHEREAS many public and academic libraries receive the majority of their
funding from governmental bodies, who will be constrained in the policy-making
arena by the threat of foreign corporations taking legal action against
them if they feel local interests are being placed ahead of their "rights";
and
WHEREAS the MAI will apply retroactively to contracts and laws implemented
before the MAI is ratified; and
WHEREAS the MAI is anti-democratic and gives multinational corporations
rights that citizens to not have while absolving them of most responsibilities;
and
WHEREAS libraries and librarians are vital components in maintaining democratic
systems by providing the information needed to maintain an informed and
involved populace, and so have a significant stake in rebuffing attacks
on democracy and the power of citizens to control their lives; and
WHEREAS the British Columbia Library Association Executive has already voiced
its opposition to MAI; therefore be it
RESOLVED that the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library
Association declares its opposition to the continued negotiation of the
MAI until such time as the negotiations are opened up to representation
by developing countries and by non-governmental organizations dedicated
to protecting intellectual freedom, environmental, labor and consumer interests;
and be it further
RESOLVED that SRRT urges the ALA Council, current President, and Presidents-Elect
to publicly oppose MAI as a threat to democratic values, local autonomy,
and human rights.