tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547704.post-775270082002-06-09T03:49:00.000-07:002002-06-11T08:22:19.000-07:00Most of you will be aware of the recent conference in Bali which was itself a preparation for the UN Eco Summit in Johannesburg in August. The fact that the conference was held in Bali with some of the most luxurious and expensive hotel accomodation in the world says everything about the rich nations attitude to both environmental issues and starvation in poorer countries. The expression <br />"pissing in the wind" comes to mind. Apparently the cost of sending the British delegation was £250,000 which seems extraordinary considering that John Prescott was merciful enough not to attend. Margarett Beckett as Environment Minister was the only government Minister present. Now everyone knows that the conference was a total waste of time as the major player the United States had already shown its contempt for environmental issues by refusing to ratify the Kyoto agreement and the relationship between trade and poverty in much of the world by fixing US subsidies at $130 Billion. Of course one of the major reasons for poverty <br />in many countries is that they are predominantly producers of primary products and subsidised agriculture by rich countries effectively prevents them selling their products in world markets. So much for the ideology of 'free trade' peddled by the West and especially by the Blair government. The sign of a genuine commitment to Free Trade on the part of the Western world would involve an immediate end to the subsidy of agricultural products.Do you think that this is likely to happen or be on the table in Johannesburg? <br />Margaret Beckett appeared ready to tackle America on these issues in Bali. She was interviewed by the BBC on 2nd June which the BBC later published under the heading "Beckett Slams US Subsidies" . In the interview she stated quite clearly that figures from the <br />OECD showed that the $50 Billion spent on International aid was dwarfed by the $350 subsidy Billion given to First World farmers. <br />So did she offer at Bali to end British farm subsidies (estimated at £5.2 Billion out of a £16 Billion turnover) or what threats or pressure did she place on the Americans. The interview suggests that the only hope that she really offers is that internal pressures will cause America to reform itself:- <br />"I personally believe that as we go on with the Kyoto Protocol ... there is every possibility that in the fullness of time, the American business community and interests in America that can see America losing out as a result of some of these things will start to rethink and start to increase the pressure on America itself." <br />But have Blair and the British Government put pressure on George Bush or made its displeasure really felt". In another interview "How to survive in politics without being trying" - Jackie Ashley meets Margaret Beckett Monday March 4, 2002 The Guardian .The usual weasel words begin to emerge - the government had made it clear <br /> <br />"that we were very disappointed; and when I say we, that wasn't a unilateral exercise by this department. That was from the highest level: we are disappointed." Had Blair actually said this himself to President Bush? "I don't know what he's said to Bush but I know what he's said to me." <br /> <br />So the Minister for the Environment doesn't actually know what if anything Blair has said to Bush about Kyoto or American Farming Subsidies - which says a lot about the way a New Labour Government operates! <br />After the Bali conference Margaret Beckett was interviewed by BBC 4 news on what had occurred. She was full of "new labour speak" about progress being made and hard work taking place without enlightning us about progress on what. She was also asked whether the conference was such hard work because of American intrangience on just about everything but was extremely coy and evasive about the American role in what had happened. So the fire breathing Minister of "Beckett Slams US subsidies" turns out to be the usual Blair team player endlessly supportive of his role as poodle to George Bush <br />As Sarah Baxter of the Sunday Times put it when talking about Margaret Beckett <br />"She has moved from left to right with the rest of the Labour party but has gone to unusual lengths to remain on good terms with everyone." <br /> Stepaulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17458002475927834324noreply@blogger.com