RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CRUZ TO OPPOSE EXPANSION OF THE POWERS OF THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION DURING THE MILLENNIUM ROUND OF NEGOTIATIONS

    WHEREAS, the World Trade Organization, (WTO), established in 1995 and with a current membership of 134 nations, will be meeting in Seattle from November 29 through December 3rd, 1999 for a "Millennium Round" of international trade negotiations, and

    WHEREAS, negotiations of the WTO are dominated by the interests of large transnational corporations who seek to increase their profit-making power by overruling any laws of national, state, or local elected bodies that limit the free flow of trade and investment even though they may have been enacted to protect ecosystems, human health, endangered species and regional economies, and

    WHEREAS, past WTO rulings have sanctioned the European Union for protecting its population from the health risks of hormone-fed beef and allowed large corporations to weaken the US Clean Air Act regarding air pollutants in gasoline, to kill formerly protected dolphins and turtles, and to circumvent a California law to prevent ground water contamination, and

    WHEREAS, the goal of the Seattle negotiations is to expand the reach of the global corporate economy through a Forest Product Agreement, a Multilateral Agreement on Investments, and agreements on biotechnology, government procurement, intellectual property rights and electronic commerce, and

    WHEREAS, a broad and growing global civil movement has formed to challenge the WTO's ability to establish free trade rules that threaten human health, fragile ecosystems, democratic institutions and regional economies, and

WHEREAS, what is needed today are global rules that protect workers, communities and the environment; enunciate clear responsibilities for investors; and create democratic accountability over capital. We call for a WTO based on these principles and upon our government, on behalf of the American people, to carry this banner in Seattle.

    NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Santa Cruz to oppose the further expansion of the powers of the WTO to overrule the sovereign policies of nations, states and local governments:

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Santa Cruz become a signatory to the "Statement from Members of International Civil Society Opposing a Millennium Round or a New Round of Comprehensive Trade Negotiations."

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that November 30 be proclaimed a day of protest against the sweeping powers of the World Trade Organization.

    PASSED AND ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY THIS 28th day of September, 1999, by the City Council of Santa Cruz, California.