Text 5: The World Trade Organisation

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) is the only global international organisation dealing with the rules of trade between nations. Its goal is to help producers of goods and services, exporters, and importers conduct their business. This is the youngest trans-national structure but its history is great. The World Trade Organisation was founded on 1 January 1995. The WTO is the successor to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade signed in 1948.

The WTO has determined the following principles of trade agreements: all partners are equal; imported and local goods have equal rights on the domestic markets; trade barriers should be reduced through negotiations and agreements must be transparent and predictable; fair competition, economic development and economic reforms must be supported.

The topmost decision-making body of the WTO is the Ministerial Conference, which usually meets every two years. It brings together all members of the WTO, represented either by countries or customs unions. The Ministerial Conference can take decisions on all matters under any of the multilateral trade agreements. The daily work of the Ministerial Conference is handled by three groups: the General Council, the Dispute Settlement Body, and the Trade Policy Review Body. All three consist of the same membership - representatives of the WTO members.

1 The General Council - is the WTO’s highest-level decision-making body is located in Geneva. It has representatives from all member governments and has the authority to act on behalf of the ministerial conference which meets about every two years. The council acts on behalf of the Ministerial Council on the entire WTO affairs.

The General Council also meets under different rules, such as the Dispute Settlement Body or the Trade Policy Review Body.

2. The Dispute Settlement Body is made up of all member governments, and is usually represented by ambassadors. The WTO’s procedure for resolving trade quarrels under the Dispute Settlement Understanding is vital for enforcing the rules and therefore for ensuring that trade flows smoothly.

3. The Trade Policy Review Body (TPRB) - is open to all WTO Members. The WTO General Council meets as the Trade Policy Review Body to undertake trade policy reviews of members.

Questions for discussion:

1. What kind of organisation is the WTO?

2. What is the goal of the WTO?

3. When was the WTO founded?

4. Where are the headquarters of the WTO?

5. What are the principles of the WTO trade agreements?

6. What is the topmost decision-making body of the WTO?

7. What are the main functions of the Ministerial Conference?

8. What is the role of the General Council?

9. What is the role of the Dispute Settlement Body?

10. What is the role of the Trade Policy Review Body?

Text 6: Greenpeace

Greenpeace is an independent, non-governmental environmental organisation which uses non-violent, creative confrontation to expose global environmental problems, and to force solutions for the green and peaceful future. Based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Greenpeace has 2.8 million supporters worldwide and holds national and regional offices in 45 countries. The executive director of Greenpeace is elected by the board members of Greenpeace International.

Each regional office is led by a regional executive director elected by the regional board of directors. The regional boards also appoint a representative to The Greenpeace International Annual general meeting.

The global organisation receives its income through the individual contributions of estimated 2.8 million financial supporters, as well as from grants from charitable foundations. It does not accept funding from governments or corporations.

Greenpeace was founded in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in 1971.Taking its name from the slogan used during the protests against the United States nuclear testing in late 1969, the Committee came together with the objective of stopping a second underground nuclear bomb test codenamed Cannikin by the United States military beneath the island of Amchitka, Alaska. The first ship expedition was called the Greenpeace I; the second relief expedition was nicknamed the Greenpeace Too! The test was not stopped, but the organisation of the committee laid the groundwork for Greenpeace later activities.

Greenpeace is known for its campaigns to stop atmospheric and underground nuclear testing. In later years, the focus of the organisation turned to other environmental issues, including bottom trawling, global warming, ancient forest destruction, nuclear power, and genetic engineering.

In addition to such methods as lobbying politicians and attendance at international conferences, Greenpeace has a stated methodology of engaging in nonviolent direct actions to attract attention to particular environmental causes.

Throughout the world, ancient forests are in danger. Many of the plants and animals that live in these forests face extinction. And many of the people and cultures who depend on these forests for their way of life are also under threat. Greenpeace exists because this fragile earth deserves a voice. It needs solutions. It needs change. It needs action.

Questions for discussion:

1. What is the goal of Greenpeace?

2. When was Greenpeace founded?

3. Where are the national offices of Greenpeace located?

4. What is Greenpeace known for?

5. What are the main environmental issues of today?

6. What are the main sources of income of Greenpeace?

7. How did Greenpeace get its name?

8. What does Greenpeace do now?

9. How does Greenpeace attract attention to particular environmental causes?

10. Why does Greenpeace have so many followers?