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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Office of Public Information COALITION ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND JEWISH LIFE (COEJL) Statement on the World Trade Organization November 24, 1999 The Eternal placed the human being in the Garden
of Eden to till it and to tend it. In December 1999, leaders and activists from 135 nations will gather in Seattle for the meetings of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life (COEJL), a collaboration of 27 national Jewish organizations spanning the spectrum of American Jewish religious and communal life, affirms the economic and social importance of international trade. However, we believe that the U.S. should actively support provisions in trade agreements to protect the environment. The WTO has been widely criticized for failing to adopt measures which would advance environmental protection and protection of laborers. The WTO consistently has ruled against environmental regulations, including those of both the United States and Europe, categorizing them as "barriers to trade." We believe that the United States should not enter into international agreements which undermine environmental standards. Fundamental values of equity, democracy, and environmental protection are at stake in how international trade is organized and governed. In conjunction with the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA), comprised of 122 local and 13 national member agencies, the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life has established the following principles which we believe should guide the development of public policy, including international trade agreements:
International trade agreements provide opportunities to elevate environmental and labor protection standards across the world. Unfortunately, the WTO has not served this purpose. Rather, it has tended to drive environmental standards to the lowest common denominator among nations. In addition, the WTO has not provided for adequate public involvement in decision-making. COEJL calls on the United States representatives to the WTO Ministerial meetings in Seattle to advocate the necessary changes in the structure and policies of the World Trade Organization in order to ensure that it advances, rather than undermines, both environmental protection and social welfare in all nations and for all people. # # # ------------------------------- The Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life, a coalition of 27 national Jewish organizations spanning the spectrum of Jewish religious and communal life, serves as the voice of the organized Jewish community on a wide array of environmental issues. COEJL is the Jewish member of the National Religious Partnership for the Environment. COEJL 212.684.6950, ext. 210 fax: 212.686.1353 |
