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Global Exchange is an advocacy group and non-governmental organization (NGO), based in San Francisco, California, United States. The group's mission is to promote human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice around the world.[1]
History
In 1988, Medea Benjamin, Kevin Danaher, Kathie Klarreich and Kirsten Moller founded Global Exchange. The formation of the organization was rooted in the increasing interdependence of national economies and the subsequent need to build political alliances across national boundaries to protect the economic, social and political rights.[2]
Overview
Global Exchange has worked to increase public awareness of what it feels are the root causes of injustice, while also building international partnerships. It attempts to address a wide range of issues ranging from worker abuse by U.S. companies to the U.S. war in Iraq, to fair trade issues involving the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Global Exchange gives reality tours to various countries of the world with the stated aim of educating the visitor with the realities of living in different cultures.[3] Global Exchange Reality Tours organizes trips to over 30 countries in Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
In the United States, Global Exchange advocates the public financing of elections, adoption of proportional representation and instant runoff voting, free access to commercial media, the elimination of the Electoral College, and the re-enfranchisement of ex-felons.
Recently, Global Exchange has made possible the Green Festivals in San Francisco and Washington D.C., which bring together fair trade merchants, with environmentally responsible and otherwise progressive companies to showcase their goods and services to consumers.[4] Chicago will host its first Green Festival in 2007.[5]
The Fair Trade Store encourages the principles of socially and economically responsible business by selling products according to Fair Trade Criteria in an online store [1] and stores in San Francisco and Berkeley in California, and Portland, Oregon.
As part of their campaign to reduce oil consumption, on November 29, 2006, two protesters from Global Exchange and Rainforest Action Network - Mike Hudema and Matt Leonard - at the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show walked onto a press stage where General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner was speaking and tried to get him to sign a pledge making GM the most fuel-efficient car company by 2010. Wagoner refused to sign, saying that he promised just that in his keynote speech. [6]
Criticism
The World Trade Organization has claimed that a number of websites such as the Global Exchange, etc., "contain accusations against the WTO which are based on incorrect information or downright falsehoods."[7] The conservative think tank Capital Research Center claims that the group was responsible for violent demonstrations at the World Trade Organization meetings in Seattle in 1999. It also claims that Global Exchange appears to be spearheading Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's public relations efforts in the United States by offering reality tours for American tourists in Venezuela.[8]
References
External links
