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Xerox: "Business will have to set the agenda...a complete restruc- ture driven by competition and market discipline, unfamiliar grounds for educators." When knowledge becomes privatised, it is no longer a common heritage to be used for the common good. Maude Barlow writes in The Ecologist: "The intellectual property provisions of NAFTA and GATT treat knowledge as a commodity and as the exclusive property of the company that takes a patent or holds a copyright on it." The inclusion of education under GATS would accelerate this process and make it harder for citizens to turn it around. Xerox: "Business will have to set the agenda...a complete restruc- privatised. Contrast this with the words of Vandana Shiva: ture driven by competition and market discipline, unfamiliar "Privatisation and commodification of water are a threat to the grounds for educators." right to life." When knowledge becomes privatised, it is no longer a common The threat is at our doorstep. In California, the state heritage to be used for the common good. Maude Barlow writes Constitution guarantees that the people have the right of owner- in The Ecologist: "The intellectual property provisions of ship of the water; but tragically, the people are losing control of NAFTA and GATT treat knowledge as a commodity and as the this right to agribusiness, private land companies and water specu- exclusive property of the company that takes a patent or holds a lators like Azurix. Since 1992, some companies operating as fed- copyright on it." The inclusion of education under GATS would eral contractors have been given the right to sell some of accelerate this process and make it harder for citizens to turn it California's water on the open market. In 1995, the state also around. gave its contractors the right to sell water. The European GATS negotiators want to be sure that drinking- Health Care water is included in the GATS agreement because they have large Agnes Bertrand, writing in The Ecologist, states "it is not health TNCs like Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux and Générale des Eaux, a which makes money, but ill health". The division of Vivendi SA, which are involved WTO staff says countries should reconsider in privatising municipal water services the "depth and breadth of their commit- around the world, including in the city of ments" on health and social services, which Indianapolis. are "trailing behind other sectors". This Now the US negotiators are figuring out means more privatisation, deregulation and how to respond. They know there is contro- competition by foreign Suppliers. ; "The intellectual versy in the US about having GATS cover rivatisation of public health services os water. corporations would like limite increases inequity. The WTO acknowledges ropert rovisions of coverage in areas where they are competitive quity g g y Pp that ‘private health insurers competing tor NAFTA and GATT with the European corporations. Advocates members may engage in some form 0 ‘or environment and justice don't want water ‘cream-skimming'...private clinics may well treat knowledge asa covered in GATS at all. The US is looking be able to attract qualified staff from public commodity and as the fora compromise position, and its negotia- hospitals without...offering the same range . tors are willing to propose that GATS "carve of services to the same population exclusive property of out", i.e., exclude, transportation of groups... bulk water across international borders According to Public Services the company that by private companies. This would be International (PSI): "The elite will be takes a patent or good from the perspective of citizens holds a copyright on it." able to access private TNC-controlled and organisations who believe water is care; the rest will have to make do with a right, not a need to be supplied by the the shrinking public system." US-man- market for profit. aged care corporations are doing just But the US is considering a more this in Latin America. compromised position on water ser- As mobility of health care profes- vices such as water treatment, distribu- sionals is encouraged, there will be tion and sewage treatment within a pressure for a downward levelling of country. It has suggested limiting the standards for medical training and qual- application of GATS in the US to com- ification, resulting in a reduction in mercial applications. Unfortunately, health quality standards. Further, this approach does not deal with the health service providers may encourage rich foreign clients while fact that other countries might have a harder time resisting the ignoring poorer clients in their own area, as is already happening pressure from TNCs to put public water systems on their schedule in northern Mexico. Finally, notes the PSI report, "privatisation of commitments. If a country does this and later realises it made a brings with it a view of labour as a cost, rather than an investment —_ mistake, it could be too late to change course. in skills", leading to use of less skilled labour to replace more Encouraging the private sector to supply water for commercial skilled labour performing the same tasks. uses could lead to less water being available for purposes like public drinking water and wildlife protection. Also, if big com- - Water mercial users get water from private sources, public water sup- With water scarcity becoming widespread, partly due to the plies will have to carry more of the public infrastructure costs, pollution and misuse of water by corporations, companies like leading to higher rates. This is another form of cream-skimming. Bechtel and Enron want to profit from this scarcity by supplying Finally, GATS fits in nicely with the IMF and World Bank water in bulk to those who can afford it. While water itself is a agenda to promote privatisation. In Bolivia, under pressure from commodity, the operation of water pipelines and ships to supply these institutions, the government passed a law which led to the bulk water is a service. privatisation of water in its major city of Cochabamba. The city The local distribution of drinking water is also a service. In the signed a contract with a private consortium in which Bechtel had US, this is primarily a municipal function. But today, TNCs want —_a majority interest. Water bills quickly became unaffordable. to privatise these systems, as has already been done in countries Cooperative distribution systems were dismantled. People first such as France and Great Britain. refused to pay, then took to the streets to protest. In the end, after Rebecca Mark, speaking as CEO of Enron's water subsidiary police violence, the people won and the contract was terminated. ha Tonat eact amtil oll the © aw hae haan A property provisions of NAFTA and GATT treat knowledge as a commodity and as the exclusive property of the company that takes a patent or holds a copyright on it." - Water With water scarcity becoming widespread, partly due to the pollution and misuse of water by corporations, companies like Bechtel and Enron want to profit from this scarcity by supplying water in bulk to those who can afford it. While water itself is a commodity, the operation of water pipelines and ships to supply bulk water is a service. The local distribution of drinking water is also a service. In the US, this is primarily a municipal function. But today, TNCs want to privatise these systems, as has already been done in countries such as France and Great Britain. Rebecca Mark, speaking as CEO of Enron's water subsidiary Azurix, said she will not rest until all the world's water has been APRIL — MAY 2001 NEXUS = 19 "The intellectual www.nexusmagazine.com