The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Establish a just society to minimise evil effects of globalisation: Cyriac Joseph

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 19, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Establish a just society to minimise evil effects of globalisation: Cyriac Joseph

Staff Reporter

`MNCs using the concept to maximise profits at the cost of social equity'

MEET ON GLOBALISATION: (From right) B.S. Yediyurappa, Deputy Chief Minister; D.H. Shankaramurthy, Higher Education Minister; Niall Johnston, Director of Programmes, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association; and John Lotherington, Director, 21 Century T rust, London, at the valedictory of a conference on `Where is globalisation heading?', in Bangalore on Thursday. — Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.

BANGALORE: Young parliamentarians must use their forum to work for the establishment of a fair and just society to counter the evil effects of globalisation, Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court Cyriac Joseph said here on Thursday.

Mr. Joseph, who was chief guest at the valedictory of a conference on "Where is globalisation heading?", organised by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and 21st Century Trust, said: "Injustice is the mother of all conflict, be it within the family, the workplace, or between nations at the global level." It was not possible to reverse globalisation, and there was no escape from the reality of globalisation. But it was possible to maximise its benefits and minimise its evil effects by ensuring fairness in civil society, he said.

Earlier, referring to the seating arrangement which had placed him between Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Krishna and Chairman of the Legislative Council V.R. Sudarshan, Mr. Joseph remarked: "It is proof of the cordiality that exists between the two wings of democracy."

He said globalisation had become the favourite catchphrase of journalists and politicians. While he would refrain from judging the effects of globalisation harshly, there was ample evidence that multinational companies used the concept to maximise profits at the cost of social and environmental equity, he added.

Speaker of Pakistan's Sind Provincial Assembly Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah said globalisation offered tremendous opportunities and challenge, and parliamentarians, as leaders of civil society, must seize the opportunity and maximise benefits.

The five-day conference was organised for parliamentarians and legislators who are below 45 years of age, and Mr. Shah suggested that the age limit be raised, as seniors could offer the wisdom of their experience and guide parliamentarians in many ways.

Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa said globalisation had affected the country's economy. Employment and poverty needed to be addressed against the backdrop of globalisation if it was to benefit the people.

Even after many years of globalisation, 30 rich nations were enjoying 80 per cent of the global income. The gross inequity had only reduced access to resources and livelihood for the poor, Mr. Yediyurppa said.

He wanted markets to see that equity was achieved in terms of exports, imports, sharing of knowledge, technology, and skills.

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president M. Mallikarjun Kharge, whose speech was read out by Prakash M. Rathod, MLC, said: "Aspirations of a nation to becoming an economic superpower cannot be realised without addressing issues of high rate of illiteracy and lack of access to healthcare and education."

Mr. Kharge said he had reservations about the process of globalisation, though it was inevitable and irreversible, and its ability to address concerns such as poverty.

Delegates from 17 countries attended the five-day conference.

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