Economic Justice

Global trading of goods and services and the provision of overseas development assistance or aid impacts on millions of people's lives in the developing world. Often aid is given to countries with conditions attached. These can involve the opening up of their domestic markets on resources, such as water supply, to foreign companies. Trade liberalisation promoted by the IMF, World Bank and World Trade Organisation is often a one-sided process, and although intended to promote growth, can result in negative consequences for some of the poorest people in developing countries.

Better World Economics

Newsletter of the Economic Issues programme

Better World Economics - Summer 2010 is now available

Including news, comment and updates on: putting an armed violence lens on the MDGs, shareholders challenge BP and Shell on tar sands, food intellectual property and UPOV, campaigns update: debt and 'dodgy deals,' Friends in action: land for people and communities.

Multinational companies

In partnership with the Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility (ECCR) [offsite link] we undertake research on Transnational companies, such as BHP Billiton, in which the ECCR members have investments. QPSW does this in order to inform dialogue between ECCR members and those companies.  As shareholders the member churches can exercise influence on the business practices of a company.  

We are also a member of the Ethical Trading Initiative in which we work with other charitable organisations, trade unions and companies themselves to improve conditions for workers.  

There is more information on the Economic Justice factsheet.

Educational and campaigning resources

We use the knowledge gained from all our economic justice work to provide educational resources for Friends and others to learn about economic issues.  This enables them to respond to areas of concern from a basis of understanding.  

QPSW is a partner in the Trade Justice Movement and uses this partnership to support your voice against poverty.  Through these we provide information and resources to help campaigners put pressure on governments that have influence how the international economy is run.

Quaker United Nations Office (Geneva)

Since 1993 Quaker United Nations Office Geneva (QUNO Geneva) has been working on behalf of Friends, influencing international policy around the issue of the social and environmental implications of free trade.

The World Trade Organisation (WTO), the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO - a UN specialised agency) are all based in Geneva and wherever possible QUNO Geneva works with their representatives to provide an intelligent alternative viewpoint to the issues of global development.

Using well established Quaker methods of working in 'small circles with quiet voices', QUNO has organised numerous off-the-record seminars to bring together policy makers, specialised staff from these institutions, knowledgeable and experienced environmental NGOs and labour leaders to look at links between international trade and labour and environmental standards.

Understanding these links is crucial to devise policies to prevent downward pressures on labour and environmental standards as a result of increasing global competitiveness. Outputs from these seminars have sometimes been concrete and sometimes supportive of broader policy change.

More detailed information including a complete list of all QUNO Geneva publications can be found on their website: http://www.quno.org/ [offsite link]