Media Advisory November 16, 2004

Contact: Antonia Juhasz 415-846-5447 (cell) 415-561-3490 (office)

Interviews with authors can be arranged by contacting Antonia Juhasz.

Five-Years After the "Battle of Seattle," Preeminent Global Scholars Present Real Alternatives to Economic Globalization and Declare A Better World is Possible!

San Francisco - November 2004 marks the five-year anniversary of the emergence of the unprecedented coalition of civil society movements that took to the streets in Seattle to oppose policies of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The "Battle of Seattle" sent the WTO into a retreat from which, many argue, it has yet to recover.

To mark this historic anniversary, the International Forum on Globalization (IFG) announces the release of the second edition of Alternatives to Economic Globalization: A Better World is Possible.

In 1999, work began on the report that became the 2002 book Alternatives to Economic Globalization. That book spelled out not only the critique of corporate globalization, but also for the first time provided a comprehensive policy road map away from the current model toward a more equitable and sustainable planet. Now, as part of the ongoing effort to continue to show that "a better world is possible ó and to explain how the "war on terror" and other events of the past three years are related to globalization ó the authors have written an updated and expanded second edition.

Written by an eminent group of twenty-one thinkers and activists from around the world and edited by best-selling authors John Cavanagh and Jerry Mander, the book lays out the alternatives to corporate globalization more fully, specifically, and thoughtfully than has been done before.

The second edition provides crucial new information in three new chapters covering the global balance of power, the continuing war in Iraq, the "outsourcing" of high paying American jobs, the media, and includes stories of communities building successful alternative models in many sectors ó food and agriculture, energy, water, loan schemes, municipal budgeting systems, and many more.

Specifically, Alternatives to Economic Globalization offers:

• A new introduction that analyzes the emerging opposition to U.S. economic and military policies (and an explanation of how both are intertwined);

• A new section on the powerful and often negative role of global media, and what to do about it;

• Alternative operating systems for energy, agriculture and food systems, transportation, and manufacturing;

• An expanded discussion of how vital goods and services (such as water or genetic material) can be administered for the common good rather than privatized for profit;

• New sections on such significant growing problems as climate change (particularly with regard to energy policy and agriculture) and the controversies over "outsourcing"

• Ten governing principles for building sustainable societies that will lead to greater democracy that benefits the many rather than the few;

• An expanded discussion of new institutions of "global governance" to replace the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the World Trade Organization (WTO). And a set of new principles that these institutions should fulfill;

• A new section providing examples of successful alternative policies and systems already in use by communities around the world today; and

• A new chapter, "Global to Local: What You Can Do," that demonstrates what an individual can do as a consumer, worker, investor, depositor, local citizen, national citizen, and global citizen.

Alternatives to Economic Globalization: A Better World is Possible, 2^nd Edition

Published by Berrett-Koehler Publishers www.bkconnection.com

John Cavanagh and Jerry Mander, editors.

Co-authors: Sarah Anderson, Debi Barker, Maude Barlow, Walden Bello, Robin Broad, John Cavanagh, Tony Clarke, Edward Goldsmith, Randy Hayes, Colin Hines, Antonia Juhasz, Andrew Kimbrell, David Korten, Sara Larrain, Jerry Mander, Victor Menotti, Helena Norberg-Hodge, Simon Retallack, Vandana Shiva, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, and Lori Wallach.

The International Forum on Globalization is an alliance of leading activists, scholars, economists, researchers, and writers ó representing 60 organizations in 25 countries ó formed in 1994 to stimulate new thinking, joint activity, and public education in response to economic globalization.

What people are saying about the IFG and Alternatives to Economic Globalization:

"The most important international organization opposing economic globalization." - Le Monde, France

"The brain trust of the [anti-globalization] movement."- Naomi Klein, author of No Logo "The IFG is one of the most serious and respected groups of experts dedicated to analyzing and generating alternative proposals to the prevailing economic model promoted by international financial agencies." - La Jornada, Mexico

"At this critical moment in history, Alternatives could not be more timely. The authors comprise some of the most articulate and powerful voices of dissent, thought leaders who insist that democracy, participation, and common rights form the basis of a world that will provide real wealth for all."

- Paul Hawken, author of The Ecology of Commerce

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