The tsunami tragedy on 26 December 2004 affected 13 Asian and African countries. About 400,000 people died, most of them children and women. About 600,000 houses were flattened and as many fishing implements destroyed. It is very important to know that the victims were mainly members of beach-based fishing communities depending on fishing for their livelihoods. Most of them live in subsistent economy. Whole families are involved in the fishing activity. Their houses and fishing are organically linked. It is a labour-intensive fisheries sector.

The quick response by the whole world was one of sympathy and the sudden relief work saved the victims in all the affected countries. This attitude by the whole world was counter to the greed of globalisation. But this did not last very long. Now, the World Bank, Food and Agriculture Organisation, different national governments and the European Union are talking in different languages pushing the WTO and globalisation agenda. They are trying to push harbour-based mechanised vessels, aquaculture and tourism. This will be the second human-made tsunami, displacing thousands of victims from their habitats and fishing altogether.

Victims of Globalisation

Today, the buzzwords are globalisation and liberalisation. The words look very attractive, but for the vast majority of the people around the world, their ill-effects are far too many. Globalisation began with colonialism. In the 16th century, Europe was overpopulated and the people began to migrate from Europe to other continents as if they were discovering new places. It ended up with conquering other places and people. Sword and cross went together. They forcefully enslaved and converted natives and indigenous peoples. They conquered lands, exploited the resources and accumulated wealth.

In the 20th century, the world witnessed the uprising of peoples for political freedom. However, economic exploitation continued through multinational corporations (MNCs) and transnational corporations (TNCs). But the rich and the ruling class of the newly freed Third World countries generally sided with the MNCs for their own advantage, against the interest of the common people. Again, the natives and the indigenous peoples were the worst hit. As a result, according to a UN study, today the 20 per cent Northern minority of humankind has: 82.7 per cent of world gross national product; 81.2 per cent of world trade; 94.6 per cent of all commercial lending; 80.5 per cent of all domestic investment;  80.6 per cent of all domestic savings; and

94.0 per cent of all research and development.

Have More and Get More

It is in this context that we should understand globalisation today. Those who have more are bound to get more. This means more accumulation and centralisation. The Northern 20 per cent people are better placed to take away even the 10-20 per cent of the wealth in the hands of 80 per cent people in the South. The real centre is the G-8 countries and of course the US is the real centre of the centre. They are wielding the power of wealth and arms. They are placed in a better position for quick profit at the expense of the vast majority of people and the environment. All the rest are in the periphery. Thus, peripheralisation of the vast majority is the other side of globalisation. In the period following de-colonisation and political independence of the Third World countries, particularly after World War II, the international relationships among the countries at bilateral and multilateral levels were considered very important and viewed as mutually beneficial. This language and practice seems to be in the wane today. The Northern MNCs want to take over the control of UN. If the UN does not dance according to their tune, they will not give their share. They are more interested in strengthening the WTO than the UN. They talk of democracy and human rights but they have no concern for people in the poor countries. Market economy determines everything and there is no other value in life. Money seems to have more value than the people. The result is that the UN has become a weak instrument. Globalisation is beneficial to those who have. All those who are have-nots are the victims. Globalisation is a mechanistic process (and therefore most easily manipulatable by the wielders of power) in the face of which there is no choice and alternative. This is the most insidious aspect of this ideology: That it could present itself as the only possible way of being. It creates a certain sense of inevitability and absoluteness. Outside Globalisation-and Market Economy, there is no salvation.

What the Victims Want?

The World Forum of Fisher People (WFFP), the International collective in support of Fishworkers (ICSF), South Indian Federation of Fishermen Societies(SIFFS) and Via Campasina are campaigning to achieve the following:

1.       From 0 to 200 metres of the high tide line of the coast should be made free to protect the people and the coast. Along the 200 metres line all should collaborate to conserve mangroves. This area should be kept free for fishing, to keep the fishing implements.

2.       Housing should be done beyond 200 metres line. Housing and fishing should be organically linked. The entire beach-based fishing should be re-established.

3.       In all the countries, efforts should be made to legislate Disaster Prevention and Management Authority. This Authority should be autonomous. All the available resources should be pooled by this Authority. This authority should be at the service of humanity in all the countries whenever such disaster happens anywhere in the World. The UN should facilitate this Authority.