Birmingham
Friends of the Earth
Action Briefing Aug /Sept 1999

Vernon's World - or is it?

Vernon is on holiday so Judas A. Priest II, a financial consultant, has been commissioned to write his column.

Though I have great respect for environmentalists, I feel I must enlighten you about the real world. Few of you will be aware how exciting and revolutionary the 1950's were. In this decade Milton Friedman and his pals from the Chicago school of Economics formulated and began to preach their 'Free Market' theories. Within 40 years welfare systems and labour movements throughout the world would be disempowered and dismantled. The great Margaret Thatcher made the Free Market theory her bible. Even Tony Blair preaches from it.

I have formulated a questionnaire to see how aware you environmentalists are. There are 5 questions. Please answer either A or B to show which is the most economically important case scenario.

(A) A Designer dress sold for a thousand pounds to a millionaire's wife abroad.
(B) A single mother who makes her own and her offspring's clothes.
(A) McDonalds corporation who ensure products come from the cheapest supplier and that their profit margin is as large as possible.
(B) A restaurant which buys its products locally and organically.
(A) Monsanto, who through its advancements in G.M.O. technology, will have huge control over the worlds maize and soya production, from seeds to weed killers.
(B) An organic farmer.
(A) A luxury car manufacturer who will set up production in the country which offers the best deal and the cheapest labour.
(B) A subsidised bus service.
(A) The IMF and the World Bank who through loans, with competitive interest rates, to despotic regimes now have a great say in what is produced and any large scale projects in the debt ridden countries.
(B) Those who help a friend in need and are happy to see that friend back on his or her feet and want nothing more. If you have answered A to all the questions please contact me regarding salary, bonuses and share options.

If you have answered B to the questions, I am afraid you are obsolete and will be written off in the next financial report.

Judas A. Priest II