THE NEW RULERS OF THE WORLD

	John Pilger's "The New Rulers of the World" shows us how the Capitalist rich-and-getting-exponentially richer are responsible for producing land dispossession, poverty, lifelong debt, and death. We learn about the effects of recent imperialism such as the holocaust of communists and others in Indonesia (1965-66); this particular slaughter was backed by many Western leaders including Prime Minister Harold Macmillian and John F. Kennedy. In order to examine the true effects of Imperialist global economy, Pilger turns the spotlight on Indonesia, a country described by the World Bank as a model pupil until its globalized economy collapsed in 1998. The film examines the use of sweatshop factories by famous brand names, and asks some penetrating questions. Who are the real beneficiaries of the globalized economy? Who really rules the world now? Is it governments or a handful of huge companies? The film looks at the new rulers of the world -- the great multinationals and the governments and institutions that back them -- the IMF and the World Bank. Under IMF rules, millions of people throughout the world lose their jobs and livelihood. The reality behind much of modern shopping and the famous brands is a sweatshop economy, which is being duplicated in country after country.

Part 1 - A "new economic order"

A few facts are revealing - a small group of individuals are richer than the whole continent of Africa. Some 200 organisations control 25% of world economic activity.

Unseen by shoppers in the high streets ..... popular goods are made by a form of slave labour. Is this the "global village" which we are told is our future? Or is it merely an old project, run by the supposed "divine right" of Capitalist corporations and financial institutions?

Part 2 - The Worker's Story

Working conditions of those who create the wealth for massive companies: 24 hour shifts with just a couple of breaks, where the workers have no choice in the matter - "I'm just scared".

"On these long shifts to you recall what labels you were packing?" "Mostly GAP and Old Navy".

For garments which sell in the UK for £8, an Indonesian worker gets 4p. The profits for GAP were $1.38 BILLION. This is typical of such companies. Those workers who speak out are intimidated by violent anti-trade union forces. GAP declined interview.

Part 3 - An Indonesian Holocaust - Capitalist's Secret History

The Western Capitalists gained their foothold in Indonesia through a mass murder of up to 1 million people, aided by the United States and Britain. Until recently, the truth of these atrocities has been keep secret.

Communists, teachers, civil servants, farmers were slaughtered. Within a year of the bloodbath, Indonesia's economy was in the hands of Western Capital, giving access to vast mineral wealth, markets and cheap labour - what President Nixon called "the greatest prize in Asia".

British propaganda: "everything was going to be lovely". The US government was "generally sympathetic and admiring of what the army is doing".

The CIA supplied a list of 5,000 opponents to be assassinated. Embassy officials ticked of their names as they were murdered.

The British Ambassador recommended "a little shooting, as an essential preliminary to essential change."

The American press reported not crimes against humanity, but the monetary advantage to the West - "vengeance with a smile", "the West's best news for years in Asia", "A gleam of light in Asia".

Part 4 - The World Bank

Globalisation means that capital (big money) can be moved anywhere at any time without warning. The removal of short-term capital from Asia meant that their currencies plummeted in value - giving massive discounts to companies like Nike, who could pay their workforce even less.

"The World Bank portrays itself as an economic development agency focused on the reduction of poverty. But in fact the Bank operated during the entire Cold war as an institute which distributed resources to mostly authoritarian regimes which supported the West."

Part 5 - "Globalisation" creates misery

Globalisation creates debts, and debts create misery, creates unemployment, creates crisis, creates privatisation, so people will have to pay more for access for health, education ... its not natural - debt is not natural - its designed!

Every day, more than 100 million dollars is transferred in debt repayments from the poorest countries on earth to the richest. Poverty is paying off huge debt, passed on to the children.

Part 6 - International Monetary Fund

Millions of people are marching against the power of the IMF across the world - but it's not news if it doesn't happen in the West. People are protesting about privatisation, selling off of their water, against turning their farms into suppliers for the dinner tables of the rich.

The coverage of these events follows a pattern - its only news if there is violence, even when the vast majority on such protests act peacefully. The violence of the economic policies they are protesting about is seldom news.

Part 7 - Privatisation of Britain

The financial pages celebrate a booming economy - yet 1 in 5 British children grows up in poverty. There are almost 10 million British living in poverty. The gap between the rich and the rest grows wider.

Why not replace institutions like the IMF and the World Bank with democratic development institutions? The one remaining super power has made it's vision of the future clear....