humanitarian intervention in the world economy

Robespierre's death warrants during the first French Revolution for mass
decapitations and mass drownings in the Seine river did not diminish the
validity of the general principles of the Enlightenment of "liberte',
e'galite', fraternite' ". However, Robespierre proved that noble ideas can
be criminally perverted in the process of implementation. NATO's attack on
Yugoslavia does not diminish the validity of the general principle of
"humanitarian intervention". However, NATO proves again that noble ideas can
be perverted in the process of implementation. Where humanitarian
intervention is needed is in the world economy. The world economy does not
conform to the human rights code -- the world economy violates the human
rights code in many ways, notably, it violates Article 25 of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights which states that every human being has an
inalienable right to an adequate standard of living. The world market, as
currently constructed, is thus the greatest human rights violation of all.
It is responsible for fatalities -- not in the thousands, but in the
millions. Check the statistics if you don't believe it. NATO countries must
therefore reOrient their zeal for humanitarian intervention and concentrate
it on a thorough reform of the world economy. In short, abolish global
neoliberalism, implement global economic human rights. That would be a
humanitarian intervention worthy of its name.

gernot kohler
oakville, canada