Sir, - It is sad to see well-meaning people proposing actions that will defeat their stated aims. The May Day protesters generally seek to eradicate global poverty, improve the environment and protect human rights. Globalisation, capitalism and the civil society are the best long-term way of achieving all of these aims. Poverty is lower in countries that have embraced globalisation: compare the performance of Hong Kong with that of Shanghai from 1945 to 1990. Capitalism is the best way of generating wealth for the whole of society: compare the standards of living in South Korea and North Korea over the period from 1945 to 1989. The civil society is the best way of protecting the environment and human rights: compare the level of human-rights protection and the state of the environment in West Germany and East Germany prior to 1989. The aims of the May Day protesters are laudable and most people would support them. But their proposed solutions to the issues are short-sighted and impractical. Ireland and the EU can help by increasing trade with (not aid to) poor countries by eliminating barriers to trade. For example, poor countries should have free and unconditional access to the EU agriculture and textile markets and the CAP and import quotas should be abolished. Free movement of people should also be expanded to poor countries to allow people to move where there are jobs.
In the long term this is the only way to decrease global poverty, improve the environment and protect human rights. - Yours, etc.,
Fintan Clancy, Robinson Road, Mid Levels, Hong Kong.