The constant gardener
Global Exchange
Alex Khasnabish,
McMaster University
Global Exchange is a US-based international human rights organization formed in 1988. It is dedicated to promoting environmental, social, and political justice and to raising the awareness of the US public in relation to these issues. Focusing on Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, Brazil, and the Middle East, Global Exchange pursues these goals through a variety of specific activities and initiatives. In recent years, Global Exchange has been involved in the building of coalitions both within the United States and internationally against the war in Iraq and against the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). It has organized speaking tours of activists from other countries throughout the United States, and promoted environmentally sustainable living and social justice through "Green Festivals."
"Reality Tours" and the promotion and marketing of Fair Trade goods also comprise a large portion of Global Exchange's work, in addition to providing the organization with the vast majority of its revenue. (Global Exchange also receives revenue from individual member contributions, foundation donations, fiscally sponsored projects, and events and honoraria.) Reality Tours are premised on the notion of "building people to people ties," giving "travelers hands-on opportunities to explore the impact of corporate globalization and US foreign and economic policy on the rest of the world" (www.globalexchange.org). They bring participants to focal countries and promote learning about situations through experience rather than what is presented by the mass media.
Suggested Readings:
Global Exchange website.
www.globalexchange.org (accessed 16 December 2004).