Globalization was the focus when an international development group
hosted discussions in rural Saskatchewan.
“It was quite a learning experience” said Lori Latta, co-ordinator of
the Saskatchewan Council for International Co-operation.
Three-hour public deliberations were held in eight communities last
fall and drew 15-20 people to each session. More sessions are planned
for this spring. Latta said the aim of the first round of meetings was
to get rural people talking about globalization and how it affects them
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and their neighbours.
“We found people were concerned about globalization. Unfortunately, we
didn’t get the diverse range (of opinion). People who identified it as
just protest stayed away from the talks.”
Latta said each community valued having a chance to talk in-depth about
globalization.
“A lot of people came out because they’d heard this word thrown around
a lot and they wanted to find out more about it.”
Latta said in looking at solutions to problems created by
globalization, most of the people said it was important to support
local efforts and buy at places such as farmer’s markets.
“Also, they felt international rules should be fairer, more equitable
and should be taking account of people’s standard of living.”
The council is planning more rural meetings before seeding time and
after harvest to discuss food security.
The questions this time will be whether prairie farmers can, or should,
feed the world. What agricultural crop inputs are needed to help meet
that goal and is there a better way?
Latta said a similar rural discussion series was held in Manitoba last
year. The sessions had not been tried in Saskatchewan since the demise
of various development education groups under the 1996 federal budget
cuts. The fall 2001 series and the upcoming series are funded by the
federal government’s Canadian International Development Agency.
She said the gap in rural coverage was identified last September in a
meeting with SCIC’s 32 member groups, which include churches and other
charities that do overseas work or education.
For more information contact SCIC at 306-757-4669.
