Members of the World Development Movement were criticised (The Argus, February 19) for the dangerous stunt attempted at Brighton's West Pier.
They did it because they are so concerned about the General Agreement on Trade in Services (Gats), which may also be dangerous to people's health.
Poor people will suffer, particularly in developing countries, when they cannot afford to pay for basic services as multinationals seek to make profits out of water, education and health.
Even the European Union was caught out by this legal labyrinth when the US used Gats to prevent EU countries giving preferential market access to impoverished Caribbean banana farmers.
With the glare of publicity shining on the Iraq crisis, we have to watch out the Government does not make any further commitments to Gats that could prevent any future government from maintaining regulations protecting our environment and cultural heritage.
Then democratic arguments about development on the seafront could be a waste of time.
-Eddy Richardson, (Brighton and Hove World Development Movement) The Broyle, Ringmer
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