Ralph Nader on Foreign Policy 2008 Independent for for President; 2004 Reform nominee; 2000 Green nominee

US should be the world’s humanitarian superpower

A: Ralph Nader has summed up his foreign policy by saying “the United States should be the world’s humanitarian superpower. Our foreign policy must redefine the elements of global security, peace, arms control, an end to nuclear weapons and expand the many assets of our country to launch, with other nations, major initiatives against global infections diseases.”

Corporate activity destroys the third world

Redefine national purpose to solve Third World scourges

Support foreign peasants instead of foreign dictators

Support social and economic justice across the globe

Nader supports the Green Party Platform, which states: Greens support sustainable development and social and economic justice across the globe.
• The Green Party calls for military spending to be cut by 50% over the next 10 years, with increases in spending for social programs.
• It is our belief that the massive debt owed by the Third World is causing immense misery and environmental destruction. FOREIGN AID must be addressed in the context of retiring this debt and not forcing structural adjustments via the IMF and WORLD BANK on the economies of the underdeveloped world.
• We call for a more enlightened policy on the part of INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES and their financial arms which takes into account the impact of international debt management. The US should rein in the IMF and World Bank, and demand that loans be conditional on human rights and labor rights records, social and environmental impact statements, and the providing of basic health and education.

Assist Russia & Israel in moving towards better governments

Nader supports the Green Party Platform, which states:
• We encourage policies that work to assist the FORMER SOVIET UNION in its move toward a government based on rights and a more open political and economic system.
• We support peace in the MIDDLE EAST based on respect for civil liberties and human rights.
• We support the end of the economic blockade of Cuba. Unjust economic coercion by one state against another constitutes a violation of human rights.
• We believe in the core RIGHT of SELF-DETERMINATION; of the special character and needs of INDIGENOUS PEOPLES; of the essential importance of balancing economic development in the THIRD WORLD with a respect for the “old ways.”
• We endorse an EXPANDED PEACE CORPS.
• We encourage the important work of NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS (NGOs), much in evidence at the United Nations “Earth Summit” in 1992 and in efforts to democratize the World Trade Organization in 2000.

Selling arms is not a good way to conduct foreign affairs

Cuba: corporate sales of junk undermines their system

Support human rights as cornerstone of US foreign policy

Nader supports the Green Party Platform, which states:
• The Green Party asserts that security and liberty prosper together. HUMAN RIGHTS are the foundation of EMERGING DEMOCRACIES and international relations. We argue that the support of democracy, human rights and respect for international law should be the cornerstone of American foreign policy.
• We endorse ending support for repressive regimes. We support the right of habeas corpus being available to any person anywhere whose imprisonment violates fundamental norms of international law.
• INTERNATIONAL LAW and INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS are inseparable. We do not support a world-view that relies on accommodation of tyranny or repressive regimes.
• We endorse human rights policies in regard to relations with CHINA, SOUTH AFRICA and other nations with a history of rights violations.
• As stated in the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the US Green Party calls for the global adoption of basic human rights.