Globalisation to blame for sugar factory closure

THE closure of the Mallow sugar beet factory, with the loss of 330 jobs, is the direct result of the relentless onward march of globalised corporate capitalism (globalisation) under the dictate of the unelected World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Everyone is harping on about the beet growers, but most of them will find alternative sources of income, such as diversifying into growing biofuels, such as rape-seed. Rape is a very profitable product for farmers, especially with the push to find alternative sources of fuel to global-warming greenhouse fuels such as oil.

However, the future is not as rosy for the 330 workers who are losing their jobs, many of whom, especially the older ones, face a bleak future.

And what was our Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's response? He said the closure of the Mallow sugar beet factory was the inevitable result of the latest WTO negotiations. Strange that the WTO rules don't apply to governments and politicians.

Paul Kinsella

53 Lorcan Grove

Santry

Dublin 9