It does this by outlining the global health crisis, details six principles and then sets out a call to action. The document builds directly on that document and explicitly seeks to take its philosophy and make it relevant to the public health issues of the 21st century. After five days of discussion the delegates unanimously adopted the People's Charter for Health, 2 which has the potential to take over the mantle of the World Health Organisation's Alma Ata Health for All 2000 document. The meeting was powerful because it resulted from collaboration between eight NGOs, included perspectives from rich and poor countries and was careful to link analysis to lived experience.

The People's Health Assembly potentially represents the beginning of a powerful global popular movement focused on combating the devastating impact of economic globalisation on health. The People's Health Assembly was deliberately constituted to ensure fair representation of people from poor countries and people from NGOs and grass root perspectives. The People's Health Assembly, held in Savar, Bangladesh from the 5–9 December 2000 was attended by 1500 from 93 countries. This commentary will describe some of the deliberations of a recent gathering of public health activists, the People's Health Assembly, which examined the health impacts of globalisation, particularly the impact of global trade regimes and considered what can be done to change its character and impact. 1 These interests have little stake in a healthier or more just world and their modus operandi must be recognised as one of the major threats to world health in this new century. At the start of the 21st century one of the major threats to global health comes from the transnational financial interests who speculate against the world currencies and multinational companies that are gaining more and more control over world production and trade. These have been so severe that they have come close to an actual and cultural genocide. For instance on the Australian continent the indigenous peoples have suffered severe and ongoing health consequences of the European invasion of their lands 200 years ago. While the recent debate about globalisation is new its negative health impact is not.

This economic globalisation is posing severe threats to both people's health and the health of the planet. All the indications are that the current forms of globalisation are making the world a safe place for unfettered market liberalism and the consequent growth of inequities. Can you imagine a world in which the spread of globalisation meant the world becoming a more just and equitable place? This seems like an impossible dream.

Health impacts of globalization