The FTAA Protest
The FTAA Protest
Just say
no to the
Free Trade Area of the Americas or FTAA
The latest international trade agreement is called the Free Trade Area of the Americas. Based on NAFTA, the FTAA is currently being negotiated by the US and over 30 other western hemisphere countries, from Canada to Chile.
As usual, the negotiations are being held in secret, but reports indicate it contains no labor and environmental provisions, and in fact, encourages business practices that ignore such standards.
The AFL-CIO has resolved to fight for 'enforceable workers" rights and environmental protections in the core of all new trade and investment agreements... including the Free Trade Area of the Americas, and to "vigorously oppose any agreements that fall short of this standard."
Why should I be concerned?
The goal of the FTAA is to build on NAFTA by further "reducing barriers to trade". It will contain a series of commitments to "liberalize" services — including education, health care, environmental services (including access to water), energy, postal services and anything else we pay for that isn’t a physical object.
The FTAA effectively increases privatization and deregulation in the western hemisphere — a very "business friendly" agreement that takes power away from governments and increases that of corporations.
Presently, under chapter 11 of NAFTA, foreign corporations are empowered to sue governments directly for losses incurred due to the removal of domestic standards or laws —usually designed to protect public health and safety. This is called "investor-state" clause. The FTAA plans to expand upon this, explicitly valuing corporate profits over human costs.
Recent examples under NAFTA :
The Canadian government was forced to pay $13 million in damages and to drop its ban on the gasoline additive MMT after being sued by the U.S.-based Ethyl Corporation. MMT, also know as methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl, is a manganese compound which, when burned in automobile engines, results in manganese air pollution. The relationship between high doses of inhaled manganese and various manifestations of neurotoxicity, respiratory toxicity, and reproductive toxicity has been well documented by neuroscientists.
The federal government banned MMT in Canada as a health protection measure. The Canadian government chose to settle with the Ethyl Corporation before the NAFTA arbitration panel could rule, providing Ethyl with $US13 million and an apology.
In October 2000, Canada lost another Chapter 11 case. S.D. Myers, a PCB waste destruction company based in Ohio, challenged a nine month ban on PCB exports from Canada to the U.S. S.D. Myers sought a $US 50 million penalty against Canada. The Canadian government has appealed the ruling.
In another case, U.S.-based Metalclad Corp. sued a Mexican state for compensation after a Mexican environmental zoning law forbid Metalclad to build a toxic waste disposal site. The company sued, stating the law was an effective seizure of the company’s property and under NAFTA rules (similar rules are to be implemented in the FTAA), required the offending government compensate the company.
NAFTA tribunals meet secretly
TRADE LAW SHOULD NOT INTERFERE WITH DOMESTIC ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION!
The Rally to Stop NAFTA for the Americas!!!!!
This rally
took place on Saturday, April 21st, 2001
Peace Arch Park, Blaine, Washington
Co-sponsored by the Vancouver & District Labour Council, CLC and the Whatcom County Labor Council, AFL-CIO. The rally was peaceful and everybody had a good time even though a chopper circled overhead all dayThere were plenty of undercover agents who probably had an nice easy day in the sun with us. I doubt they had anything to report back to whoever is paying them. I even called out the agent hiding behind the bushes spying on us to come out and enjoy the festivities. After some coaxing he actually joined us. The Blaine Police, the Washington State Patrol and the RCMP were very courteous and friendly. Even the police had a fun day.
At the end of the rally a bald eagle hovered overhead.
1864 President Lincoln Quote:
"I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and
causes
me to tremble for the safety of my country... corporations have been
enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the
money
power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon
the
prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and
the Republic is destroyed."
U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, Nov. 21, 1864 (letter to Col. William
F. Elkins) Ref: "The Lincoln Encyclopedia", Archer H. Shaw
(Macmillan, 1950, NY)
Articles
Statement of Policy on the FTAA
Accessing cheap foreign labour is good for companies, but only dreamers
think it benefits workers.
