Activists mobilize for FTAA what is predicted to be bigger than the WTO

A more extreme version of North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA),

will spread devastating effects throughout the Americas, further broadening the disparities between rich and poor and destroying the environment, as corporate interests continue to take precedence above all else

Activists mobilize for what is predicted to be bigger than the WTO

On April 20-22 in Quebec City, Canada, leaders of thirty-four nations will meet to further the ratification of the

Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), set for completion before 2005. If implemented, FTAA policies,

a more extreme version of North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), will spread devastating

effects throughout the Americas, further broadening the disparities between rich and poor and destroying

the environment, as corporate interests continue to take precedence above all else.

An array of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), unions, grassroots groups, and concerned individuals

have united to contest FTAA's undemocratic process and its intended goals.

Broad coalitions are planning massive demonstrations in Quebec City during the April convention,

as well as solidarity actions along both US/Canadian and US/Mexican borders,

and throughout the Americas and the Caribbean.

Learn more about planned border actions by visiting sf.indymedia.org and stopftaa.org

There is an Alternate Vision

Alliance for Responsible Trade (ART), which includes representatives of environmental,

human-rights, U.S. labor, women's, family-farm, development, religious,

and public-policy organizations, has presented

the Committee of Government Representatives on Civil Society Participation with

"Alternatives for the Americas:Building a Hemispheric Peoples' Agreement."

The document contends that

"trade and investment should not be ends in themselves, but rather the instruments for

achieving just and sustainable development. Citizens must have the right to participate in the

formulation, implementation, and evaluation of hemispheric social and economic policies.

Central goals of these policies should be to promote economic sovereignty,

social welfare, and reduced inequality at all levels."

Learn more about the Alliance for Responsible Trade at

http://www.igc.org/dgap/art/

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