[Imc] A20-Confronting corporations in Quebec

[Peter Miller]

Please respond to this message if you want to continue receiving updates 
about the action described below.

Efforts to curtail and reverse corporate globalization continue around the 
world as corporations continue trying to force their agendas on us.  You 
may have heard about protests against state-corporate convergences in 
Switzerland, in Mexico, and perhaps the upcoming NAFTA expansion--known as 
FTAA--that will be unveiled in Quebec on April 18-22.  We're organizing a 
group from Champaign-Urbana to travel to Quebec City to report on and speak 
out against this latest anti-democratic proposal.

The FTAA (the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas) has been negotiated in 
secret since 1999 by representatives of nearly all of the countries in the 
hemisphere.  Public Citizen, the organization founded by Ralph Nader, says, 
"Imposition of [the FTAA] would empower corporations to constrain 
governments from setting standards for public health and safety, to 
safeguard their workers, and to ensure corporations do not pollute the 
communities in which they operate."  It's simply NAFTA for the remaining 
31countries in the hemisphere.  If you need more information about how 
NAFTA has hurt the US, Mexico, and Canada, see www.tradewatch.org.

While many of us are focused on local elections, we need people to help 
research the FTAA and plan educational events, for ourselves and for the 
community (a teach-in, culture jamming, etc.).  We also need people who 
want to explore how we can most effectively contribute to the action.  Is a 
radical cheerleader is hiding within you? Do you have ideas for other ways 
to send a message to the delegates?  Do you just think you want to lend 
support to this pro-democracy movement?  Is there interest in planning a 
local action for those who can't go to Quebec?

Several people from the Independent Media Center will be going to cover the 
protests and the FTAA meeting, but more reporters are always needed.

Please let me know whether you'd like to go to Quebec and what aspects of 
the planning interest you.

I look forward to hearing from you.

In solidarity,
Peter

http://www.a20.org
http://www.stopftaa.org
http://www.quebec2001.net
http://www.alternatives-action.org/salami
http://www.oqp2001.org
Ten Reasons to Oppose the FTAA -
http://www.globalexchange.org/ftaa/topten.html
The FTAA and AIDS - http://www.a20.org/feature.cfm?ID=45
FTAA Factsheet - http://www.tradewatch.org/FTAA/factsheet.htm


Peter Miller, co-host
The Illinois Labor Hour, Saturdays 11 a.m. - noon
WEFT 90.1 FM
113 N. Market St.
Champaign, IL 61820
(217) 359-9338 (WEFT) / (217) 367-1336 (h) / (217) 337-5174 (w)
peterm at shout.net
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