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Please respond to this message if you want to continue receiving updates
about the action described below.<br>
<br>
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. <br>
<br>
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
<a href="http://www.tradewatch.org/" eudora="autourl">www.tradewatch.org</a>.<br>
<br>
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? <br>
<br>
Several people from the Independent Media Center will be going to cover
the protests and the FTAA meeting, but more reporters are always
needed. <br>
<br>
Please let me know whether you'd like to go to Quebec and what aspects of
the planning interest you.<br>
<br>
I look forward to hearing from you.<br>
<br>
In solidarity,<br>
Peter<br>
<br>
<font color="#0000FF"><u><a href="http://www.a20.org/" eudora="autourl">http://www.a20.org</a></u></font>
<br>
<font color="#0000FF"><u><a href="http://www.stopftaa.org/" eudora="autourl">http://www.stopftaa.org</a></u></font> <br>
<font color="#0000FF"><u><a href="http://www.quebec2001.net/" eudora="autourl">http://www.quebec2001.net</a></u></font> <br>
<font color="#0000FF"><u><a href="http://www.alternatives-action.org/salami" eudora="autourl">http://www.alternatives-action.org/salami</a></u></font> <br>
<font color="#0000FF"><u><a href="http://www.oqp2001.org/" eudora="autourl">http://www.oqp2001.org<br>
</a></u></font>Ten Reasons to Oppose the FTAA - <br>
<font color="#0000FF"><u><a href="http://www.globalexchange.org/ftaa/topten.html" eudora="autourl">http://www.globalexchange.org/ftaa/topten.html</a></u></font> <br>
The FTAA and AIDS - <a href="http://www.a20.org/feature.cfm?ID=45" eudora="autourl"><font color="#0000FF"><u>http://www.a20.org/feature.cfm?ID=45</a></u></font> <br>
FTAA Factsheet - <a href="http://www.tradewatch.org/FTAA/factsheet.htm" eudora="autourl"><font color="#0000FF"><u>http://www.tradewatch.org/FTAA/factsheet.</a><a href="http://www.tradewatch.org/FTAA/factsheet.htm" eudora="autourl">htm<br>
<br>
</a></u></font><x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
Peter Miller, co-host<br>
The Illinois Labor Hour, Saturdays 11 a.m. - noon<br>
WEFT 90.1 FM<br>
113 N. Market St.<br>
Champaign, IL 61820<br>
(217) 359-9338 (WEFT) / (217) 367-1336 (h) / (217) 337-5174 (w)<br>
peterm@shout.net</html>