The FTAA would expand NAFTA- style policies and effects to every country in Central and South America and the Caribbean, but not to Cuba. Negotiations began right after the completion of NAFTA in 1994 and are to be completed by 2005. The U.S. is pushing for an earlier completion deadline of 2003. The previous ministerial-level Summit of the Americas took place in Quebec City, Canada in April of 2001. The next summit happens October 31-November 2 in Quito, Ecuador. These restricted meetings to develop the rules of the document are attended by government trade ministers and representatives of corporations while the United Nations and citizen groups haven't been able to participate and the U.S. Congress hasn't yet thought it important to do so.
As many of us know by now, the current economic processes known as globalization have been defined and driven by a small number of corporations that only pretend to work for the benefit of the human race. The proposed intentions of the FTAA will dangerously elevate corporate rights above human rights. This imbalance between commercial interests and human and environmental protection is leading to an erosion of democratic decision-making and living standards even in the U.S., not to mention for those that are trying to advance in developing nations. Global Exchange has been campaigning against the FTAA for years and has detailed information about the failings of NAFTA and other such trade agreements at their website, www.globalexchange.org. A flyer titled Top Ten Reasons to Oppose the Free Trade Area of the Americas is available at the MEC.
No country can nor should remain isolated from the global economy but this does not mean that the current "neo-liberal" or free market approach is the best form of economic integration. Since 1988 there has been a document developing known as Alternatives for the Americas. Hundreds of people from all over the world have participated in discussions, helped draft documents, or conducted educational activities around this alternative global economic vision. It is democratically designed to stimulate further debate and education. At this stage of the struggle, it is not enough to oppose, to resist and to criticize. We must build and promote a proposal of our own and actualize it. A copy of this document is available at the MEC and also can be found at the Global Exchange website.
Momentum is building for an international mobilization in the form of a cultural festival to artistically and non-violently voice our dissatisfaction with the FTAA. Activists interested in traveling to Quito at the end of October to take part in this protest can contact Cloud Forest Institute for help with travel plans. For more information e-mail: info@cloudforest.org or phone 463-2482.
Copyright Mendocino Environmental Center 2002
Permission granted to excerpt or use this article if source is cited