A mass mobilization of activists will gather in Miami, Florida, on November 20-21 to protest The Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) during a high level ministerial of multinational corporate negotiators shaping new trade laws. The FTAA, an expansion of the North American Free Trade Agreement, places even more power in the hands of multinational corporations.

WHO WANTS MORE NAFTA?

NAFTA spelled disaster for many workers in the U.S. and other countries by driving people into poverty in a “race to the bottom” as jobs moved south of the border. Corporations eagerly moved to find cheaper labor. According to the Economic Policy Institute, 766,030 direct and indirect jobs have been lost in the US since the introduction of NAFTA. But the job shifts have not helped our Mexican neighbors. Big business benefits with super profits as small farmers lose their land to agribusiness and workers are exploited. Specifically NAFTA closed 28,000 small business in Mexico, caused the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs, and the erosion of environmental and health regulations. FTAA promises more of the same.

WHAT TO DO?

Stopping FTAA will take a concerted effort to educate and activate people about this issue. By attending the demonstration in Miami or a local demonstration in Baltimore on Thursday, November 20, you can help get out the message. If you are concerned about sweatshops, corporate devastation of the environment, the rights of governments to set laws for the safety and health of workers, then join environmentalists, students, unionists, farmers and immigrant workers to say NO FTAA! Voice your support for fair trade, a living wage, the environment and justice for all.

For information about activities in Miami, check out www.noftaatowson.cjb.net. For more
information about the Baltimore demonstration, call Jodie at 410-889-4528, or just show up at 4 p.m. on November 20 at Fayette and Broadway Streets at the Statue of Jose Marti.

See coverage of the FTAA on Baltimore IMC:

Events:

Nov. 1 Baltimore Press Conferance (English) (Espanol)

Sept. 13 No FTAA Tour of Shame

Sept. 6 CAGE Teach-in

Aug. 5 No FTAA Towson Teach-in

Analysis:

James O'Connor on 'Free Trade' in Capitalism, Nature, Socialism.

Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch on NAFTA & FTAA.

Robert Scott (Economic Policy Institute)

Frida Berrigan (World Policy Institute)

Jack Sinnegan (University of Maryland Baltimore County)

John Dornheim (Baltimore Pledge of Resistance)

Pat Cruz (Baltimore County Green Party)

Virginia Rodino (Coalition Against Global Exploitation)

Len Shindel (United Steelworkers of America)

David Moberg on 'South America Says No to FTAA' in In These Times.

Abe Walker on 'US Labor Says No to FTAA' in Labor Notes.

Other

Art Contests to Express Opposition to the FTAA

FTAA No Way! Get Involved in Local Actions!