|
Dear Stephen ,
For some, October 12th is commemorated as the day that
Christopher Columbus "discovered" the Americas. For many more, it
marked the beginning of over 500 years of foreign domination,
cultural destruction and systematic exploitation. Over the last 15
years, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has
perpetuated that tragic history.
Join with other justice-minded people to use this October
12th to push
for the renegotiation and replacement of NAFTA and forge a new
history based on mutual respect, human rights, and dignity.
Proponents of NAFTA promised that it would bring economic
prosperity and development, but instead it has stagnated wages in
the US and decimated livelihoods in Mexico. Around the world, US
free trade agreements have resulted in a "race to the bottom" that
has eroded governments' ability to set food, environmental, consumer
and labor protections in the public interest. The only winners in
the era of "free trade" are transnational corporations, lobbyists,
and their allies in politics.
Act now to help end corporate-led trade policies - tell
the US Trade Representative and your members of Congress to
renegotiate and replace NAFTA in a way that is fair to the
average American, Mexican and Canadian.
On the campaign trail, President Obama promised to change US
trade policy for the better, and it's time to hold his
Administration accountable to that promise. A 2008 poll by Rasmussen
Reports showed that in the US at least 56% of the population wants
NAFTA to be renegotiated and replaced with something better. In
Mexico, only 10% of the population has seen a higher standard of
living since NAFTA, and thousands have protested at great peril, as
military and government crackdowns on non-violent activists have
proliferated over the last decade and a half.
Let's be sure that the Obama Administration hears our
call for change loud and clear.
We need as many voices as possible pushing for an end to the era
of padding the pockets of a few while eroding workers' negotiating
power, consumers' protections and family farmers' ability to make
ends meet. Please act
now.
Sincerely,
![Nikhil's Aziz' signature]()
Nikhil Aziz
Executive Director
P.S. This week, organizations and individuals around the globe
are joining together to challenge corporate "free trade." Learn
more about the Global Week of Action on Trade and what you can
do. | 
