MeTaLhEaD
30th June 2005, 07:43
http://www.stopcafta.org/article.php?list=type&type=21
Urgent Action Alert: Final DR-CAFTA Legislation Sent to Congress!
Call your Representative and Senators Today! Capitol switchboard # is (202) 224-3121 (see below for toll free option)
June 28th, 2005
The Central American Free Trade Agreement (also known as DR-CAFTA) is a devastating agreement that has been relentlessly pushed on the countries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic by the Bush Administration. On June 23 President Bush delivered final implementing legislation to the House and Senate. The Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee will hold their mark-ups before the July 4 recess, making the July 1-10 period the key moment to take action to ensure that CAFTA is rejected!
The fact that CAFTA has not yet come up for a vote is a testament to the incredible mobilizing that has taken place in the US, Central America, and the DR. A vote is almost assured to happen in July in both the House and the Senate and because of our great work we have a chance to beat it! More and more Senators and Representatives are realizing that CAFTA is a raw deal for workers and a threat to the environment, public health and safety, and local, participatory democracy. CAFTA has already destabilized the region as thousands of farmers, workers, students, women, indigenous communities, and religious groups have taken to the streets in protest, often meeting violent repression from local law enforcement. CAFTA will also cause rural displacement, reduced access to life-saving medicines, and an erosion of labor and environmental protections. CAFTA places profits over people, corporate interests over worker rights, and trade laws over local and national democracies - it will bring devastation to the region!
ACTIONS
1. Contact your Senator or Representative and tell them to vote NO on DR-CAFTA!
This is the decisive moment when we can stop CAFTA altogether! To contact your Senator or Representative call the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 or visit www.house.gov or www.senate.gov for the local contact information for your Representative or Senator.
The United Steelworkers have provided a toll-free number for general use to call Congress about CAFTA. It is 866-340-9281. It will connect you to the Capitol Switchboard, and at that point you simply ask the operator to be connected to the Congressional office of your choice.
When you talk with your Rep:
1. Ask to speak to the trade staffer, chief of staff or legislative director.
2. Tell them you are a constituent and want to know your Rep's position on CAFTA. If you would like to meet with your Rep ask to schedule a meeting while he/she is in the district.
3. If the Rep is opposed to the agreement and will vote against it, thank him/her. Ask if your Rep has made his/her opposition public and encourage him/her to do so. Always ask for a letter to you stating his/her position.
4. If the Rep is undecided, ask your Rep (or staffer) why and when they are planning on taking a position. Let them know that you oppose CAFTA (any personal stories related to how NAFTA hurt your region are helpful) and urge them to vote no when CAFTA comes up.
5. If the Rep is planning to vote for CAFTA, urge them to reconsider. Inform the office that you intend to spread the word that the Rep is voting against their constituents? interests.
For sample call scripts and suggestions on concerns to raise, please visit www.stopcafta.org.
2. Organize a local action
When phone calls and meetings aren?t enough, staging a direct action is a powerful tool. Public protest brings your concerns to the attention of policymakers and raises public awareness. For ideas on local actions and assistance in organizing in your community please visit the Stop-CAFTA website at www.stopcafta.org.
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Home | About CAFTA | Anti-CAFTA Events | Local Contacts
Unless noted by it's author, all content is free for non-commercial reuse, reprint, and rebroadcast, on the net and elsewhere.
http://www.stopcafta.org/article.php?list=type&type=13&nsbp;&nsbp;
Home » call-in script&nsbp;&nsbp; E-Mail This Page
Script for Congressional Call-In on the DR-CAFTA Trade Agreement
Take Action to Stop CAFTA!
April 13th, 2005
(To download the script, click here
- Call the House Switchboard at (202) 224-3121
When you call:
-- Ask to speak to the trade staffer, chief of staff or legislative director
-- Tell them you are a constituent and want to know your Rep's position on CAFTA (unless you already know)
-- If the Rep is opposed to the agreement and will vote against it, thank him/her. Ask him/her to make that opposition public, and for a letter stating his/her position.
-- If the Rep is undecided, say that you oppose CAFTA based on the talking points below (you can offer to email these talking points) and urge them to vote no.
-- If the Rep is for CAFTA, urge them to reconsider. Inform the office that you intend to spread the word that the Rep is voting against the public interest.
Script/talking points:
?Hello, my name is _______ and I live in _______. I?m calling to ask Representative _______ to vote against the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA); I am deeply concerned about CAFTA and believe that the agreement will have terrible consequences for Central America, the Dominican Republic and our own country.
&nsbp;&nsbp;* If passed CAFTA will threaten the livelihoods of millions of small farmers in Central America and the DR, while increasing domination by agricultural monopolies and hurting U.S. family farmers
&nsbp;&nsbp;* It threatens to prevent access to affordable life saving medicines in a region where half the population live in poverty.
&nsbp;&nsbp;* It will prohibit governments in the region from ensuring that foreign investment serves national development goals, and has a provision like NAFTA?s Chapter 11 that would allow foreign corporations to sue governments that pass strong labor, public health or environmental laws.
&nsbp;&nsbp;* It does NOT include adequate enforcement for violations of internationally recognized labor and environmental standards..
&nsbp;&nsbp;* It includes rules that promote privatization and deregulation of services including education, health care, postal service, construction, transportation and water supply. Such policies have proved particularly devastating for families living in poverty.
&nsbp;&nsbp;* CAFTA will pave the way for more trade agreements such as the Andean Free Trade Agreement and the Free Trade Area of the Americas which would extend this flawed model to the whole Western Hemisphere.
After 10 years of NAFTA, we know firsthand the devastating effects of this economic model. Expanding it in CAFTA ultimately threatens workers, farmers, women, the environment, and democratic institutions in the U.S. and the region. I strongly urge Representative_________ to stand up for trade justice by voting NO to CAFTA in Congress and sending the message to the Administration that U.S. trade policies must promote fair trade and sustainable development policies designed to reduce poverty in the U.S. and the region.
Further background info:
Hundreds of civil society groups representing labor, environmental organizations, family farmers, consumers, Latin American solidarity, and immigrants? rights organizations have already expressed their opposition to CAFTA, and many Congressional Reps have taken this to heart. Though CAFTA has been ratified in 3 Central American countries?despite huge protests and police violence?this strong cross-border opposition to the agreement has prevented the Bush Administration from submitting it to Congress up until now. However, the clock is ticking and with the beginning of Senate and House hearings on April 13, it is clear that CAFTA supporters are pushing for a vote by Memorial Day. The vote on CAFTA is effectively a referendum on NAFTA; if it is defeated, it will be mark a huge step towards stopping other such free trade agreements and open the way for an alternative trade model that truly addresses issues of poverty and inequality. A coalition of progressive organizations in the US is celebrating an April Week of on Trade by focusing on CAFTA. For more information, www.stopcafta.org or www.april2005.org
Urgent Action Alert: Final DR-CAFTA Legislation Sent to Congress!
Call your Representative and Senators Today! Capitol switchboard # is (202) 224-3121 (see below for toll free option)
June 28th, 2005
The Central American Free Trade Agreement (also known as DR-CAFTA) is a devastating agreement that has been relentlessly pushed on the countries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic by the Bush Administration. On June 23 President Bush delivered final implementing legislation to the House and Senate. The Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee will hold their mark-ups before the July 4 recess, making the July 1-10 period the key moment to take action to ensure that CAFTA is rejected!
The fact that CAFTA has not yet come up for a vote is a testament to the incredible mobilizing that has taken place in the US, Central America, and the DR. A vote is almost assured to happen in July in both the House and the Senate and because of our great work we have a chance to beat it! More and more Senators and Representatives are realizing that CAFTA is a raw deal for workers and a threat to the environment, public health and safety, and local, participatory democracy. CAFTA has already destabilized the region as thousands of farmers, workers, students, women, indigenous communities, and religious groups have taken to the streets in protest, often meeting violent repression from local law enforcement. CAFTA will also cause rural displacement, reduced access to life-saving medicines, and an erosion of labor and environmental protections. CAFTA places profits over people, corporate interests over worker rights, and trade laws over local and national democracies - it will bring devastation to the region!
ACTIONS
1. Contact your Senator or Representative and tell them to vote NO on DR-CAFTA!
This is the decisive moment when we can stop CAFTA altogether! To contact your Senator or Representative call the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 or visit www.house.gov or www.senate.gov for the local contact information for your Representative or Senator.
The United Steelworkers have provided a toll-free number for general use to call Congress about CAFTA. It is 866-340-9281. It will connect you to the Capitol Switchboard, and at that point you simply ask the operator to be connected to the Congressional office of your choice.
When you talk with your Rep:
1. Ask to speak to the trade staffer, chief of staff or legislative director.
2. Tell them you are a constituent and want to know your Rep's position on CAFTA. If you would like to meet with your Rep ask to schedule a meeting while he/she is in the district.
3. If the Rep is opposed to the agreement and will vote against it, thank him/her. Ask if your Rep has made his/her opposition public and encourage him/her to do so. Always ask for a letter to you stating his/her position.
4. If the Rep is undecided, ask your Rep (or staffer) why and when they are planning on taking a position. Let them know that you oppose CAFTA (any personal stories related to how NAFTA hurt your region are helpful) and urge them to vote no when CAFTA comes up.
5. If the Rep is planning to vote for CAFTA, urge them to reconsider. Inform the office that you intend to spread the word that the Rep is voting against their constituents? interests.
For sample call scripts and suggestions on concerns to raise, please visit www.stopcafta.org.
2. Organize a local action
When phone calls and meetings aren?t enough, staging a direct action is a powerful tool. Public protest brings your concerns to the attention of policymakers and raises public awareness. For ideas on local actions and assistance in organizing in your community please visit the Stop-CAFTA website at www.stopcafta.org.
&nsbp;&nsbp;
Home | About CAFTA | Anti-CAFTA Events | Local Contacts
Unless noted by it's author, all content is free for non-commercial reuse, reprint, and rebroadcast, on the net and elsewhere.
http://www.stopcafta.org/article.php?list=type&type=13&nsbp;&nsbp;
Home » call-in script&nsbp;&nsbp; E-Mail This Page
Script for Congressional Call-In on the DR-CAFTA Trade Agreement
Take Action to Stop CAFTA!
April 13th, 2005
(To download the script, click here
- Call the House Switchboard at (202) 224-3121
When you call:
-- Ask to speak to the trade staffer, chief of staff or legislative director
-- Tell them you are a constituent and want to know your Rep's position on CAFTA (unless you already know)
-- If the Rep is opposed to the agreement and will vote against it, thank him/her. Ask him/her to make that opposition public, and for a letter stating his/her position.
-- If the Rep is undecided, say that you oppose CAFTA based on the talking points below (you can offer to email these talking points) and urge them to vote no.
-- If the Rep is for CAFTA, urge them to reconsider. Inform the office that you intend to spread the word that the Rep is voting against the public interest.
Script/talking points:
?Hello, my name is _______ and I live in _______. I?m calling to ask Representative _______ to vote against the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA); I am deeply concerned about CAFTA and believe that the agreement will have terrible consequences for Central America, the Dominican Republic and our own country.
&nsbp;&nsbp;* If passed CAFTA will threaten the livelihoods of millions of small farmers in Central America and the DR, while increasing domination by agricultural monopolies and hurting U.S. family farmers
&nsbp;&nsbp;* It threatens to prevent access to affordable life saving medicines in a region where half the population live in poverty.
&nsbp;&nsbp;* It will prohibit governments in the region from ensuring that foreign investment serves national development goals, and has a provision like NAFTA?s Chapter 11 that would allow foreign corporations to sue governments that pass strong labor, public health or environmental laws.
&nsbp;&nsbp;* It does NOT include adequate enforcement for violations of internationally recognized labor and environmental standards..
&nsbp;&nsbp;* It includes rules that promote privatization and deregulation of services including education, health care, postal service, construction, transportation and water supply. Such policies have proved particularly devastating for families living in poverty.
&nsbp;&nsbp;* CAFTA will pave the way for more trade agreements such as the Andean Free Trade Agreement and the Free Trade Area of the Americas which would extend this flawed model to the whole Western Hemisphere.
After 10 years of NAFTA, we know firsthand the devastating effects of this economic model. Expanding it in CAFTA ultimately threatens workers, farmers, women, the environment, and democratic institutions in the U.S. and the region. I strongly urge Representative_________ to stand up for trade justice by voting NO to CAFTA in Congress and sending the message to the Administration that U.S. trade policies must promote fair trade and sustainable development policies designed to reduce poverty in the U.S. and the region.
Further background info:
Hundreds of civil society groups representing labor, environmental organizations, family farmers, consumers, Latin American solidarity, and immigrants? rights organizations have already expressed their opposition to CAFTA, and many Congressional Reps have taken this to heart. Though CAFTA has been ratified in 3 Central American countries?despite huge protests and police violence?this strong cross-border opposition to the agreement has prevented the Bush Administration from submitting it to Congress up until now. However, the clock is ticking and with the beginning of Senate and House hearings on April 13, it is clear that CAFTA supporters are pushing for a vote by Memorial Day. The vote on CAFTA is effectively a referendum on NAFTA; if it is defeated, it will be mark a huge step towards stopping other such free trade agreements and open the way for an alternative trade model that truly addresses issues of poverty and inequality. A coalition of progressive organizations in the US is celebrating an April Week of on Trade by focusing on CAFTA. For more information, www.stopcafta.org or www.april2005.org