Comrade Marcel
16th December 2002, 00:28
Say No to the FTAA
II Hemispheric Encounter Against the Free Trade Area of the Americas
In Havana, Cuba more than 1200 delegates from the Americas, including 200 from Cuba, gathered to discuss the current FTAA process, which is aimed at annexation of the countries of the region to the dictates of US government interests. This is the second meeting in the struggle against this trade agreement. A year ago a similar meeting took place in Havana. At that point, the delegates assessed the FTAA process and agreed that this trade agreement was not in the best interest of the countries of the region. They further agreed that the only answer to this was to mobilize and to organize against it. A clear consensus was reached at that event: the FTAA should not be accepted and should be fought until its defeat.
Delegates from 41 countries (including participants from Australia, Italy, England, Norway and Spain) met from November 25 to 28, 2002. At the opening of the event, the Cuban economist Osvaldo Martínez asserted that “this event is taking place at a crucial moment, since the US is pushing strongly for the implementation of the this agreement. Therefore we are facing a decisive and imperative face in our struggle.” He reminded us that today there are more people living in poverty than when neoliberal policies were first introduced at the beginning of 1980. In Latin America there are now more than 230 million people in poverty. The US is moving forward bilateral Free Trade Agreements with a growing number of countries in the Hemisphere, paving the way for its FTAA.
Delegates from the NAFTA countries, Mexico, the US and Canada, reported on how this agreement has impacted our societies in terms of privatization of social services and natural resources, and the growing social exclusion taking place in these countries. They warned about the future implications of expansion of NAFTA policies.
The most powerful presentation of the day was the testimony of Evo Morales, the Bolivian coca leaf farmer and popular leader of the Movement to Socialism, which is strongly opposed to the FTA. Morales talked about the extraordinary fight and victory against the water privatization in the city of Cochabamba.
It was also discussed at this event that the US is practicing the same rhetoric of war against terrorism in the field of economic relations. For the US, a country is either an unconditional friend or an enemy. Any government opposed to the FTAA, such as Hugo Chavez in Venezuela, must be toppled or be considered as part of the axis of evil. Delegates expressed their support for the democratic Venezuelan revolution and rejection of destabilization maneuvers practiced by Venezuela’s ruling elite, backed by the US. The participants also expressed their support for the electoral victories of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Brazil and of Lucio Gutierrez in Ecuador. It was acknowledged that the next WSF meeting in Porto Alegre would be a time for celebration on these emerging people’s victories in the Latin American stretch of the continent.
Some other important topics reviewed at this event included the role of women, black indigenous communities. Blanca Chancoso of the Ecuadorian organization, CONAI, stated powerfully that, “Lucio Gutierrez owes his election to indigenous support; now he must support indigenous people.” If not, she said, the country might need to elect another president.
Later, Chilean journalist Manuel Cabieses reflected the political opinion of the event participants when he said, “it is becoming evident that the political parties must understand more than ever that social movements and popular organizations are playing an important role in the struggle to build a better world.” He further stated that the only alternative to the current system will come from the strength of socio-political alliances and the renewal of democratic and popular alternatives.
Another important comment came from Mexican researcher Ana Ester Ceceña. She stated that “the intention of the US is to monopolize the strategic natural resources of the Americas and from that position to negotiate with the rest of the world.” She noted that the continent is an important source of natural resources, like petroleum, biodiversity, water, forestry and mining. She also observed that the Plan Puebla Panama is strongly related to the oil extraction and to control of the tropical jungles of Central America and Mexico, including Chiapas.
The debates and exchanges during the four days of the event also included conferences and workshops on the Plan Colombia and the dangers of it, especially for the people and communities of that country. Luis Garzón affirmed that “the character and nature of Colombian society is at risk and the current situation is further worsening the possibilities of rebuilding the country, since the prevalence of armed struggle is making it next to impossible to open a national and peaceful dialogue.
It was noted by some delegates that some governments of Latin America have been toppled without a single bullet being shot. This suggests that the struggle for another Latin America should focus on forms of struggle that match the specific reality of each country.
In one moving moment, a delegate from Honduras read a letter of solidarity calling for the release of the five Cuban political prisoners held in US jails for fighting against the terrorist groups based in Miami and supported by the current government of US. The more than 1200 delegates endorsed the letter and agreed to show solidarity with these five Cuban patriots.
The event ended with a strong and comprehensive declaration supporting continuing struggle and mobilization against the FTAA. The statement also recognized the Cuban Revolution for its support in hosting and organizing this important meeting.
For more information on the FTAA event, you can visit .<http://www.alcaabajo.cu/> The next anti-FTAA meeting will take place in January 2004.
(Edited by Comrade Marcel at 12:29 am on Dec. 16, 2002)
II Hemispheric Encounter Against the Free Trade Area of the Americas
In Havana, Cuba more than 1200 delegates from the Americas, including 200 from Cuba, gathered to discuss the current FTAA process, which is aimed at annexation of the countries of the region to the dictates of US government interests. This is the second meeting in the struggle against this trade agreement. A year ago a similar meeting took place in Havana. At that point, the delegates assessed the FTAA process and agreed that this trade agreement was not in the best interest of the countries of the region. They further agreed that the only answer to this was to mobilize and to organize against it. A clear consensus was reached at that event: the FTAA should not be accepted and should be fought until its defeat.
Delegates from 41 countries (including participants from Australia, Italy, England, Norway and Spain) met from November 25 to 28, 2002. At the opening of the event, the Cuban economist Osvaldo Martínez asserted that “this event is taking place at a crucial moment, since the US is pushing strongly for the implementation of the this agreement. Therefore we are facing a decisive and imperative face in our struggle.” He reminded us that today there are more people living in poverty than when neoliberal policies were first introduced at the beginning of 1980. In Latin America there are now more than 230 million people in poverty. The US is moving forward bilateral Free Trade Agreements with a growing number of countries in the Hemisphere, paving the way for its FTAA.
Delegates from the NAFTA countries, Mexico, the US and Canada, reported on how this agreement has impacted our societies in terms of privatization of social services and natural resources, and the growing social exclusion taking place in these countries. They warned about the future implications of expansion of NAFTA policies.
The most powerful presentation of the day was the testimony of Evo Morales, the Bolivian coca leaf farmer and popular leader of the Movement to Socialism, which is strongly opposed to the FTA. Morales talked about the extraordinary fight and victory against the water privatization in the city of Cochabamba.
It was also discussed at this event that the US is practicing the same rhetoric of war against terrorism in the field of economic relations. For the US, a country is either an unconditional friend or an enemy. Any government opposed to the FTAA, such as Hugo Chavez in Venezuela, must be toppled or be considered as part of the axis of evil. Delegates expressed their support for the democratic Venezuelan revolution and rejection of destabilization maneuvers practiced by Venezuela’s ruling elite, backed by the US. The participants also expressed their support for the electoral victories of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Brazil and of Lucio Gutierrez in Ecuador. It was acknowledged that the next WSF meeting in Porto Alegre would be a time for celebration on these emerging people’s victories in the Latin American stretch of the continent.
Some other important topics reviewed at this event included the role of women, black indigenous communities. Blanca Chancoso of the Ecuadorian organization, CONAI, stated powerfully that, “Lucio Gutierrez owes his election to indigenous support; now he must support indigenous people.” If not, she said, the country might need to elect another president.
Later, Chilean journalist Manuel Cabieses reflected the political opinion of the event participants when he said, “it is becoming evident that the political parties must understand more than ever that social movements and popular organizations are playing an important role in the struggle to build a better world.” He further stated that the only alternative to the current system will come from the strength of socio-political alliances and the renewal of democratic and popular alternatives.
Another important comment came from Mexican researcher Ana Ester Ceceña. She stated that “the intention of the US is to monopolize the strategic natural resources of the Americas and from that position to negotiate with the rest of the world.” She noted that the continent is an important source of natural resources, like petroleum, biodiversity, water, forestry and mining. She also observed that the Plan Puebla Panama is strongly related to the oil extraction and to control of the tropical jungles of Central America and Mexico, including Chiapas.
The debates and exchanges during the four days of the event also included conferences and workshops on the Plan Colombia and the dangers of it, especially for the people and communities of that country. Luis Garzón affirmed that “the character and nature of Colombian society is at risk and the current situation is further worsening the possibilities of rebuilding the country, since the prevalence of armed struggle is making it next to impossible to open a national and peaceful dialogue.
It was noted by some delegates that some governments of Latin America have been toppled without a single bullet being shot. This suggests that the struggle for another Latin America should focus on forms of struggle that match the specific reality of each country.
In one moving moment, a delegate from Honduras read a letter of solidarity calling for the release of the five Cuban political prisoners held in US jails for fighting against the terrorist groups based in Miami and supported by the current government of US. The more than 1200 delegates endorsed the letter and agreed to show solidarity with these five Cuban patriots.
The event ended with a strong and comprehensive declaration supporting continuing struggle and mobilization against the FTAA. The statement also recognized the Cuban Revolution for its support in hosting and organizing this important meeting.
For more information on the FTAA event, you can visit .<http://www.alcaabajo.cu/> The next anti-FTAA meeting will take place in January 2004.
(Edited by Comrade Marcel at 12:29 am on Dec. 16, 2002)