[mobglob-discuss] Hunger Strike Update Day 16

[Robert Baxter]

The hunger strike against the FTAA has entered its 16th day.

On Sunday a rally at the border brought activists from Bellingham, WA and
Vancouver, BC together.  We heard speakers discuss first-hand experiences
living and working in Central America.  We also heard from students who will
be going to Miami.

The hunger strike calls for the implementation of the six Principles for
Immediate Action (see below).

What You Can Do:

1. Help us flood the email boxes of Pettigrew's staff asking them to
set up a meeting between Pettigrew and the hunger strikers so that citizens
can have more input into this environment and human- rights threatening
trade agreement. Please send your emails to all the following:

pettigrew.p at parl.gc.ca, pierre.pettigrew at dfait-maeci.gc.ca ,
andre.lemay at dfait-maeci.gc.ca , michael.arnot at dfait-maeci.gc.ca ,
don.mcdougall at dfait-maeci.gc.ca , leonard.edwards at dfait-maeci.gc.ca

And send a cc to the media outlets that you watch, listen to, or read. Check
their web sites for email addresses.

2. You can also send your message to Pettigrew and copy that message to
media by fax. Here's Pettigrew's fax number: 613-995-9926, phone number:
613-995-8872

3. Forward this bulletins to other supporters and globalization lists.

Principles for Immediate Action:

1. The City of Vancouver pass a resolution declaring Vancouver an FTAA-free
zone.

2. The Federal Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew come to Vancouver and meet
with the hunger strikers at our protest site before he attends the FTAA
Summit in Miami this November.

3. The Canadian government commence action to repeal the investor-state
provision of NAFTA (chapter 11) and preclude it's inclusion in the FTAA.

4. Before any Americas trade deal is signed by Canada, the Canadian
government must take action to ensure that the rights of all of this
continent's peoples are protected by a written code of human rights, signed
by all countries involved, with real enforceable provisions.

5. A federal referendum be held to determine our (Canadian) participation in
all present and future International Trade Agreements.

6. The FTAA not infringe on the right of local indigenous communities and
nations to govern themselves, including the ability of those local
communities and nations to control resources and lands within their
territories.


For more information, please also see:

1. Global Exchange's "Top Ten Reasons to Oppose the Free Trade Area of the
Americas": http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/ftaa/Top10NoFTAA.pdf
http://www.globalexchange.org/ftaa/topten.html

2. Council of Canadians' "Stop the FTAA":
http://www.canadians.org/documents/stop_the_ftaa-e.pdf
http://www.canadians.org/display_document.htm?id=108&isdoc=1

3. Vancouver Hunger Strike Against the FTAA:
http://www.economicjustice.ca