[van-announce] Day 19 of Hunger Strike against the FTAA

[Robert Baxter]

On 14 Nov, 2003, the Hunger Strike against the FTAA has entered day 19.

** Please distribute widely **

Contents of today’s update:
1.	Contact Pettigrew’s Office
2.	Vigil and Teach-In, Noon, on Nov 20
3.	New Release and Background

1.	Contact Federal Trade Minister Pettigrew’s Office

In less than one week staff the Canadian Federal Trade Office will be
negotiating at the FTAA meeting in Miami.  Please, please contact them...
on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of Mexican farmers that have been
displaced because of NAFTA...
on behalf of the children in Canada who must breath dirtier air because of
NAFTA..
on behalf of the forests that will be cut down under the new trade
agreements...
on behalf of the hunger striker who has gone 18 days without food...

and ask Pettigrew’s staff to...
demand that citizen’s concerns be included in the agreement...
stand up to George W. Bush...
join the protestors in the streets next week...
sabotage the negotiations...
AND arrange for Pettigrew to meet the hunger strikers in Vancouver.

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

Thank you for supporting this action!!

2. The hunger strikes will join other groups for a vigil downtown next
Thursday (20th) to show solidarity with the protestors in Miami.  The vigil
will take place from noon to 1 PM at the World Trade Center (at Canada
Place). There will also be a teach-in that evening (details TBA).

3. Latest Press Release:

http://www.alternatives.com/prms/2003/vsfc1112.pdf

Hunger Strike Enters 19th Day
Pettigrew's Office Implies Protest Not Constructive

VANCOUVER -- November 12, 2003 -- The hunger strike against the FTAA that
has entered its 19th day received word from Minister Pierre Pettigrew's
office implying the protest was not constructive and claiming that the
government had already engaged in extensive consultations with citizen
groups. The activists have requested a meeting with Federal Trade Minister
Pierre Pettigrew to voice their and others concerns over Canada’s
negotiating position at the upcoming FTAA ministerial meeting in Miami on
November 20 and 21.

A spokesperson for the hunger strike responded by saying, "We believe that
it is the government’s consultation process which had been unconstructive.
While the Liberal Government has allowed input they have continually ignored
that input. When governments continue to ignore citizen concerns, citizens
are forced to resort to new forms of protest."

For example, many Canadians have expressed concern about that fact that the
FTAA could force Canada to turn control of its municipal water systems over
to multinational corporations. The FTAA could also prevent Canada from
protecting its fresh water resources in rivers and lakes. Yet, the federal
government refuses to exempt water from the negotiating table.

Vancouver activists began the hunger strike on October 27 to protest Canada’
s negotiating position at the upcoming FTAA (Free Trade Area of the
Americas) ministerial meeting in Miami. Activists have set up a camp at the
Peace Arch border crossing as part of the protest. The protesters have
presented a series of principles that they would like immediate action on
(attached).

For more information on the hunger strike visit:
http://www.economicjustice.ca
The event is being organized by Artists For Peace
(http://www.artistsforpeace.ca)


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