Maine Fair Trade Campaign Launches Fair Trade & Democracy Campaign
The Corporate Agenda, "free trade" and its impact on Maine
by Matt Schlobohm
Multinational corporations are pushing an agenda that seeks to maximize
profits at all costs. Implementing this agenda requires changing the rules
eliminating certain "burdensome" laws and passing more profitable ones. One
of the most important ways corporations change the rules is through free
trade. Trade agreements such as NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement)
are treaties that set economic rules between countries and create their own
court systems and enforcement methods. They are a system of corporate global
governance a system where the public has no say in creating the table, has
no seat around the table, and no means of holding those at the table
accountable. It is a system guaranteed to be a disaster for ordinary
citizens, democracy and the environment.
In Maine, NAFTA a trade treaty among the US, Mexico, and Canada and the
corporate free trade agenda have resulted in greater economic insecurity,
inequality, and the loss of thousands of well-paying manufacturing jobs.
NAFTA also includes groundbreaking provisions that allow corporations to sue
governments and challenge (and overturn) laws that limit future corporate
profits. Transnational corporations and investors now want to expand the
failed NAFTA model to all the Americas minus Cuba 800 million people in 34
countries by creating the FTAA (Free Trade Area of the Americas). The
powers that be want the FTAA to include new rules that will result in the
privatization of crucial public services such as education, health care and
access to water. The FTAA is currently under negotiation; its supporters
want to see it voted on and implemented by 2005."The only way this corporate
agenda can be stopped is if we educate one another, get ourselves organized
and take action.
A Fair Trade & Democracy Campaign
In an effort to do just that, the Maine Fair Trade Campaign (MFTC), an
emerging coalition of labor, faith, low income, environmental, and peace &
justice groups, is launching an exciting campaign that seeks to:
- do widespread education about free trade, corporate globalization and
their many negative local impacts
- build a much stronger, broader fair trade movement & statewide coalition
in Maine.
- pass state legislation this winter creating a citizen Trade, Jobs &
Democracy commission.
- play our role as a state in defeating the FTAA, CAFTA (Central America
Free Trade Agreement), GATS (General Agreement on Trade in Services) and
similar corporate trade agreements.
- develop a stronger positive vision in Maine for fair trade, economic
democracy and alternatives to corporate globalization.
From August-December, phase I of the campaign, the MFTC is teaming up with
the AFL-CIO on a statewide ballot campaign in which people can vote against
the FTAA and in support of legislation creating the commission. Our goal is
to collect thousands of ballots. The AFL-CIO will be circulating ballots in
workplaces, and the MFTC will be collecting them at fairs, churches,
concerts, organizational meetings, outside of supermarkets & the post
office, etc. The ballots are primarily an educational and movement building
tool; we'll use them to have thousands of conversations and bring hundreds
of new people into this movement. We'll also use the ballots to build
momentum against the FTAA and in support of our legislation. As part of a
national campaign our ballots will be collected, tabulated and sent, with
millions of others, down to Miami for the FTAA ministerial meeting and major
protests this November 19-21.
The second phase of this campaign, from December, 2003 to May 2004, will
involve passing the Maine Trade, Jobs & Democracy Act at the state level and
doing deeper educational outreach. Once established, the Maine Trade, Jobs &
Democracy Commission would assess the social, economic, environmental and
legal impacts of free trade agreements on Maine, hold public hearings
throughout the state, craft policy designed to protect Maine jobs and laws
and make recommendations to the legislature, the Maine Congressional
delegation and the US trade negotiators.
How You Can get Involved:
This campaign can only succeed with your support. Here are a few ways to get
involved:
1. Collect ballots in your area at your church, outside your post
office, at an organizational meeting, etc. We need as many volunteers
collecting ballots as possible. If you would like ballots sent to you
contact Lesley, lesley@pica.ws, 947-4203
2. Join a local group participating in the campaign. There are local
groups involved in the campaign throughout Maine.
3. Set up an educational event in your community. We can help you set up
a presentation, discussion, video showing or longer workshop on corporate
globalization, fair trade and this campaign. For help setting up such an
event contact Brian, bnewb@riseup.net, 729-1951.
4. Hold a house party. Invite your friends & neighbors over to learn more
about the FTAA, corporate globalization & this campaign. We have short
videos on the FTAA and we could have members of the campaign do a
presentation for the house party. For info on how to set up a house party
contact Jack McKay, jack@pica.ws, 947-4203.
5. Contact Maine's Congressional delegation. Urge them to oppose the
FTAA, CAFTA and the expansion of the WTO (World Trade Organization). Tell
them you want to see trade agreements that support economic justice,
workers' rights, environmental sustainability, food and health security and
a strong democracy.
For more information about this campaign contact Matt Schlobohm,
mschlobo@justice.com, 946-4478 or Jack McKay, jack@pica.ws, 947-4203. Visit
our website at www.pica.ws/mftc
Matt Schlobohm is a member of the JED Collective in Greene, and works with
MEGAN and MFTC.
Back to Peace Talk Index, Fall,
2003