Stuart Trew, the trade campaigner for the Council of Canadians in Toronto, and Manuel Pérez-Rocha, an associate fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, DC, recently published an article in Foreign Policy In Focus.
They write that, “The ‘free-market’ ideology at the heart of NAFTA and its expansion to the realms of security through the Security and Prosperity Partnership must be replaced with a people-focused model of sustainable economic growth that puts human rights, environmental protection, and job creation ahead of profits.”
“These were Obama’s promises as a candidate, when his refreshing new ideas tore through the language of ‘security’ and ‘prosperity’ to reveal the divisive policies these euphemisms hide.”
“Will the U.S. president turn back on his promise by simply reviving, even if it’s under a new name, the failed Security and Prosperity Partnership dialogue? Or will he heed, for example, the advice of over 100 U.S. members of congress and civil society networks who want to revisit NAFTA, to strengthen environmental and labor standards and promote just investment rules and fair trade among other changes?”
“Maybe Obama hasn’t made his mind up yet. In that case, we offer a simple piece of advice: (at the next North American leaders summit on August 9-10) in Guadalajara, make it clear that you will reverse the corporate coup d’etat that took over North American relations; announce that you’re closing down the SPP and push the reset button. Agree with Calderón and Harper to start renegotiating NAFTA. Give us hope that another North America is possible.”
Their full article in Foreign Policy in Focus can be read at http://www.fpif.org/fpiftxt/6296.
Foreign Policy In Focus is a project of the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, DC. FPIF describes itself as a “Think Tank Without Walls” that brings together over 600 writers, scholars, academics, artists and activists to connect research and action on United States foreign policy.
To respond to the Council of Canadians ‘ACTION ALERT: Demand a say in North America’s future’, please go to http://canadians.org/action/2009/09-July-09-2.html.
