crackdown on FTAA protesters in VT

This is another example of Capital's suppression of dissent.  Those who
believe that capitalist globalization can be "reformed" should contemplate
this reality.
--Peter

========================================================================
Hi all,
I received this message from a friend in Vermont and thought it
would be of interest to anyone planning to go up there for the FTAA
protests.
-Karen 
 ---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 23:12:41 -0400
From: Matteo Burani <babylonfalling@bigfoot.com>

Subject: greetings from vermont

friends and family,

one week until the free trade area of the americas (ftaa) meets in quebec
city.  given burlington's proximity to a  major throughway into canada
(we're only four hours away from quebec city)  we're expecting about five
thousand people to stop here prior to  attempting to cross the border.
things are pretty close to a police state here in vermont.  cops are
everywhere and many of us are being monitored and harassed.  i hope things
remain peaceful, but frustration is mounting and closed borders (which is
what we've been told by the authorities is going to happen) is bad news
for people coming from all over the americas to voice their displeasure
with the ftaa.  i'm working with a volunteer team of about fifteen
non-lawyers and close to fifty lawyers to make sure that protestors who
are arrested for partaking in nonviolent civil disobedience have access to
free lawyers to help them get through the arraignment proceedings and to make 
sure that legal observers are
watching over the police.  not much sleep has come my way lately and things 
haven't even started yet.

i thought globalization was all about opening the borders?  i guess it's
okay for capital to flow across the borders, but democratic ideals have to
stay where they are.  burlington has ordered $32,000 of riot gear (despite
the mayors strong support for protestors and very vocal anti-ftaa
positions- the police chief is independent of the mayor).  the gov is
ordering national guard in the area.  they've cleared fort ethan allen out
to dump folks who are arrested.  it's scary.  while i know i can't count
on everyone sticking to the beliefs of nonviolence, let me assure you that
99.9% of us are proud supporters of and deep believers in the power of 
nonviolent direct action.

don't know about the ftaa?  why are so many people risking their safety
and security to protest the ftaa?  it's nafta on steroids.  it's a closed
door decision making process with decisions being made by unelected
corporate heads that would give corporations more power than governments.
this is no joke people.  under the ftaa corporations would be allowed to
sue governments if government decisions (like labor standards,
environmental regulations, human rights provisions etc.) interfered with
their profits!  for example, if the us passes a law saying that all foods
that are genetically modified need to be labeled as such any corporation
who is affected by this legislation could sue the government for
interfering with profits.  this is an utter outrage to proud traditions of 
democracy!

i join the zapatistas who since nafta was first imposed on them have said
"ya basta!- that's enough!".  i urge you to learn more before it's all to late.


don't believe my words, go to...

Public Citizen Resources:
http://www.citizen.org/pctrade/FTAA/ftaahome.html

Statements from Corporate Watch
http://www.corpwatch.org/trac/globalization/treaties/index.html

Statement From Global Exchange
http://www.globalexchange.org/economy/rulemakers/stopftaa.html

Statement from an Interesting Ally:  Consumer
Project on Technology
http://www.cptech.org/treaty/ftaa/ftaa-290798.html

An Example of NAFTA at Work:
http://www.citizen.org/pctrade/media/082498.htm

Economist's Critique of the FTAA
http://www.foreignpolicy-infocus.org/briefs/vol1/ftaa.html

Detailed Report on Globalization from
Canada's National Farmers Union
http://www.nfu.ca/wtofeb99.htm

Call to Action from Action for Community and
Ecology in Central America
(ACCRA) for 1999 FTAA Meeting
http://www.nativeforest.org/campaigns/acerca/international_day_of_action_nov_4_1999.html

Top Ten Reasons to Oppose the Free Trade Area of the Americas
http::/www.globalexchange.org/ftaa/topten.html

People's Summit Parallels Toronto Summit,
Includes list of Active Organizations
http://www.newswire.ca/releases/October1999/14/c3449.html

Anti-FTAA Statement from Canada
http://www.canadians.org/campaigns/campaigns-trademedia000614.html

Declaration of the Workers of the Americas
http://www.clc-ctc.ca/international/justice.html

University of Calgary Course on FTAA and
Statements
http://www.ucalgary.ca/evds/designresearch/projects/ftaa/index.html

Potential Disastrous Effects of Food
Distribution and Health
http://www.igc.org/dgap/oav1n3.html


CORPORATE/GOVERNMENT STATEMENTS
 FTAA Sixth Meeting of Ministers of Trade, Ministerial Declaration,
Buenos Aires, Argentina April 7, 2001
http://www.alca-ftaa-org/ministerials/BAMIN_e.asp

Submission of the Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America
(PhRMA)
to the Sixth Americas Business Forum
Buenos Aies, April 5 and 6, 2001
http:///wv-fema-abf-org.ar/pon940sj.html

FTAA's Official Website:
http://www.ftaa-alca.org/

THEIR INTERNAL WEBSITE!: Includes Speeches,
Meeting
Planning, Detailed Reportback- Download
Immediately!!
http://www.caribrnm.net/westhem/

Restricted FTAA Document on Services:
http://www.citizen.org/pctrade/FTAA/servicesreport072800.htm

US Economist's Summarizing Statement
http://www.asil.org/insight3.htm

Fast Track Statement Showing Danger of Fast
Track Legislation
http://www.fasttrack.org/track/congress/abbott.html

Restricted FTAA Document on Services:
http://www.citizen.org/pctrade/FTAA/servicesreport072800.htm

Paper Summarizing Summit of the Americas in
1994 that launched the FTAA
http://www.oas.org/EN/PINFO/ASG/claa.htm

Summary of SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS FOURTH
TRADE MINISTERIAL MEETING SAN JOSE,
COSTA RICA MARCH 19th, 1998
http://www.sice.oas.org/FTAA/costa/minis/minis_e.asp

US Embassy's response to November 4, 1999
meeting in
Toronto
http://www.embaixada-americana.org.br/toronto.htm

Statement on US "Interests and Objectives" in
the FTAA
http://www.iie.com/TESTMONY/ftaa.htm

US Agriculture's Plan for World Domination
http://www.fb.com/views/com/boost_exports.html

Time Magazine Coverage
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/articles/intl/0,3266,27885,00.html

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/1998/int/980420/special_report.summit_of4.html

The Business World Publicizes Their Strategy
http://www.mac.doc.gov/ftaa2005/belo.htm

Statement from American Apparel Industries
http://www.americanapparel.org/News_FTR_March31.html

US Statement: Including Points of Division
and "How to Deal With Caribbean Basin
Countries"
http://www.cnie.org/nle/econ-28a.html

Understanding the Enemy: the Association of
American Chambers of Commerce in
Latin America
http://www.aaccla.org/

remember, the true feeling of the revolutionary is love!

-matteo