Since NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) was implemented in 1994, trade between Canada, the US, and Mexico has become extremely liberalized. Across the top of NAFTAWorks' homepage cascades, "A decade of strengthening a dynamic relationship!" This statement seems somewhat suspicious, considering that for the past decade people have been endlessly protesting NAFTA and its effects.

Although it is clear this free trade agreement gave the biggest perks to biotech industries and agribusiness, and nothing to farmers in any country, media still presents it to us as this wonderful revelation which is helping our relations with others. Yet aside from the steady decline of farmers' incomes in all three countries, NAFTA also condones the destruction of our environment. In chapter 11 of NAFTA, corporations are granted permission to sue governments for so-called damages done to the corporation's profits due to the government's laws.

For example, in Quebec, a dangerous weed killer called "2,4-D" is considered to potentially be a human carcinogen. 2,4-D has been reported to cause liver, kidney, digestive, muscular, and nervous system damage. Now corporate lobbyists representing some of the makers of the pesticides are suing the Canadian government under NAFTA's Chapter 11. Because of this ridiculous chapter, a rather difficult decision has been given to Canadian taxpayers and the provincial government of Quebec: pay an already wealthy corporation millions of dollars, or repeal their country's law.

If you already feel that NAFTA is bad enough, you'll be delighted to hear there is yet another free trade agreement being written called the Free Trade of Area of the Americas (FTAA). The FTAA will extend the perimeter of NAFTA to include the entire western hemisphere with the exception of Cuba.

FTAA negotiations were held in Miami from Nov 19-21. In the negotiations, the US has pushed developing countries to accept a wide range of new agonizing concessions, such as privatization of health care and education. So, from Nov 19-21, protests against the new addition to NAFTA were held as well. The protests were held just outside the buildings where the negotiations were taking place.

Miami police coordinated with the state to stifle dissent at the rallies and in the US. The police brutally attacked protesters. Tear gas, pepper spray, stun guns, and concussion grenades were all used. Time and again the Miami police would also open fire with rubber bullets on the protesters. Police also blocked the premises, and medics were unable to treat the injured victims.

Unmarked police vehicles crept about the streets, grabbing activists at random and taking them away. Members of the National Lawyers Guild Legal Observers, who offered legal support to the protesters, were directly targeted and taken. It has now been reported that many of the people who were snatched off the streets were also beaten.

Many people were arrested and thrown in jail. A group of activists sat outside of a jail in support of the ones who had been arrested, and they too were arrested. There is a big problem here, and we need to help give the victims who were brutalized (some of who are still imprisoned) a loud voice. They need our support.

For more information on how you can help, contact: Keira Belisle-Lamoureux Email: Keirab14@aol.com.

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