The CAFTA Dog and Pony show heads to TN and CA. Take Action Here

[Kevin Spidel]

On edit: fixed links

If you live in Memphis (Ford's District) or in San Diego (Davis' District) you will be witness to the Bush Co. Dog and Pony show on CAFTA manana (Monday the 9th of May.)

If you in either of these distrcts, please take action here!
http://capwiz.com/pdamerica/callalert/index.tt?alertid=7552346

If you are not, please oppose CAFTA here:
http://capwiz.com/pdamerica/callalert/index.tt?alertid=7552346


PDA is working hard to halt CAFTA, and it appears this fight might be won!

For more info about CAFTA and the partner we are working with to stop this madness, click here:

www.citizenstrade.org
www.stopcafta.org
www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/cafta.

[PuraVidaDreamin]

1. CAFTA Controversy Continues from Tico Times, Costa Rica

By Katherine Stanley
Tico Times Staff
[e-mail]

http://www.ticotimes.net/newsbriefs.htm

The day after thousands of protestors voiced their opposition to the Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA) on the streets of San José, President Abel Pacheco announced he will visit Washington, D.C., next week to discuss the pact with U.S. President George W. Bush and the presidents of the other signatory countries.

The meeting, which U.S. sources say marks the beginning of increased pro-CAFTA lobbying on the part of the Bush administration, comes at a time when Pacheco appears more doubtful than ever about the pact. His ambivalence and the increasingly bitter conflict it has prompted have garnered international attention for the CAFTA debate here.

Pacheco has said he will present to President Bush the same position that has infuriated Costa Rican business leaders who favor CAFTA: he will not send the agreement to the Legislative Assembly until he is convinced it will benefit all Costa Ricans. This certainty can come only with the passage of controversial tax reforms, he says, if at all.

ACCORDING to those who marched down Ave. 2 in San José May 1, denouncing CAFTA and celebrating International Workers' Day, the free-trade agreement would be disastrous for the working class – primarily because it requires that state-run monopolies on electricity, telecommunications and insurance be gradually phased out to allow for private competition.

School teacher Ricardo Ramírez, one of the many educators' union members present at the march, said he fears such privatization might extend to public education, damaging one of the institutions Costa Rica prizes most highly. A crowd of approximately 4,000 protestors, undaunted by the scorching heat, waved banners and placards to the rhythm of familiar chants, protest songs and a marching band or two. “Our country's not for sale,” some shouted; “What would our grandmothers say?” read a banner from a women's league; students burned a U.S. flag.

[Toucano]

6. And yet the "Tico Times" is pro-CAFTA.

And "A.M. Costa Rica" is reporting the U.S. has got an ex-Tico shill on the panel to evaluate CAFTA. For the record, "A.M. Costa Rica" is pro-CAFTA too.

We have to kill it here. I don't think Ticos can withstand the strong-arming from the U.S. on this.

U.S. citizen Chang draws
concern from union boss

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Franklin Chang Díaz, the astronaut, has been away from Costa Rica too long and has U.S. citizenship, Albino Vargas notes.

For that reason the union leader was not particularly pleased that Chang will be on a panel to evaluate the text of the free trade treaty with the United States.

President Abel Pacheco confirmed Thursday that he asked Chang to serve on the panel, and the response from Vargas was predictable.

Chang, 55, is probably the top Costa Rican celebrity. He was born in San José, but finished high school in Connecticut in 1968, and he has spent most of his adult life in the United States. He has made seven flights and logged 1,6501 hours in space.

more: http://amcostarica.com/morenews.htm

[arcos]

7. You are absolutely right...

We can't kill it here, they have the votes in Congress... but the approval would mean serious social unrest. The best way out is to kill in the US, where in fact the opposition seems to have the momentum.

[Toucano]

8. It's no different than a mob protection racket

"Join with us and everything will go well. Oppose us and we'll break your fincas."

That's democracy Bush style.

I wish the assembly would realize CR could negotiate better deals with the EU and Chinese markets since the US wants to play the Goliath bully.

But they're right to be afraid, I guess.

[sadiesworld]

2. kick

[PuraVidaDreamin]

3. Why does the *administration want to rush this through?

Central Americans will be shafted!

[arcos]

4. KICK! nt

[arcos]

5. kick nt