Costa Ricans protest over U.S.-Central America trade pact

[arcos]

Costa Ricans protest over U.S.-Centam trade pact

SAN JOSE, May 31 (Reuters) - Some 10,000 Costa Ricans took to the streets of the capital or blocked major highways on Monday, police said, in a protest over a new trade agreement between the United States and five Central American nations.

Unions in Costa Rica fear the U.S.-Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), signed on Friday, will lead to the privatization of state insurance and telecommunications monopolies with the loss of jobs.

CAFTA, covering the United States, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Costa Rica, will extend the North American Trade Agreement down most of the land bridge connecting Mexico to South America.

Opponents, like the AFL-CIO labor federation and Friends of the Earth, say it would have a devastating effect on workers, farmers and the environment.

<snip>

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N31319394.htm

[brokensymmetry]

1. I'd bet the protesters are right.

The workers, farmers, and small shopkeepers will wind up unemployed or as poorly paid laborers in a sweatshop. They deserve better.

[CharlesGroce]

2. we deserve better too

and we deserve frank leadership on this issue: John Kerry must speak out against globalization or lose the vote of those of us who know of it's destruction.

It is the duty of us all not to vote for that guy if he doesn't represent our views.

[Imperialism Inc.]

6. I don't think many of us are buying in to the

cut off your nose to spite your face bit.

[MasonJar]

3. John Kerry is an important environmentalist; remember whom

we are trying to get rid of. Costa Rica is wonderful because of its beautiful protected surroundings. If those go, the country will decline. Do the Bushies care about these countries? NO.

[arcos]

4. not at all...

actually, Harken Energy was looking for oil a few years ago, but the government backed down and withdrew the permits after intense pressure from environmentalists.

Harken sued the Costa Rican government for $57 billion, and former Senator Torricelli came to the country as a Harken representative to 'negotiate'.

I expect Kerry to be much better than *, and hopefully won't take Torricelli's advice on these type of things.

And sadly, CAFTA will probably be approved in the Costa Rican Congress. Hopefully Kerry will re-negotiate the agreement.

[no_arbusto]

5. A link from La Nacion

http://www.nacion.com/ln_ee/2004/mayo/31/marcha.html

[arcos]

7. picture here...

[DaveSZ]

8. "Free trade"

"Free trade" is a euphemism for "child slave labor."

Does Kerry support CAFTA?

If he does then it's almost like what's the point of electing Kerry if his positions are the same as *'s on child slave labor, the Iraq war, and Sharon's killing of the palestinians?

I guess since the next Pres will appoint 3 SC justices, that's significant.

P.S>

I'm so thankful to Lou Dobbs for his show on CNN!

[DaveSZ]

9. Gephardt

Gep has some credability on this issue, and if he's Kerry's labor secretary that would be somthing.

[arcos]

10. In principle he does...

but he is opposed to the current version. The Citizen Action Party in Costa Rica asked Kerry to renegotiate the treaty if he is elected President, and he has expressed willingness to do it.