Green Party of San Diego County

The Green Party of San Diego County endorsed and participated in the Stop the FTAA! coalition and the U.S./Mexico border action of April 21, in solidarity with the demonstrations that took place in Quebec. The San Diego Greens are continuing their collaboration with other progressive groups in an effort to stop these methods of globalization, which do not represent the people, but only reflects the wishes of business interests.
[Report of the border action]

The FTAA (Free Trade Area of the Americas) will extend NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) to the entire Western Hemisphere. The FTAA talks have been conducted in secret between heads of state and business interests, with no input from human rights groups, environmental organizations, unions or consumer groups. This agreement will increase the power of commercial and corporate interests at the expense of the rights of workers, indigenous people, small farmers, immigrants and the environment. The FTAA is an expansion of the corporate agenda throughout the Americas creating the biggest free trade zone in the world. Establishing another "free trade" agreement based on the provisions of NAFTA and WTO, which consistently rule against environmental, humanitarian or human rights concerns, is a blueprint for increased social insecurity, inequality and ecosystem destruction.

Top Ten Reasons to Oppose the FTAA
10 Razones Para Oponerse al ALCA
For more information, visit Global Exchange's excellent site on FTAA.
NAFTA Hurts Farmers -- report by Public Citizen.

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Report of the border action in April 2001

Thanks to all our green friends who came from as far as New Mexico to this weekend's events against the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). The Stop the FTAA! Coalition is stronger than ever thanks to all the hard work of dedicated volunteers on both sides of the border. The forum on Friday night drew about 200 people to the First Universalist Unitarian Church where it was held. Congressman Bob Filner made an appearance in support of our efforts. On Saturday, it is estimated that almost 2,000 people attended the demonstration. We heard dynamic and moving speakers like Medea Benjamin, a U'Wa from Colombia, Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine and Javier Nunez, a LA striking garment worker. There were also great performances by groups like the Aztec Dancers, Cihuatonomi, Teatro Campesino and Aztlan Underground. Because of the rain, the Border Field rally was moved to Larsen Park and instead, a march to the border took place when some members of the demonstration crossed the border to join Tijuana demonstrators in Las Playas. The march remained peaceful yet notorious while demonstrators chanted as they passed Nike and Gap shops.

On Sunday, April 22, the coalition met in Tijuana to talk about its future. Reports say there were about 200 people in attendance. The result is a larger and stronger Globalphobics network. The Globalphobics are the binational organization whithin which the Stop the FTAA! Coalition was created. Our next meeting will be on May 26th. If you are interested in working against things like corporate globalization and for human rights, worker's rights and indigenous rights in cooperation with organizers from all over the U.S. and Mexico, call 858-578-4505 or e-mail magali@sdgreens.org.

Here's an article by a member of the Green Party in France on the border action in San Diego. The article was published in the Independent Media Center and is in French.

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