Tag: CAFTA

Weekend Voices 1/09/10

Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco

Over the holidays , two more anti-mining activists were murdered in the Cabanas region in El Salvador. Area residents allege the Canadian gold mining company, Pacific Rim, is connected to incidents of violence and threats against activists who oppose mining in the community. Because of widespread opposition to the potential environmental and social costs, El Salvador has passed a moratorium against mining. In response, Pacific Rim is suing the Salvadoran government under the Central American Free trade Agreement, through it’s Nevada subsidiary.
William Castillo,  the Center for Research on Investment and Trade(CEICOM) and the National Coalition Against Mining.
Bernardo Belloso, the Association for the Development of El Salvador (CRIPDES) and the National Coalition Against Mining
Tom Shrake, President and CEO, Pacific Rim Mining Corporation (written statement)
Emily Carpenter, US El Salvador Sister Cities

RadioActive 12/31/09

Producers/Hosts: Amy Browne & Meredith DeFrancesco

Segment 1: Peter Neill, Director of the World Ocean Observatory and host of WERU’s “World Ocean Radio”,  reports back from the UN Climate Conference in Copenhagen.  FMI: www.thew2o.net

Segment 2: Over the holidays , two more anti-mining activists were murdered in the Cabanas region in El Salvador. Area residents allege the Canadian gold mining company, Pacific Rim, is connected to incidents of violence and threats against activists who oppose mining in the community. Because of widespread opposition, El Salvador has passed a moratorium against mining. In response, Pacific Rim is suing the Salvadoran government under the Central American Free trade Agreement, through it’s Nevada subsidiary.

William Castillo,  the Center for Research on Investment and Trade(CEICOM) and the National Coalition Against Mining.
Tom Shrake, President and CEO, Pacific Rim Mining Corporation (written statement)

Over the holidays , two more anti-mining activists were murdered in the Cabanas region in El Salvador. Area residents allege the Canadian gold mining company, Pacific Rim, is connected to incidents of violence and threats against activists who oppose mining in the community. Because of widespread opposition, El Salvador has passed a moratorium against mining. In response, Pacific Rim is suing the Salvadoran government under the Central American Free trade Agreement, through it’s Nevada subsidiary.   William Castillo,  the Center for Research on Investment and Trade(CEICOM) and the National Coalition Against Mining.Tom Shrake, President and CEO, Pacific Rim Mining Corporation (written statement)

Voices 12/30/08

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

Audio recorded by: Adam Lacher

The 4th– and final– segment of excerpts from the testimony at the Maine Citizen Trade Policy Commission’s recent public hearing in Bangor.  The commission was established by Maine’s legislature in 2004 to assess and monitor the legal and economic impacts of trade agreements on state and local laws, working conditions, and the business environment in Maine, and to provide a mechanism for citizens and legislators to voice their concerns and recommendations to our Congressional Delegation.  It was the first of its kind in the country and has served as a model for other states.  The board is made up of representatives of various stakeholders.  U.S. Congressman Michael Michaud attended the hearing.  Senators Snowe and Collins sent representatives.
This is testimony offered by our neighbors, describing the impact of “Free” Trade agreements on Maine communities and communities elsewhere, including our Sister Communities in El Salvador.  Also included in today’s segment are Representative Mike Michaud’s remarks at the hearing, focusing on his proposed Trade Act legislation.

The commission is accepting written comments, which may be submitted to:  Linda Nickerson,  Bureau of Labor Standards, 45 State House Station, Augusta, ME  or Linda.B.Nickerson@maine.gov
FMI about Congressman Michaud’s proposed Trade Act Bill:  www.michaud.house.gov/

NOTE: Part 1 aired on Weekend Voices on 12/20/08, Part 2 aired on Voices on 12/23/08 and part 3 aired on Weekend Voices on 12/27/08.  Listen/download at www.weru.org

Weekend Voices 12/27/08

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

Audio Recorded by Adam Lacher

Part 3 of the testimony at the Maine Citizen Trade Policy Commission’s recent public hearing in Bangor, Maine.  The commission was established by Maine’s legislature in 2004 to assess and monitor the legal and economic impacts of trade agreements on state and local laws, working conditions, and the business environment in Maine, and to provide a mechanism for citizens and legislators to voice their concerns and recommendations to our Congressional Delegation.  It was the first of it’s kind in the country and has served as a model for other states.  The board is made up of representatives of various stakeholders.  U.S. Congressman Michael Michaud attended the hearing.  Senators Snowe and Collins sent representatives.

This is the 2nd hour of testimony offered by our neighbors, describing the impact of “Free” Trade agreements on Maine communities and communities elsewhere, including our Sister Communities in El Salvador.  Part 1 aired on Weekend Voices on 12/20/08, and Part 2 aired on Voices on 12/23/08.  We will air the final segment on Voices on Tuesday, 12/30/08 at 4p.m.

Written comments may be submitted to:  Linda Nickerson,  Bureau of Labor Standards, 45 State House Station, Augusta, ME  or Linda.B.Nickerson@maine.gov

FMI about Congressman Michaud’s proposed Trade Act Bill:  http://www.michaud.house.gov/

Voices 12/23/08

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

Audio Recorded by Adam Lacher

Part 2 of the testimony at the Maine Citizen Trade Policy Commission’s recent public hearing in Bangor, Maine.  The commission was established by Maine’s legislature in 2004 to assess and monitor the legal and economic impacts of trade agreements on state and local laws, working conditions, and the business environment in Maine, and to provide a mechanism for citizens and legislators to voice their concerns and recommendations to our Congressional Delegation.  It was the first of it’s kind in the country and has served as a model for other states.  The board is made up of representatives of various stakeholders.  U.S. Congressman Michael Michaud attended the hearing.  Senators Snowe and Collins sent representatives.

This is the 2nd hour of testimony offered by our neighbors, describing the impact of “Free” Trade agreements on Maine communities and communities elsewhere, including our Sister Communities in El Salvador.  Part 1 aired on Weekend Voices on 12/20/08. We will air more of the testimony on Weekend Voices next Saturday, 12/27/08 at 3p.m., and the final segment on Voices on Tuesday, 12/30/08 at 4p.m.

Written comments may be submitted to:  Linda Nickerson,  Bureau of Labor Standards, 45 State House Station, Augusta, ME  or Linda.B.Nickerson@maine.gov

FMI about Congressman Michaud’s proposed Trade Act Bill:  http://www.michaud.house.gov/

Correction: The intro says “Weekend Voices”, but this is “Voices”

Weekend Voices 12/20/08

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

Audio Recorded by Adam Lacher

Part 1 of the testimony at the Maine Citizen Trade Policy Commission’s recent public hearing in Bangor, Maine.  The commission was established by Maine’s legislature in 2004 to assess and monitor the legal and economic impacts of trade agreements on state and local laws, working conditions, and the business environment in Maine, and to provide a mechanism for citizens and legislators to voice their concerns and recommendations to our Congressional Delegation.  It was the first of it’s kind in the country and has served as a model for other states.  The board is made up of representatives of various stakeholders.  U.S. Congressman Michael Michaud attended the hearing.  Senators Snowe and Collins sent representatives.

This is the first hour of testimony offered by our neighbors, describing the impact of “Free” Trade agreements on Maine communities and communities elsewhere, including our Sister Communities in El Salvador.  We will air more of the testimony on Voices on Tuesday, 12/23/08 at 4p.m. and on Weekend Voices next Saturday, 12/27/08 at 3p.m.

Written comments may be submitted to:  Linda Nickerson,  Bureau of Labor Standards, 45 State House Station, Augusta, ME  or Linda.B.Nickerson@maine.gov

FMI about Congressman Michaud’s proposed Trade Act Bill:  http://www.michaud.house.gov/

RadioActive 5/22/08

Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco

TODAYS TOPIC(S): The assassination of Hector Antonio Ventura Vasquez, one of the Suchitoto 14 in El Salvador; Reflections on International Worker’s Day, May 1st, in San Salvador; the Salvadoran social movement opposes the  Association Agreement (ADA), a free trade agreement currently being negotiated with the European Union and Central America

Salvadoran organizations call on the Attorney General to investigate the assassination of Hector Ventura, who,  was recently dismissed of terrorism charges along with 13 others after they were arrested prior to an anti water privatization forum in July. They also call for the investigation of a number of other assassinations classified political in the last 3 years. There is fear violence could escalate leading up to the presidential elections in March 2009.

Though government representatives  currently negotiating the  Association Agreement (ADA)  between the European Union and Central America, say human rights and political dialogue are important components of the free trade agreement,  they are backing off requiring the  ratification of the Rome Statutes, which created the International Criminal Court.  Central American countries allege this would overturn amnesty laws which block the prosecution of anyone for war crimes during the civil wars in Guatemala, Nicaragua and El Salvador.

The social movement networks through out Central America say the negative impacts that have resulted from CAFTA, will be amplified in the ADA, particularly in the areas of intellectual property rights and services. They say, European companies have the strongest interest in the privatization of water and energy.

GUESTS:

Hector Antonio Ventura Vasquez, Suchitoto 14;

Liga Guevara, the Foundation of Studies for the application of Law (FESPAD);  Rosa Santana, CRIPDES (the Association for the Development of El Salvador; Pedro Juan Hernandez, the MPR-12 (the October 12th Popular Resistance Movement)

FMI: www.elsalvadorsolidary.org