Globalization
This month, we are teaming up with the Houston Institute for Culture for the 4th Friday Flicks event, on Sep. 22, and it's FREE. There are two short movies ("The Other Side" and "Oaxacan Hoops") scheduled for that date. Both are on the topic of immigration and globalization. See http://www.paa-tx.org/node/2358 for descriptions of the movies.
We'll have refreshments before (starting at 6:30 PM) and after the movies shown on on Sep. 22, along with a discussion afterwards (including what films to show next). The complete schedule and descriptions of HIFC movies is at http://www.paa-tx.org/node/2358
See below for more updates on last night's protest from John Cobarruvias of Bay Area New Democrats. He was one of the organizers of the event. BAND can be counted on to have a significant prescence whenever DeLay is in town, even (like last night) when the event isn't even in the Clear Lake area nor in DeLay's district.
John counted 287 protestors. I think that's a fairly accurate number, although it was difficult to count because we were spread out over such a big area, some people came late, etc. The Houston Chronicle said police estimated about 250.
To get a copy of this resolution formatted for printing, so you can take it with you to your precinct convention, click on the link in the Attachment box below.
WHEREAS, All people have a right to have a job in a safe workplace, to earn living wages and secure benefits including retirement, and
Note: This is an old resolution that has been superceded by a new version.
WHEREAS, Participation in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) has meant a race to the bottom for workers, family farmers and the environment, causing a $418 billion trade deficit and a loss of over 500,000 jobs; and
WHEREAS, Free trade has encouraged companies in the U. S. to leave the country in search of low wages, low commodity prices, anti-union climates, and lax environmental laws; and
WHEREAS, Free trade has stocked our retail shelves with goods produced by foreign workers under harsh working conditions that would be illegal if found in this country; and
WHEREAS, NAFTA shifts power away from state and local government and directly challenges our U. S. Constitution, as in the case when our "Buy American" laws were challenged by other countries; and
WHEREAS, Free trade favors multinational corporations, not citizens or communities and;
WHEREAS, Free trade agreements are not fair and beneficial to U. S. agriculture and are a threat to our national food security; and
WHEREAS, The September 2003 Cancun WTO negotiations on agricultural subsidies, domestic supports and market access and special treatment for developing nations were a failure and caused breakdown in overall negotiations; and
WHEREAS, Expansion of the General Agreement on Trades in Services (GATS) leaves water supplies, electrical services, healthcare, and education unprotected from the greedy tactics of multinational corporations; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That we support measures to restore control of trade from multinational corporations to the jurisdiction of the U.S. government and for the benefit of U.S. citizens, by:
To get a copy of this resolution formatted for printing, so you can take it with you to your precinct convention, click on the link in the Attachment box below.
WHEREAS agribusiness monopolies now control all aspects of U.S. agriculture, with 20 Fortune 500 corporations subsidized by USDA and thus receiving most federal farm subsidies; and
To get a copy of this resolution formatted for printing, so you can take it with you to your precinct convention, click on the link in the Attachment box below.
WHEREAS, Abraham Lincoln said democracy refers to a government "of the people, by the people, and for the people", and only human beings should be able to participate in the democratic process; and
