Stop FAST TRACK now! 2002-07-22, 4:19 p.m. Background info on Fast Track/WHY STOP FAST TRACK? Fast Track is a fundamentally undemocratic procedure by which the US Congress surrenders its ability to craft trade policy. If Fast Track passes, debate on trade bills will be severely limited, and will curtain the ability of average citizens, like us, to make our views known about the so-called Free Trade agreements. Not only would the FTAA be detrimental to Americans, it would allow foreign corporations, like Levis and the GAP, to sue the United States government if they are able to provide proof that some regulation of the United States limited their profits in some way. If the trial would go to court it would be up to the American taxpayer to foot the bill if the foreign company won the case. President Bush is trying to drive "Fast Track" through Congress right now. On July 8th, he was quoted as saying, "Creating more jobs and strengthening our economy are critical priorities. And Congress can act to create jobs by giving me trade promotion authority. Expanding trade means new jobs for American workers. Congress has debated trade now for more than a year. It's time to stop talking; it's time to start acting. Congress should act to create American jobs before it goes home for the August recess." Unfortunately, President Bush has it all wrong! Fast Track (and the FTAA)will not create more jobs for Americans. It will send US jobs abroad, which will hurt the US economy. It will export sweatshops and low wage jobs to countries like Mexico and China, where the rights of workers to organize are not respected. In addition, Fast Track is a blank check for US corporations to disregard environmental protections in the US, as well as other countries around the world. We need to urge Congress to uphold democracy, protect our economy, and our environment by saying NO TO FAST TRACK! We need to let the White House and Congress know that we are watching and we do not want FAST TRACK!!! We need your help to stop it! For background info on FAST TRACK, please see: http://www.globalexchange.org/fasttrack WHAT CAN YOU DO? 1. CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE The AFL-CIO is sponsoring a toll free number for you to express your opinions to your elected representatives. All you have to do is call 1-877-611-0063 and you will be connected to the Capitol SwitchBoard. You may ask for your representative by name. You can leave a message with the voicemail if there is no person to answer the phone. You can also call your Representative at their District Office. When you get your Representative�s office, let them know that you want to convey your OPPOSITION to "Fast Track". Make sure that your Representative hears that you want them to vote AGAINST Fast Track, and that you strongly believe the formation of trade policy should be open, transparent and democratic. 2. Send Letters to the Editor about Fast Track. ***FOR MORE BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND IDEAS ON WHAT YOU CAN DO TO STOP FAST TRACK, PLEASE CHECK OUR WEBSITE AT: http://globalexchange.org/fasttrack/ or e-mail us at [email protected] ***YOU CAN NOW DOWNLOAD OUR FAST TRACK ACTION KIT ONLINE AT: http://www.globalexchange.org/fasttrack/FTToolKit.pdf You can also check out www.tradewatch.org for more information! For more information on Jobs with Justice check out: http://www.jobswithjustice.org/ previous entries: Anyone? - 2008-01-24 Saturday Film Series at The Free Speech Zone - 2005-12-30 SLC? - 2005-12-21 Please Post - 2005-07-24 From ImpeachBush.org - 2005-06-20 New: Fill out the survey!

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