Trade Stories Project pilot takes off!

This month the Washington Fair Trade Coalition is kicking off the pilot phase of the new national Trade Stories Project! The goal of this project is to increase public participation and accountability in trade policymaking by collecting and documenting stories of real people whose lives have been negatively affected by the current free trade system. This project is based off the Oregon Stories Project that was started in 2005 by the Oregon Fair Trade Campaign. Feel free to see the Orgeon Stories Project website to learn more.

The project will be conducted by state-based trade advocacy organizations from Maine, Minnesota, Ohio, Oregon and Washington. The goal is to conduct thirty interviews in each state with workers that have been displaced, immigrants, farmers and others impacted by trade policies. During the pilot portion of the project, each state will collect at least three initial interviews. The goal of this project will be to develop state-level campaign materials based on the interviews to support state-level advocacy, organize town hall-style forums in each state on the local effects of existing trade agreements, and conduct nationally-coordinated press events in each of the participating states. We hope that our efforts will bring the power of personal stories to the trade policy debate.

Please contact Stephanie Celt if you would like to be interviewed or to help with this project in any other way! Call 206-227-3079.

APEC Summit - Bush attempts to push pending FTAs

The Leaders of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) were in Lima, Peru on November 22-23, 2008 to discuss “A New Commitment to Asia-Pacific Development.”  It was President Bush’s last appearance before APEC and he had to announce that the U.S. had not passed the three trade agreements with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea.  Although Bush is nearing the end of his presidency, he argued strongly that the pending FTAs should be passed, and that the WTO Doha round should be concluded.  Canada announced that it is approving a tentative FTA with Colombia, but Parliament is still debating this.  To read APEC's summary of the issues covered, including an attempt to address the social dimension of globalization see http://www.apecceosummit2008.org/content/plantilla/index.aspx.

Reminder- Confronting the Food Crisis: event this weekend

Friday, December 5, 6-9pm. Evening kick-off event at Garfield Community Center.
Saturday, December 6, 9-5:30pm: Seattle Central Community College

Panel discussion: "Confronting the Food Crisis." Locally and fairly sourced lunch provided. Free and open to the public!

Join the Community Alliance for Global Justice and its partners to support a just, sustainable food economy! Participate in a range of discussions, panels, and hands-on workshops that help us to understand corporate control and build just alternatives with respect to local and global food systems. Topics include: Understanding the food economy of western Washington; Impacts of U.S. trade agreements and corporate influence on the food system; Strategies for local eating; Equitable access to healthy food; Farmers and Farm-workers speak for themselves; Organizing for Food Justice...and much more.

The Teach-In is free and open to the public. Child-care provided. For more details and program updates: http://www.seattleglobaljustice.org/

Coalition News

We have reached another important milestone in the development of our coalition - we just welcomed our 40^th member organization! UAW Local 4121 - which represents academic student employees at the University of Washington - recently joined the WFTC gang. We are very pleased to have them!

Show the WFTC some love during the holidays!

Today, Americans are presented with an amazing chance to transform the future of our nation's trade policy and to build a new economy that actually works for working people here in Washington and around the world.  The Washington Fair Trade Coalition is poised to take advantage of this opportunity, but we need your help.

Please make a donation to WFTC this month. Your contribution of $25, $50, $100 or more will enable us to:

• Continue organizing Washington's displaced workers to ensure that trade-related job loss remains in the public eye and that working people's stories are front-and-center during trade policy debates;
   
• Educate Washington's Members of Congress about the real impacts of existing trade deals in their districts, and hold all elected officials accountable to their constituents on issues regarding trade and the economy; and
   
• Fight to advance a positive, proactive agenda for trade that is actually healthy for working people and the environment, through the promotion of strong, progressive trade legislation like the Trade Reform, Accountability, Development and Employment Act.

Together we can make a difference. We need your help. If you are able to contribute, please send us a check to:

Thank you very much for your support!

For further reading

"Obama Said to Pick Xavier Becerra For US Trade Rep" - Although Becerra has not yet accepted, rumors are that Obama wants him for USTR
 

"Obama to Usher in Major Shift in Trade Policy" - An Associated Press article suggesting its likely that Obama will bring fair trade policy change. Fingers crossed!

"In Colombia, Paramilitary Groups Still Spreading Terror"

"Mexico's Immigration Problem Also a 'Red Flag' At Home" - An Americas Policy Program report.