Teach-in: TPP: Expanding the Neoliberal Attack on Latin America & Why Congressman Crowley Must Vote Against Fast Track!

Saturday, January 25th, 2014

In the 20 years since the passage of NAFTA, free trade agreements between Latin American and global north nations have led to the destruction of traditional farming communities, vast economic forced migration, violent repression and displacement of indigenous peoples, exploitative sweatshop labor, destruction of critical ecosystems, toxic pollution, and skyrocketing rates of diabetes and obesity as health as US-style junk food diets replace healthier traditional diets. As a candidate, President Obama promised to break with the NAFTA model. Instead, he's now pushing TPP, a worse-than-NAFTA 12 nation free trade agreement that will include Mexico, Peru, and Chile.

At this forum we'll discuss the devastating effects that free trade agreements have already had on Latin America - and why TPP will be even more devastating.   Then we'll discuss upcoming opportunities for action and how we can work to stop Jackson Heights own Congressman, Joseph Crowley, from Fast Tracking TPP through the US Congress.

Join us as we plan to take action to demand NO MORE NAFTAS!

Presenters:

Malu Huacuja del Toro – Mexican author and activist in the movement against the first free trade agreement in Latin America. Malu has just published Salinato Version 2.0, a collective book about the effects of NAFTA 20 years later.

Carlos Bernales – Activist with Peruvians in Action New York; renowned political cartoonist (CABE) and journalist

Carlos Salamanca – Colombia solidarity activist with Mingas New York and Polo Democratico Alternativo NY/NJ/CT

Jose Schiffino – labor activist; Chair, Fair Trade Committee, New York Labor Coalition for Latin American Advancement

Evan Greer (invited, not yet confirmed)– social justice singer/songwriter & internet freedom activist, Fight for the Future

Presentation will be in Spanish; interpretation will be provided.

Time: 4:30-7PM (please arrive on time for a packed program!)

Location: Teraza 7, 40-19 Gleane St (between Baxter Ave. and Britton Ave), Elmhurst, Queens.

Directions: 7 train to 82nd Street-Jackson Heights

Contact: Megan McGee: (917) 526-2127 jcrowleyconstituents@tradejustice.net

Organized by Crowley Constituents for TradeJustice,

TradeJustice New York Metro, and Teraza 7