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Show 4 VENCEREMOS SPRING 2000 The WTO: Fighting Greed by Duncan Moench a ¿hala every ocite woman/man distrust and dislike the World Wo Trade Organiza- plo tion? There are a myriad of reasons but the main one is that the WTO is an incredibly powerful agency that has a significantly negative impact on the lives of not only Americans, but citizens of the entire world. Citizens have no control over 16: did it come from? The WTO was created in: 1995 during the “Uruguay Round” of the General Agreements on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). It is an international organization made of 134 member nations, and 33 nations with official “observer” status that operates as a forum for negotiating international trade U students show solidarity with people protesting in Seattle by PS and marching in a rally of their own Nov. 30. agreements. The WTO also monitors and acts as a regulating body for enforcing the The main objective of the do not like the results of the When corporations have agreements on the member WTO is to expand “open” marWTO why don* they simply brought these laws and regulanations. kets and capitalism under the tions to the attention of the leave the organization?” The WTO is a powerful body guise of promoting freedom. Unless countries are extremeWTO as a possible “barrier to of unelected bureaucrats. The WTO has and always will ly powerful in their own right free trade ,” the WTO has ruled Those who run the WTO make pursue a corporate-inspired they essentially run the risk of against the member nations decisions in secret, without the agenda. There are those being blacklisted; having every time. These nations are presence of the public or the protesting the WTO who feel embargoes, and boycotts placed bound to adhere to the WTO's press. that it can be reformed. rulings and change their upon them by some of the most Big businesses are given This is a dubious notion. powerful nations in the world. national democratically-chosen The WTO was created to seats at their meetings, but laws. The WTO is controlled by the labor unions, environmental expand the already ridiculous most powerful countries, specifThe last nine years should be groups, independent farmers, power of rich corporations. It is ically the so called G-7: the reflective for Americans. Practicontrolled by rich corporations, and concerned citizen groups cally, all people hear on the netUnited States, Germany, Japan, and will always aid them in are not. the United Kingdom, France, work news is America's econoThe WTO regulates taxes and their attacks on labor, the enviItaly, and Canada. ny is booming. However, for ronment, and poor nations. quotas, and other “barriers to whom exactly is it booming? Any local or national laws Don't be fooled by the “free” trade.” Things that are seen as that attempt to offer any protecThe average worker's hours trade rhetoric. The WTO is not tions for local industry, workers “barriers to trade” by the WTO have gone up, meanwhile their real wages have gone down:siginclude: food safety laws, prod- «a. vehicle to increase: earn “health, -pay, or safety, the envia. Those who are beneuct standards, rules on the use and. democracy.” '' ronment, and wildlife are. seen of tax dollars, copyright - as “barriers to free trade” by the see WTO, page 15 infringement, and labor laws. “If Heonle and Contes WTO. > ELJAN, NEET 10 W DO » L) The Elian Gonzalez Situation: A Case of Stolen Innocence Editor's Note: On November 25, 1999 Eltian Gonzalez 6 years old from Cuba was picked up by fishermen off the coast of Florida and has been held in the United States ever since. His mother and stepfather took Elian to the sea seeking refuge. Elian being a child had no say in their flight from Cuba and while on the sea saw his mother and stepfather die. by Lou Marzulli-Vargas Get involved in the planning of the biggest Earth Day - event ever organized. Shauna.davisem.cc.utah.edu If you or your group wants to get involved email Shauna. Davisem.cc.utah.edu or come to one of the meetings held every other Wednesday in the Union Theater The problem The United States government is torn as to whether to keep the boy in the United States or to send him home to Cuba. The government's insecurity directly effects the wellbeing of Elian and his father, Juan Miguel Gonzalez who resides in Cuba; because they have obviously been separated and are suffering a great heartache from that separation. This also allows us to see the insecure political atmosphere in the United States, leaving us to question, how are we supposed to trust our so called leaders when they cannot separate a moral decision from a political debate whose ends are rooted in forwarding their own political agenda? Who is doing what? The current efforts concerning the boy's well being are double sided. President Clinton, Attorney General Janet Reno and the Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS) have all stated that Elian should return to Cuba. These statements have been made but no one is taking affirmative efforts to ensure Elian's safe return to Cuba and his father. At the same time the majority of Cuban-Americans in the U.S. are rallying to keep Elian here. Members of Congress have made vows to introduce bills into Congress when it reconvenes on January 24, 2000. The bills would grant Elian citizenship making the INS's decision void. To add insult to injury presidential candidates have turned Elian's situation into a penca! debate. Why the political debate? The reason Elian's situation turned into a political debate is because Elian Gonzalez is Cuban. Those who want Elian to stay in the United States have demonized Cuba and its inhabitants as if it is rooted in so much evil that it must be fled from by all means possible. If Elian was from any other country in the world and had no family or home to return to he would havebeen sent home without question just as countless numbers of Haitians, Mexicans, Central Americans and other nationalities. Who is legally responsible? A hearing date in the Miami courts has been set for March 6, 2000 in which Elians fate will be decided, but why if the INS has insisted that the U.S. has no legal jurisdiction over the boy since he is neither a resident or citizen of the United States. Legally, Elian should be sent home to Cuba to be with his father who throughout this ordeal has demonstrated his love and concern for his sonas wellbeing and therefore is the best fit to care for him. Morals? This issue should not be one of politics, but rather one of a boy separated from his father. Elian deserves to be with those he knows and loves. He deserves to be in the country he is accustomed to and to which he has expressed tremendous desire to return. Those who oppose his return are not concerned with Elian's well being but rather they are using his tragedy as a sick and twisted way to tell Cuba that they do not agree with its politics. Put yourself in Elians shoes. How would you see ELIAN, page 15 JOHNSON Where BY KEITH Editor's Note: In 1994 upon the implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement, indigenous rebels in the southernmost state of Mexico began a struggle that in many ways was more of a continuation of 500 years of resistance to imperialism in all its forms. The Zapatista's set an example, formulated a goal, and began a series of debates in which the whole world would begin engaging. Arguments that fundamentally challenged the seemingly inevitable corporate hegemony and economic globalization of today's world. Recently normal citizens took to the streets in Seattle to do the same. They forced everyone to once again face the eerie realization of what the world has become. Duncan Moench, an activist and guerrillero on campus at the University of Utah contributed this article to Venceremos as part of this revolution in rank-and-file communication. As Chicanos and citizens, workers and friends, we must stand together to raise our fist for dignity, respect, and freedom. Brothers and sisters of all colors and nations look toward the rich and powerful of the new world with their hands tied behind their backs—but their voices are as loud as ever. LI UL) MO | k AMA With Loud Voices |
