Stop CAFTA

We have been waging the struggle against the Central America Free Trade Agreement for more than three years – and next week may be it.

Since 2002 the Stop CAFTA coalition and our partners in El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Honduras, and more recently the Dominican Republic have been mobilizing to derail this flawed trade agreement. Go here for more information on the agreement.

The struggle in Central America has reached a critical phase, with leaders of social movements targeted with violence and other intimidation for speaking out. In solidarity with our friends we are asking groups here to mobilize again over the next week. If CAFTA is going to be defeated, it will have to be here in Congress.

We can win this!

Republican leadership has called for a vote on CAFTA next week – tentatively for Wednesday, July 27 – though more likely Thursday or Friday. But the Bush administration still DOES NOT HAVE THE VOTES. They are currently doing everything they can to buy or threaten individual members to cover the shortfall.

This will almost certainly be decided by a margin of less than 5 votes.

With the vote so close and right around the corner we are putting a call out to local groups to mobilize for one last Week of Action against CAFTA. Visit www.stopcafta.org for the latest information and ideas for action.

Check the target list – if your member is there that means they are hearing from business groups, and need to also be hearing form us.

There are a variety of tactics people can try

- In Los Angeles last week 12 members of the Salvadoran community held a
100 hour fast to protest CAFTA. Their actions received press, and
highlighted how CAFTA will lead to increased hunger in Central America.
- Some groups have planned direct actions, such as “sit-ins” at the
district offices of their member of Congress.
- You can help organize calls to your member of Congress’ office.
- Volunteer to phone bank
- E-mail all of your friends and ask them to e-mail their member of
Congress. The AFL-CIO Working Families web site has a sample letter and
form you can use – http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/CAFTA_House
- Organize a speak out in front of your member of Congress’ district
office.

Check our local contacts page to find people who are organizing in your area
Remember, every phone call, e-mail, and letter to the editor helps. No contribution is too small, but don’t hesitate to think big.

So make your plans now to take action against CAFTA. And don’t forget to let us know what you are planning. You can e-mail the details to Burke Stansbury (burke@cispes.org ), or register the event yourself here

Business lobby target list – from Inside US Trade – Covers most “undecideds”

Alabama
* Bonner
* Everett
* Aderholt
* Cramer

California
* Pombo
* Eshoo
* Lofgren
* Gallegly
* Davis

Florida
* Brown-Waite
* Stearns
* Davis
* Meek
* Foley
* Wasserman-Schultz

Georgia
* Bishop
* Deal
* Gingrey
* Scott

Indiana
* Souder
* Hostettler
* Sodrel

Missouri
* Clay
* Skelton
* Emerson

New York
* McCarthy
* Meeks
* Towns
* McHugh
* Boehlert
* Walsh
* Kuhl

North Carolina
* Etheridge
* Price
* Coble
* Fox[x]
* McHenry
* Hayes
* Miller
* Watt

Ohio
* Turner
* Regula
* Ney
* LaTourette

Pennsylvania
* Weldon
* Gerlach
* Fitzpatrick
* Murphy
* Platt[s]

Tennessee
* Jenkins
* Duncan
* Cooper
* Blackburn
* Ford

Texas
* Hinojosa
* Reyes
* Edwards
* Gonzalez
* Ortiz
* Johnson

Other Republicans
* Bishop (Ut)
* Capito (WVa)
* Davis (Va)
* Ehlers (Mich)
* Gibbons (Ct)
* Gutknecht (Minn)
* Hefley (Co)
* Moran (Kan)
* Petri (Wis)
* Walden (Org)

Other Democrats
* Bean (Ill)
* Boren (Ok)
* Matheson (Ut)
* Moore (Kan)
* Snyder (Ark)
* Ross (Ark)