The Race to the Bottom in Central America: The ecological and social implications of CAFTA

The Race to the Bottom in Central America: The ecological and social implications of CAFTA

When: Friday, February 26th, 6-9pm

Where: Musicians Local 99, 325 NE 20th Ave, Portland, OR

From Chiapas to Peru, workers and communities are struggling against the invasive, undemocratic, exploitative behavior of Canadian mining companies. These are powerful struggles where in many cases, "the people" are winning, but their wins are undermined by US foreign policy and trade agreements.

The impacts of these multinational mining companies acting with near impunity include the willful contamination of water supplies and deaths and disappearances of anti-mining activists. In Guatemala, communities are self organizing to defend their health and their lands through community referendums against metallic mining. In El Salvador, the movement against mining has successfully pushed the government to rule against mining companies seeking permits, and that move is being challenged under CAFTA.

This Portland event is part of the 2010 NISGUA tour, "Mining and Indigenous Rights: The struggle for Self-Determination in Guatemala"

Pascual Bernabe Velasquez, a community leader from the western highland department of Huehuetenango, Guatemala, will talk about mining and natural resources in Huehuetenango and the response of indigenous communities to mining development in Guatemala.

We will serve typical Guatemalan fare and the Mt. Hood Community College folkloric dance group will perform at 6pm. Panel will start at 7pm. ~By donation~

Hosted by Portland Central America Solidarity Committee: http://pcasc.net/

Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala: http://nisgua.org/themes_campaigns/index.asp?id=3552

Contact: Megan Hise, megan[at]pcasc.net; Jerry Kohler, jkcpa2[at]gmail.com