Peace, Equality and World Solidarity
REEXAMINING CONTINENTAL INTEGRATION

Some Problems

Commercial agreements like NAFTA and the FTAA belong to a type of globalization that we should all reject. These agreements represent Charters of rights and freedoms not for individuals but for corporations.

These agreements are structured in such a way as to promote deregulation, privatization of public services, and to transform entire societies into products for sale. These agreements effectively reduce a countryıs ability to act for the common good.

It is important to understand that we are not against globalization. We are more precisely against savage unbridled capitalism. We are for a globalization of solidarities but we must remain realistic and work towards this goal at a continental scale.

Some Solutions

During our first mandate, we will provoke debates that will reexamine continental integration in-depth. In its present form the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas will not have our support.

Continental integration must be first and foremost a social and political agreement instead of a purely economic one. We will not pursue negotiations on economic integration (free trade) until political, social and ecological agreements are included in these agreements with sanctions that will obligate member countries to comply.

We will work to build, on a continental scale, agreements that will contain minimum standards:

• Social standards (Social security)
• Labor standards (Recognizing unions, health and safety, retirement and minimum wage);
• Environmental standards (protection of the environment, investment in green technologies);
• Political standards (respect for democracy, human rights, minority rights and codes of ethics)