Tired of unaccountable corporations?!

Here's a chance to do something about it! Email Congress to reform trade agreements!

International trade agreements typically protect profits and property rights (and actually forbid considerations that would inhibit either of these), ensuring corporations' financial success (of the world's 100 largest economic entities, 51 are corporations, 49 are nations!). On the other hand, these treaties do little or nothing to ensure that the environment or workers' rights are protected. Plus, these treaties are written and enforced by non-democratically-elected bodies such as the World Trade Organization, which have power over national governments and their trade policies.

As a result, trade agreements can have disastrous effects on workers both at home and abroad, taking jobs from former and exposing the latter to all manner of unfair labor practices in the world's mines, fields and sweatshops. And the global ecosystem is at their mercy; they can extract and pollute with little concern for current or long-term impacts on people and planet.

The Trade Reform, Accountability, Development and Employment Act (TRADE) would require consideration of environmental, human rights, small farmer, and labor impacts when the United States signs Free Trade agreements, and stipulate renegotiation of NAFTA and CAFTA to reflect these values. It would also delete all requirements to deregulate or privatize key services such as health care and water services, and revamp patent rights that tend to raise the price of medicines in signatory countries. In other words, it puts people and planet before profit. (check here for additional background information)

Contact your senators and representative to encourage co-sponsorship of the TRADE bill—and to thank them if they already do!

Here's a sample letter:

Honorable Senator Durbin. I hope you're doing well. As a US citizen concerned both about our own economy as well as the plight of our global neighbors and the environment, I am deeply concerned about current trade agreements that consistently put profits before people or the health of the environment.

I am writing to inquire whether you are a co-sponsor of the Trade Reform, Accountability, Development, and Employment (TRADE) Act. While trade agreements typically protect profits and property rights (and actually forbid considerations that would inhibit either of these), this legislation would require consideration of environmental, human rights, small farmer, and labor impacts when the United States signs Free Trade agreements, and stipulate renegotiation of NAFTA and CAFTA to reflect these values. It would also delete all requirements to deregulate or privatize key services such as health care and water services, and revamp patent rights that tend to raise the price of medicines in signatory countries. In other words, it puts people and planet before profit.

If you are already a sponsor--thanks--and please do whatever you can to move this bill along. If not, I'd strongly encourage that you become one.

Best wishes,