IAHF List: Kevin Miller of WellTV.com who is making a documentary on the Codex vitamin issue (with input from me and a lot of others as well) just called this urgent alert to our attention....
Please ACT NOW- CAFTA is tentatively scheduled for a markup vote in the Senate on June 14th, and we need to POUND the Senate Finance Committee (see below) with complaints.
Bear in mind that to maintain access to dietary supplements, we MUST defend US sovereignty.
Bear in mind that CAFTA and FTAA would expand NAFTA hemisphere wide.
Bear in mind that the WTO, NAFTA, CAFTA & FTAA Trade Agreements all contain SPS (Sanitary Phytosanitary Measures Language) via which our dietary supplement laws can be harmonized to grossly restrictive emerging Codex standards.
The sky is not falling, but we MUST ACT, or we won't be able to stop this incremental agenda down the road- please forward widely, and donate to IAHF for emergency lobbying trip to Capital Hill so together we can counteract the pernicious influence of the pharma dominated vitamin trade associations which are lying on this issue to their members. IAHF 556 Boundary Bay Rd., Point Roberts WA 98281 USA or via paypal at http://www.iahf.com see paypal button on the scrollbar in interior of the site. DVD "Push Back From Codex Cliff" for donations of $25. or more.
http://www.stopcafta.org/article.php?list=type&type=21
Urgent Action Alert: Republican Leadership Pushing to Introduce CAFTA in June!
May 28: A Bitter Birthday for Bush?s CAFTA Bill
It?s been a whole year since CAFTA was signed, and thanks to the hard work of concerned citizens like you, the Administration hasn?t been able to get the votes it needs to pass it in Congress.
Good work!
But it?s not over yet ? as the Senate goes fishing for votes, we need a big push against CAFTA to make sure it never sees the light of day!
The Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA also known as DR-CAFTA) would create a trade and investment bloc that includes Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, and the United States. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles Grassley (R-IA) has indicated that the Committee is tentatively considering a markup of CAFTA for June 14, 2005 and the Bush Administration is sending a strong message that they are once again ready to test whether they have enough votes in Congress to pass CAFTA.
Let?s make sure they come up short!
The fact that CAFTA has not yet come up for a vote is a testament to the incredible mobilizing that has taken place by activists against CAFTA. If the Administration realizes that it doesn?t have the votes to pass CAFTA, it may never come up for a vote. But with enough Congress members being tight-lipped about their position, no one knows exactly what the outcome will be.
The good news is that more and more Representatives are realizing that CAFTA is a raw deal for workers in the U.S. and Central America and a threat to the environment, public health and safety, and local, participatory democracy. Bush Administration officials, in a last desperate attempt to gain support for CAFTA, have tried linking CAFTA to increased democratic stability and the fight against terrorism. On the contrary, CAFTA will and already has destabilized the region as thousands of farmers, workers, students, women, indigenous communities, and religious groups have taken to the streets in protest of CAFTA ? often meeting violent repression from local law enforcement. Lost livelihoods in rural communities, reduced access to life-saving medicines, an erosion of labor and environmental protections will outweigh the potential benefits. Additionally, CAFTA will maintain, if not worsen, the debt crisis facing developing country members. CAFTA places profits over people, corporate interests over worker rights, and trade laws over local and national democracies ? it does not bring stability or development to the region!
ACTIONS
1. Meet with your Senator or Representative while they are in their home districts over the Memorial Day recess, May 31 ? June 3
This may be the decisive moment when we can stop CAFTA altogether! To schedule a meeting call the Capitol switchboard toll free at 1-800-839-5276 or visit www.house.gov or www.senate.gov for the local contact information for your Representative or Senator. Also, you can always just stop by the district office next week and talk with staff.
PRESSURE THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE ON CAFTA!
The Republican leadership of the Senate Finance Committee has indicated that they may be the first to act on CAFTA on June 14th. Though the campaign against CAFTA has thus far focused on the House of Representatives, it is important to target Senators now as they begin the process of presenting CAFTA legislation. If one of your Senators is listed below, then call or drop by the district office to demand a "No" vote on CAFTA. Let the committee know that we won't let CAFTA go to the floor without a fight!
Republicans
CHARLES GRASSLEY, IA
ORRIN G. HATCH, UT
TRENT LOTT, MS
OLYMPIA J. SNOWE, ME
JON KYL, AZ
CRAIG THOMAS, WY
RICK SANTORUM, PA
BILL FRIST, TN
GORDON SMITH, OR
JIM BUNNING, KY
MIKE CRAPO, ID
Democrats
MAX BAUCUS, MT
JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV, WV
KENT CONRAD, ND
JAMES M. JEFFORDS, VT
JEFF BINGAMAN, NM
JOHN F. KERRY, MA
BLANCHE L. LINCOLN, AR
RON WYDEN, OR
CHARLES E. SCHUMER, NY
When you meet with your Rep:
1. If you are dropping in or just calling, ask to speak to the trade staffer, chief of staff or legislative director.
2. Tell them you are a constituent and want to know your Rep's position on CAFTA. If you would like to meet with your Rep ask to schedule a meeting while he/she is in the district.
3. If the Rep is opposed to the agreement and will vote against it, thank him/her. Ask if your Rep has made his/her opposition public and encourage him/her to do so. Always ask for a letter to you stating his/her position.
4. If the Rep is undecided, ask your Rep (or staffer) why and when they are planning on taking a position. Let them know that you oppose CAFTA (any personal stories related to how NAFTA hurt your region are helpful) and urge them to vote no when CAFTA comes up.
5. If the Rep is planning to vote for CAFTA, urge them to reconsider. Inform the office that you intend to spread the word that the Rep is voting against their constituents? interests.
For sample call scripts and suggestions on concerns to raise, please visit www.stopcafta.org.
2. Organize a local action
When phone calls and meetings aren?t enough, staging a direct action is a powerful tool. Public protest brings your concerns to the attention of policymakers and raises public awareness. For ideas on local actions and assistance in organizing in your community please visit the Stop-CAFTA website at www.stopcafta.org.
