Local STOP CAFTA Campaign has kick-off event

By
Media Mouse
on March 29, 2005 4:21 PM |

On Monday, March 28 a Press Conference was held at the Kent Ionia Labor Council Hall to kick-off a Stop CAFTA Campaign that to date includes 18 local organizations. (See list below) Mark Gaffney from the state AFL-CIO spoke about what they are doing around CAFTA, as did Jeff Smith, who was in Guatemala from mid-December through mid-January to interview people about CAFTA.

Marilyn Momber with the Michigan Farmers Union also spoke about a recent trip to DC to lobby against CAFTA. They are part of a growing national farmers union against CAFTA. Not surprising the local corporate media didn't show up. The Grand Rapids Institute for Information Democracy looked at what was reported on in the local news and found that crime, a new Burger King sandwich, and condos on fire in Georgia were more important news to the local TV stations. GRIID has a Media Alert they put together to pressure the local news on its lack of coverage around CAFTA.

Most of the meeting was lively with lots of discussion on the local campaign. Some ideas that were shared were confronting Rep. Ehlers at an April 23 town hall meeting, growing the list of organizational support for the campaign, creating new educational materials, and using the local World Trade Week events to bring worker, environmental and human rights perspectives on the economy to light. For updates on this local campaign or information on how to get involved send an e-mail to media mouse.

Groups endorsing the STOP CAFTA Campaign

  • Kent-Ionia Labor Council

  • Michigan Farmers Union

  • UAW Region 1D

  • Clean Water Action

  • Greater Grand Rapids Food Systems Council

  • West Michigan Building Trades Council

  • Confronting Empire Group

  • Electrical Workers IBEW Local 275

  • Media Mouse

  • Ironworkers Local 340

  • GVSU Students Against Sweatshops

  • Teamster Local 406

  • Mexican Cultural Patriotic Corporation

  • Fair trade Awareness Initiating Relationships

  • West Michigan Stagehands IATSE Local26

  • Grand Rapids Institute for Information Democracy

  • Sheet Metal Workers Local 7

  • Michigan Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees

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About this Entry

This page contains a single entry by Media Mouse published on March 29, 2005 4:21 PM.

Iraq Watch: Antiwar Protests in the United States, Divisions in the Movement, New Infromation in Attack on Italian Journalist was the previous entry in this blog.

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