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      Wall Street quiere que les estemos agradecidos

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Democracy Uprising

  • About
    • About Mark Engler
    • About Democracy Uprising
  • Books
    • This Is An Uprising
    • How To Rule the World
  • Topics
    • All Book Reviews Environment Essays / First Person Global Economy Immigration Labor Latin America Social Movements Religion U.S. Politics / Elections War / Militarism
      Latest Articles

      Could we be entering a ‘movement moment’ against…

      Social Movements

      Trump’s backpedaling shows he’s not invincible

      Blog

      It’s going to take multiple strategies to win…

      Social Movements

      A new wave of movements against Trumpism is…

      Social Movements

      How to make sure your disruptive protest helps…

      Social Movements

      Why protests work, even when not everybody likes…

      Latest Articles

      Harold Washington’s lessons for taking on a political…

      Social Movements

      Strategy is a Craft

      Book Reviews

      The Pan American

      Book Reviews

      The Godfather of Microcredit

      Book Reviews

      Capitalism as Catastrophe

      Book Reviews

      Four Ways of Looking at an Aztec Eagle

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      The Ascent of Niall Ferguson

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      Book Reviews

      No Better Place

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      Why Wendell Matters

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      Climate Disobedience

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      Farming the Everglades

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      Climate of Change: An “Inside-Outside” Strategy Against Global…

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      Provoking an American Climate Crisis

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      Meet the Bailout’s New Slush Fund for Corporate…

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      The Seattle Protests Showed That Another World Is…

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      Jeff Bezos Has Enough! It’s Time for a…

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      The Amazon Effect: Sweat, Surveillance, Exploitation

      Global Economy

      The Godfather of Microcredit

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      Capitalism as Catastrophe

      Global Economy

      Immigration Economics: An Interview with Professor Giovanni Peri

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      The World Is Not Flat

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      When Undocumented Activists Infiltrated ICE

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      The Children of Intervention

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      Immigration

      Science Fiction From Below

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      Four Ways of Looking at an Aztec Eagle

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      Treated Like a Criminal

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      When Sanctuary is Resistance

      Immigration

      The Massive Immigrants Rights Protests of 2006 Are…

      Labor

      This new model for upholding labor law may…

      Labor

      Democrats Won Power in Several States. Will They…

      Labor

      The Case for a Social Distancing Wage

      Labor

      The Seattle Protests Showed That Another World Is…

      Labor

      Reviving the General Strike

      Labor

      Jeff Bezos Has Enough! It’s Time for a…

      Labor

      There’s Still Power in a Strike

      Labor

      The Amazon Effect: Sweat, Surveillance, Exploitation

      Latin America

      How movements can maintain their radical vision while winning…

      Latin America

      The Pan American

      Latin America

      Lessons from the Pledge of Resistance

      Latin America

      The Children of Intervention

      Latin America

      Against Shithole Nationalism

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      The Last Porto Alegre

      Latin America

      Kissinger Is Not Our Friend

      Latin America

      Even If You Have Nothing to Hide

      Social Movements

      Could we be entering a ‘movement moment’ against…

      Social Movements

      Trump’s backpedaling shows he’s not invincible

      Social Movements

      It’s going to take multiple strategies to win…

      Social Movements

      A new wave of movements against Trumpism is…

      Social Movements

      How to make sure your disruptive protest helps…

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      Why protests work, even when not everybody likes…

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      Harold Washington’s lessons for taking on a political…

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      Toward the “Rights of the Poor”

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      The Pope and the Poor

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      Will the Next Pope Embrace Liberation Theology?

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      John Paul II’s Economic Ethics

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      Against the God of Free Trade

      U.S. Politics / Elections

      Could we be entering a ‘movement moment’ against…

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      Trump’s backpedaling shows he’s not invincible

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      It’s going to take multiple strategies to win…

      U.S. Politics / Elections

      A new wave of movements against Trumpism is…

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      This new model for upholding labor law may…

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      Does It Make Sense to Protest a President…

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      Lessons from the Pledge of Resistance

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      Is Rambo Still A Republican?

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      War: The Wrong Jobs Program

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      The Ascent of Niall Ferguson

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      Those Who Don’t Count

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      Six Essays About War and About Peace

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      The Dangerous Dignity of War

  • Translations
    • All Arabic Thai Chinese Deutsch Español Français Italiano Japanese Português
      Translations

      Jordlösa kombinerar radikala visioner med praktiska reformer (Swedish)

      Español

      Hacer Que Nuestras Demandas Sean Tanto Orácticas Como…

      Italiano

      C’è più di un modo per colpire il…

      Português

      As reformas não reformistas de André Gorz mostram…

      Español

      Las reformas no reformistas de André Gorz

      Deutsch

      Die nicht-reformistischen Reformen von André Gorz

      Italiano

      Richieste dei movimenti: sia pratiche che visionarie

      Chinese

      泛美洲人 爱德华多·加莱亚诺的世界 (Chinese)

      Arabic

      Abandoning the World Bank (in Arabic)

      Arabic

      The Return of Daniel Ortega (in Arabic)

      Arabic

      Where’s The Jubilee? (in Arabic)

      Arabic

      The Last Porto Alegre (in Arabic)

      Arabic

      Seattle At Five (in Arabic)

      Arabic

      Is Market Access the Answer to Poverty? (in…

      Arabic

      Mexico’s Democratic Transition Still Incomplete (in Arabic)

      Thai

      Progressive Good Tidings of 2007 (in Thai)

      Thai

      2006: A Global Justice Year in Review (In…

      Thai

      WTO: Best Left For Dead? (In Thai)

      Thai

      Is Market Access the Answer to Poverty? (In…

      Thai

      Bush’s Bad Business Empire (In Thai)

      Thai

      The Last Porto Alegre [Thai]

      Thai

      Globalizers, Neocons, or… ? (in Thai)

      Chinese

      泛美洲人 爱德华多·加莱亚诺的世界 (Chinese)

      Chinese

      Why Wendell Matters (in Chinese)

      Chinese

      Globalization’s Watchdogs (in Chinese)

      Deutsch

      Die nicht-reformistischen Reformen von André Gorz

      Deutsch

      Als Martin Luther King seine Feuerwaffen aufgab

      Deutsch

      Mikrokredite: Die Entlassung eines Nobelpreisträgers

      Deutsch

      CAFTA – am besten stillschweigend beerdigen

      Deutsch

      Bush in Mexiko

      Deutsch

      Das globale Duell in Evian

      Deutsch

      Die Rückkehr des Daniel Ortega

      Español

      Hacer Que Nuestras Demandas Sean Tanto Orácticas Como…

      Español

      Las reformas no reformistas de André Gorz

      Español

      ¿Adoptará el nuevo papa la teología de la…

      Español

      Wall Street quiere que les estemos agradecidos

      Español

      Si Las Monjas Se Fueran a una Huelga,…

      Español

      ALEC retrocede; a la derecha le da un…

      Español

      ¿ALEC disgustado ante la pérdida de patrocinadores? Se…

      Español

      La vida en la nación prisión

      Français

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      Le pari risqué du populisme au Pérou

      Français

      Hong Kong Phooey

      Français

      Bush Nuit Même Aux Compagnies U.S.

      Français

      Le dynamisme du mouvement pour la paix

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      La déroute de l’ALCA dans une Miami en…

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      Ceux qui ne comptent pas

      Français

      La guerre en Irak : une expo des…

      Italiano

      C’è più di un modo per colpire il…

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      Richieste dei movimenti: sia pratiche che visionarie

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      La strategia di Gandhi per il successo –…

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      Guantanamo deve sparire

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      IL BANK TRANSFER DAY: UN SUCCESSO

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      Come il movimento Occupiamo Wall Street si sta…

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      Economia tabù

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      ガンジーはどのように勝利したのか? (Japanese)

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      Bush’s Bad Business Empire (Japanese)

      Japanese

      Revenge of the Combat Cartoonist (Japanese)

      Japanese

      Bush’s Uneasy Mexican Visita (Japanese)

      Japanese

      Mark Twain in Iraq (Japanese)

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      Globalization’s “Lost Decade” (Japanese)

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      Hawks Say the Damnedest Things (Japanese)

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      As reformas não reformistas de André Gorz mostram…

      Português

      A vida na Nação Prisão

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      Outro pretexto?

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      O império hipotecado

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Español

El ALCAC: Comercio Libre vs. Democracia

by Mark Engler January 30, 2003
written by Mark Engler January 30, 2003
El ALCAC: Comercio Libre vs. Democracia

A principios del mes pasado, el Representante de Comercio de EE.UU., Robert Zoellick, se reunió con ministros del Exterior de Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras y Nicaragua para iniciar las negociaciones oficiales para el Acuerdo de Libre Comercio de América Central (ALCAC), un tratado que ampliaría a Centroamérica las reducciones de barreas arancelarias al estilo del ALCAN (Acuerdo de Libre Comercio de América del Norte). La primera sesión de regateos del ALCAC tuvo lugar en San José, Costa Rica, el 27 de enero.

A Zoellick y a otros representantes de la Casa Blanca les gustaría creer que sus esfuerzos por abrir los mercados en todo el hemisferio servirán para “fortalecer la Democracia” en el exterior. Montados en la ola de sentimiento patriótico, ellos se ven a sí mismos como “Comerciando en Libertad”.

Sólo hay un problema en esta retórica: el ALCAC brinda un perfecto ejemplo de un acuerdo de “libre comercio” que en realidad mina las libertades democráticas.

La Casa Blanca asegura que el ALCAC obligará a las naciones centroamericanas a “mayor apertura y transparencia”. Irónicamente las propias negociaciones para el acuerdo de comercio son cualquier cosa menos transparente. A pesar de las exigencias de grupos vigilantes, los borradores de la propuesta del ALCAC no han sido hecho públicos en América Central ni en Estados Unidos, lo cual evita la discusión abierta y el debate.

La naturaleza antidemocrática de las negociaciones del ALCAC oscurece los problemas más sustantivos. Los defensores del “libre comercio” mantienen en secreto sus posiciones negociadoras porque tienen mucho que esconder. Si se implementa, el ALCAC erosionará normas democráticas claves, tales como derechos de los trabajadores y la capacidad de legislar protecciones medioambientales.

Funcionarios de la administración Bush aseguran que las reformas al mercado producirán “condiciones mejoradas de trabajo”. Sin embargo, la experiencia sindical de las maquiladoras existentes en zonas de libre comercio en Centroamérica sugiere lo contrario. En el contexto guatemalteco, la organización de defensa de los derechos humanos Human Rights Watch publicó un informe a principios de este año diciendo que “los esfuerzos por formar sindicatos en el sector de las maquilas se han enfrentado a una resistencia devastadora por parte de la industria en su conjunto y, en el mejor de los casos, negligencia gubernamental. Los esfuerzos sindicalistas han sido atacados con despidos masivos, intimidación, represalias indiscriminada contra todos los trabajadores y cierre de plantas”.

Como el ALCAC amenaza con debilitar las normas laborales exigidas por el Sistema Generalizado de Preferencias (GSP) de la era de Clinton y la Ley de Asociación de Comercio de la Cuenca Caribeña, promoverá los esfuerzos por parte de dueños de fábricas para eliminar la libertad de asociación y el derecho a formar sindicatos. Por eso es que no sólo la AFL-CIO (central sindical unificada de EE.UU.) se opone al ALCAC, sino también una amplia gama de organizaciones sindicales centroamericanas.

El ALCAC también pone en peligro salvaguardias medioambientales instituidas. Disposiciones anteriores de comercio, como el Capítulo 11 del ALCAN, da a las corporaciones el derecho de hacer reclamaciones judiciales a los gobiernos a causa de disposiciones (y leyes) de protección ambiental que afecten sus futuras ganancias, sobre la base de que estas constituyen barreras arancelarias injustas. En 1998 la Ethyl Corporation llevó a Canadá a los tribunales por su prohibición de salud pública al MMT, un aditivo al combustible. Canadá decidió eliminar su disposición protectora del entorno y pagó $13 millones a Ethyl, en vez de arriesgarse a perder el caso y pagar $251 millones por daños. El estado de California sufrió un ataque parecido por prohibir el MTBE, un contaminante probado del agua que significa riesgos para la salud humana y animal.

¿Aumentará el ALCAC el alcance de la disposición del Capítulo 11 del ALCAN? Probablemente. Pero como las negociaciones son secretas, no lo sabemos con seguridad hasta el último minuto.

Peor aún, cuando el acuerdo se someta a voto, nuestros legisladores no podrán usar enmiendas para eliminar tales partes ofensivas. En julio pasado el Presidente Bush logró que se aprobara en la Cámara de Representantes la autoridad de “Carril Rápido” para negociaciones comerciales, en contra de la objeción de 212 representantes. El proyecto de ley requiere que el Congreso acepte o rechace en su conjunto las políticas comerciales. Como explicó la representante Sandy Levin (demócrata por Michigan), esto deja “al Congreso un papel mínimo, sin sentido y de último minuto en momentos en el que la política comercial está cada vez más relacionada con todas las áreas de política nacional”.

En otro apuro calculado, los ministros de comercio quieren terminar las negociaciones del ALCAC en diciembre de 2003, antes de que las nuevas elecciones en América Central puedan producir líderes opuestos al pacto. Una preocupación clave es El Salvador, donde intentos pre-ALCAC por privatizar servicios públicos — como el cuidado de salud y servicios básicos — han desacreditado ampliamente el régimen de derecha. Si los salvadoreños eligen a un presidente de la oposición en marzo del 2004, a la Casa Blanca le gustaría tener al nuevo gobierno atado a las políticas comerciales que apoyan los líderes expulsados del poder.

Eso basta en cuanto a libertad. La verdad es que el ALCAC no promoverá la democracia. Y la democracia puede que sea la salvación del ALCAC que se hunde.

Mark Engler

Mark Engler is a writer based in Philadelphia and an editorial board member at Dissent magazine. His latest book, written with Paul Engler, is entitled This Is an Uprising: How Nonviolent Revolt Is Shaping the Twenty-First Century.

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The Author

Mark Engler is a writer based in Philadelphia and an editorial board member at Dissent magazine. His latest book, written with Paul Engler, is entitled This Is an Uprising: How Nonviolent Revolt Is Shaping the Twenty-First Century (Nation Books). Mark’s full bio is available here.

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