As the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) turns fifteen it is time to get the facts out about how this defining agreement has failed. In late-winter 2008, Global Exchange—together with the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, The Council of Canadians, the Mexican Action Network on Free Trade, the Alliance for Responsible Trade and many other groups—are organizing a speaking tour across the United States to detail the indisputable yet seldom mentioned links between bad continental trade and economic policies and accelerated Mexican migration to the US.

The team of experts representing Mexican, Canadian, and US organizations, will also take a critical look at the “NAFTA-plus” economic and security arrangements being forged behind closed doors between the leading corporations and executive branches of Canada, the US, and Mexico without genuine consultation with the legislatures or public in any of the three countries—otherwise known as the Security and Prosperity Partnership.

Speakers:

• Hector Sanchez
  US/Mexico Education Policy Coordinator, Global Exchange

  Hector represents the program in Washington, D.C., where he coordinates efforts to inform and organize legislators and key organizations in support of new priorities on trade and immigration.

• Carleen Pickard
  Regional Organizer, Council of Canadians

  In August of 2007, Carleen worked with activists to oppose the third Summit on the SPP that took place in Montebello, Quebec, as part of the National Day of Action. She has also given presentations on the SPP to activists in Seattle, Washington, San Francisco and at the US Social Forum in Atlanta.

• Miguel Pickard
  Researcher, CIEPAC

  Miguel Pickard is co-founder and researcher of the Center for Economic and Political Investigation for Community Action (CIEPAC) in San Cristóbal, Chiapas, Mexico, where he works on issues of concern to the grassroots groups in Chiapas including free-trade agreements, the Security and Prosperity Partnership, the mining companies, resource use and preservation by the indigenous peoples.