Iowa Fair Trade Campaign: Stop Outsourcing Our Future!

The Iowa Fair Trade Campaign seeks to bring Iowans together to work for new rules for the global economy that respect workers, family farmers, immigrants, the environment, human rights, and democracy.

Groups and individuals in Iowa have worked for fair trade and global justice for many years. During the months proceeding the 2004 Iowa Presidential caucuses, we came together as the Iowa Fair Trade Campaign to insure that trade was discussed by the Presidential candidates, to present a common statement to the candidates on trade issues, and to persuade them to embrace this position.

A network of over 200 individuals representing labor, family farmers, the faith community, immigrants, students, environmentalists, and others "birddogged" the Presidential candidates throughout the state, and all the candidates campaigning in Iowa embraced our basic requests before the Iowa caucuses. The Iowa Fair Trade Statement was endorsed by 25 Iowa organizations, outlining a common position on what responsible trade agreements should include.

The Iowa Fair Trade Campaign is working to stop the proposed Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), and the expansion of the World Trade Organization (WTO). We seek, instead, a new set of rules for the global economy that will insure that all Iowans, not just a few, benefit from trade and trade agreement.
 
Plan for September and October 2004

The IFTC will educate, organize, and mobilize citizens in Iowa to oppose the corporate global trade agenda and support new rules for global trade and investment agreements that protect the interests of workers, the environment, family farmers, consumers, human rights, and democratic processes.   A major educational component will be the holding of 'town hall meetings' called 'Stop Outsourcing Our Future!'  Each town hall meeting will be co-sponsored by IFTC member groups, with panelists representing as many of our constituencies as possible.  Public participation and suggestions for citizen action will be a major part of each town hall meeting.

The Iowa Fair Trade Campaign currently has scheduled five town hall meetings.  They will be held at the following locations and times.

Waterloo, Sept. 13, Center for the Arts, 7-8:30 pm

Marshalltown, Sept. 27, Iowa Valley Community College, 7-8:30pm

Mason City, Sept. 29, Public Library, 7-8:30 pm

Keokuk, Sept. 30, Public Library, 6:30-8:00 pm

Muscatine, Oct. 2, Muscatine Commuity College, 10:30-Noon

Please spread the word about these meetings and let Iowa Fair Trade Campaign organizer Dave Leshtz know if you'd like to have such a meeting in your part of the state.  Co-sponsors and panelists are being identified.  Suggestions are welcome.  Contact Dave at dleshtz@ia.net or 319-621-4205.

Current co-sponsors include Iowa Farmers Union, National Catholic Rural Life Conference, many labor councils, League of Rural Voters, Americans for Democratic Action, and Iowa Conference United Methodist Church.

To read the Iowa Fair Trade Coalition’s Statement on Trade Agreements in its entirety, click on “more >>” below.
   more »