- Target:
- Public Hearing Oct 23, 2008 with the US Trade Representative
- Region:
- GLOBAL
- Website:
- democracyctr.org
Petition to the Bush Administration, Congress, and Incoming U.S. President
Nearly two decades ago, under President Bush's father, the U.S. began the Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPDEA). That program offers Bolivia and a handful of other Latin American nations reduced U.S. tariffs, allowing them to develop new industries and jobs exporting products such as textiles, jewelry, and hand-carved furniture.
In September, as part of the Bush administration's feud with Bolivian President Evo Morales, President Bush announced that he will use his executive authority to axe Bolivia out of those trade preferences.
The actual victims of President Bush’s move, however, won't be President Morales, but women and men who eke out modest livings as weavers, jewelry-makers and carpenters, creating products for U.S. markets. The U.S. Congress knows that, and just two weeks ago approved a six-month extension for Bolivia. But as recently as October 16 in Washington, President Bush repeated his intent to sidestep Congress and use his powers to cut Bolivian workers out of the program.
The Democracy Center, based in Cochabamba, Bolivia, has begun this petition to give people an opportunity to speak out against President Bush's plan. On October 31 we will present the petition, including the names of all who sign it, as part of our formal comments to the Bush administration, as allowed under U.S. law.
The Democracy Center has also produced a five-minute video featuring the testimonies of three Bolivian workers who will be directly impacted by Bush's action. That video can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiJp5k5g4qs
*By signing this pledge, your email will not be shared with anyone.
**If your organization wants to join the petition please send us an email telling us so at: bolivia@democracyctr.org.
Petition to the Bush Administration, Congress, and Incoming U.S. President
If President Bush implements his threat to remove Bolivia from the Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPDEA), more than 20,000 innocent Bolivian workers may find themselves out of a job just as the president leaves his. With the global economy already reeling, Bush's plan would thrust these workers and their families into unemployment in South America's most impoverished nation.
We the undersigned believe that this is a wrong move for the United States – morally, economically, and diplomatically. We call on the Bush administration, Congress, and the incoming administration to extend Bolivia's participation in this trade program.
The victims of President Bush’s move will be women and and men who eke out modest livings as weavers, jewelry-makers and carpenters, creating products for U.S. markets. Regardless of whatever disputes the U.S. government may have with President Morales, it certainly has more reasonable ways of addressing them than putting innocent people out of work, especially in a moment when the world needs all the honest economic exchange it can come by.
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The Don't put 20,000 Bolivians out of work! petition to Public Hearing Oct 23, 2008 with the US Trade Representative was written by Democracy Center and is in the category International Affairs at GoPetition.