World Issues: Environment Environment and free trade by Tatiana 1. What are the main issues for this topic? The Environment Environmental issues and realities: <sum> Forests are shrinking <sum> Deserts are expanding <sum> Croplands are losing topsoil <sum> The ozone layer continues to deplete <sum> Greenhouse gases are increasing <sum> The number of plant and animal species is diminishing <sum> Air pollution has reached health-threatening levels in hundreds of cities <sum> Damage from acid rain can be seen on every continent The Free Trade Agreement of the Americas (FTAA) is being negotiated during the Summit of the Americas in Quebec City, April. "The FTAA draft, as it now stands, contains no safeguards for the environment." Maude Barlow, Counsil of Canadians Questions: Who gains from the exploitation of environmental resources? What issues related to the environment are realities in your community? What are some of the linkages of the environment to poverty and racism? What safeguards do we need in the FTAA to ensure sustainability of the environment? What are the links between the environment and people? Who is affected? Who makes decisions about the environment? Who has access to the benefits of the environment? 2. What are some regional examples of these issues? Since 1988, Canadian governments have signed five "free" trade agreements. We are learning that Free Trade agreements impact the environment and environmental issues. How? 1) ‘Free’ Trade Agreements have limited the power of the Canadian government to manage our natural resources. For example: - we don’t control how much of our nickel is mined and sold overseas;. - we can’t decide to process that nickel locally to create more jobs; - some of our resources are running out. (Our Atlantic fishery has already collapsed) 2) Free Trade Agreements have limited our ability to establish environmental and health standards. - The international standards we must follow are often developed outside Canada; - Trade panels decide whether a particular standard is even "necessary". This has led to the loss of some Canadian standards. (eg. regulations under the Fisheries Act) - Free Trade Agreements have limited our access as citizens to decision-makers (who are often further away). 3) Free Trade Agreements have increased the rights of corporations, giving them a bigger say. 3. How does this issue affect me (at the personal level)? 4. How does this issue affect youth in my community? 5. How does this issue affect youth in the Americas? Questions: Who gains from the exploitation of environmental resources? What issues related to the environment are realities in your community? What are some of the linkages of the environment to poverty and racism? What safeguards do we need in the FTAA to ensure sustainability of the environment? What are the links between the environment and people? Who is affected? Who makes decisions about the environment? Who has access to the benefits of the environment? Sources used in the creation of this article: 1: Common Frontiers Link Page http://www.web.net/comfront/hems.htm non-governmental and governmental linkd to sites related to free trade, the summit of the Americas and the environment 2. The Common Frontiers http://www.web.net/comfront/index.html Non Governmental Organization:perspective on free trade and the environment 3. Common Frontiers info kit on the environment http://www.web.net/comfront/freekit.htm Non governmental organization information on the free trade of the Americas including issues pertaining to the environment