Alliance for Responsible Trade

The people of Colombia are facing a pivotal moment. The Bush and Uribe Administrations and U.S. corporate power have launched an all out campaign to whitewash the human rights situation in Colombia in order to push a Free Trade Agreement between our countries. The U.S. Congress is being skilfully pressured into rubberstamping this flawed agreement. But you can help bring our Colombian partners to Washington to deliver the reality check Congress needs to say no to this broken treaty!

The Bush administration has made passage of the Colombia FTA a major priority this year. Many members of Congress have been brought to Colombia in delegations staged and managed by the U.S. Embassy to give the illusion that tremendous improvements are happening in the human rights situation. Five delegations have already gone and four more are being planned. Condoleezza Rice personally led the most recent of these “official” tours last month.

The ‘evidence’ presented by the U.S. Embassy is dramatically contradicted by the grim accounts we hear from our partners in Colombia. New para-military groups continue emerging; intimidation and murders are the order of the day. New information regarding government involvement with paramilitaries and drug trafficking continues to be revealed. How can we counter the disinformation being fed to Congress?

Donate to Help the People of Colombia tell Congress the truth!

We have a plan to break through the carefully crafted spin. In August last year, a delegation of women leaders from Colombia left many members of Congress speechless with their testimony of the impact of war and free trade on the women and children of Colombia. It's time to speak the truth again! We want congress members who have gone on these “official” tours to hear the real story from the people of Colombia.

Early next month ART will host two Colombian spokespersons, an Afro-Colombian woman and a prominent Senator to visit the Congressional offices of members who went on these tours to reveal what was hidden from them about the situation in Colombia. We only need $4000 to cover expenses for this critical trip. Can you donate something today to help make this possible?

Help Bring Congress the Truth!

Together we can halt this broken agreement, and create a model of trade that puts people and the environment above corporate profits.

Tom Loudon
Alliance for Responsible Trade