----- Original Message ----- From: "nick crouch" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]
*PLEASE POST AND FORWARD WIDELY* Australia: Say No to a US-Australia Free Trade Agreement Vote now at http://www.nofta.org The Australian Government is negotiating a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the USA that threatens many fundamental parts of Australian society, and that will be almost irreversible once signed. Now a new site gives you the chance to make your voice heard in opposition to this agreement. Visit http://www.nofta.org and cast a vote against this secretive, undemocratic and very destructive agreement. How will the FTA affect you? An FTA would: Diminish Democracy - The US wants new rights in the FTA for corporations to sue the Australian government for compensation if environmental or health laws reduce their profits. More: http://www.nofta.org/impacts/democracy.html Erode public services - The FTA could lead to post, health, water and other public services being privatised. US drug companies are also using the FTA to make changes to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme which would increase the cost of medicines. More: http://www.nofta.org/impacts/services.html Harm Australia's Economy - Modelling by the International Monetary Fund shows that a FTA would actually shrink the Australian economy by 0.03% per year and increase US imports by $5.25 billion. More: http://www.nofta.org/impacts/economy.html Destroy Family Farms - Trade liberalisation is the main cause of the low commodity prices which are sending Australian farmers broke: since the 1960s, the number of Australian farms has almost halved. An FTA would continue this trend. The US also wants to dismantle single-desk export boards which primarily help small farmers. More: http://www.nofta.org/impacts/farmers.html Threaten Australian Culture - The US is demanding that the government give up the right regulate new media to ensure that Australian culture survives. More: http://www.nofta.org/impacts/culture.html Eliminate More Jobs - Since 1987, almost 200,000 jobs have been lost from tariff reductions. The FTA will reduce tariffs further, endangering the jobs of millions of Australians. Even Toyota says an FTA could destroy our car industry. More: http://www.nofta.org/impacts/jobs.html Threaten Australia's Environment - An FTA would increase production of Australia's most environmentally damaging crops, increasing water use by up to 1.3 TRILLION litres - almost equal to our total domestic water use! The US also wants changes to our quarantine laws, making it easier for US pests to enter Australia. More: http://www.nofta.org/impacts/environment.html Visit http://www.nofta.organd register a vote FOR affordable medicines, a healthy Australian society and culture and a strong democracy, and AGAINST to a free trade agreement with America! Increasing numbers of Australians have already raised their voices in opposition to this potentially devastating agreement which has been negotiated in secret and will not be voted on by parliament. Pressure from civil society groups and farmers has meant that negotiations have continued into 2004, but the government needs to conclude them by the end of January. If this agreement is signed, it will be almost impossible to "un-sign" So in this election year, take this opportunity to show the Howard government that you're ready to VOTE against this trade agreement. Make your voice heard against this dangerous agreement, but remember to get your vote in by the end of January. YOU can help STOP the FTA: Vote today at http://www.nofta.org -- Visit the proposed Leftlink web site at http://www.leftlink.net/ -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archived at http://www.cat.org.au/lists/leftlink/ Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Sub: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsub: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
