What to do with the fact that there are constituencies for protectionism and unilateralism, not just in West Virginia?
One of the OSU's anti-sweatshop kids asked me to forward the following to local e-lists, orgs, & activists, which I did because at this point protectionist tariffs might constitute a setback for the US on the diplomatic front, pissing off its allies:
>I realize this is short notice but there is a good opportunity to
>get involved in the fair trade vs. free trade movement on Thursday
>Feb. 28.
>
>This Thursday the United Steel Workers are having a rally in
>Washington D.C. in response to a statement from White House Occupant
>Bush in which he said that Americans really don't care about these
>issues.
>
>The current issue is dumping, the practice of selling goods in a
>foreign market below cost. This has been happening in the U.S. for
>40 years but has increased exponentially in the last three,
>resulting in the closing of 16 steel mills and the loss of 47,000
>jobs by steelworkers. Once a steel mill is closed it cannot be
>reopened.
>
>The issue here is more than just the protection of American jobs.
>The Steel being imported is being produced under sweatshop
>conditions and is harmful to the environment in which it is
>produced. Also a strong showing by the people here could result in
>a severe blow to Fast Track and future FTAA and WTO type agreements
>that "W" is so keen on. Legalizing dumping is a major tenant of
>those agreements.
>
>If you are interested in going, USW is interested in taking you for
>free. There are 80 busses going from Ohio, and they will feed you.
>The Busses will leave early Thursday Morning and get back late
>Thursday night. If you would like to go call Cheryl Sanders at
>614-888-6784 or Bob Rankin at 1-800-443-3752.
>
>If you cannot go please tell everyone you know who might be
>interested because USW would like to fill one bus with Ohio State
>students.
--
Yoshie
* Calendar of Events in Columbus: <http://www.osu.edu/students/sif/calendar.html> * Anti-War Activist Resources: <http://www.osu.edu/students/sif/activist.html> * Student International Forum: <http://www.osu.edu/students/sif/> * Committee for Justice in Palestine: <http://www.osu.edu/students/CJP/>