[apologies to non-U.S. correspondents- this is a U.S. action, tho it is part of the international week of actions against MAI. on the intl front we are still looking for signatories to the intl ngo stmt against the MAI, posted earlier. also, i would be interested if anyone has access to MAI materials in languages besides English, esp. Spanish and French, such as the draft MAI, NGO stmt, or fact sheets. Thanks. Robert Naiman, Global Trade Watch] Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI) FIELD ACTION ALERT! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The time to derail the MAI negotiations is NOW! Currently the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (the OECD, the rich countries club where the secretive MAI is being negotiated) is frantically attempting to meet their unrealistic April deadline to complete the politically troubled MAI. At a high level meeting in Paris next month, the OECD member countries will reconsider the April deadline, and take-up the possibility of abandoning the MAI altogether. Help us send a message to the Clinton Administration that the MAI is a bad deal for America and that the US should withdraw from negotiations immediately! On February 10th, call both your Senators' district or DC offices, and ask for their "trade staff." Use this toll-free number for DC calls, 1-800-522-6721, or you can call directly. Introduce yourself, express your concerns about the MAI and say something like this: I am concerned that the Clinton Administration is rushing into the MAI, a dangerous new investment treaty that will expand NAFTA-like investment rules globally. I would like Senator [insert name] to call the White House and the US State Department to urge the Clinton Administration to immediately withdraw from MAI negotiations. The agreement does not serve the best interests of Americans and must be abandoned. Here are some talking points: The MAI undermines state and local sovereignty by restricting governments' ability to regulate foreign investment and corporate accountability. Negotiations should not have reached such an advanced stage without public knowledge or participation. The MAI lacks protections for the environment, labor and human rights.
