The Summit of the Americas takes place in Quebec, Canada, April 20-22. The leaders, (legitimately elected and otherwise) of every nation in the Western Hemisphere except Cuba, will gather to discuss the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). This agreement, designed to eliminate national "barriers to trade and investment," is affectionately called, "NAFTA on steroids," by its detractors, who intend to gather by the tens of thousands in Quebec, and in locations throughout the Americas, to add their own voices to the debate.

Like the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which victimizes Canada, the US, and Mexico, the FTAA will make it easier for corporations to challenge local environmental, worker protection and public health regulations as illegal "barriers to trade or investment."

In preparation for this glorious advance of "freedom," a 2.5 mile barrier is being erected around Old Quebec City, which could be "expanded or contracted," say the police, depending on security concerns. Residents will require government-issued passes to pass to and from their homes and businesses. No resident will be allowed visitors. 5,000 riot armored police will inspect credentials and control movement in the city. A nearby prison is being emptied out and prepared to house demonstrators swept off the streets. Security preparations are said to exceed $30 million (Canadian), all to enhance the discussion of the hemisphere's leaders (legitimately elected and otherwise), concerning "free trade." Any other kind of freedom, since it's not on the agenda, is only a disruption.

While FTAA shills can keep the globophobic hordes out of free speech range of their "leaders," hotels and conference hall, they haven't quite figured out how to fence the concerned citizenry entirely out of the process. Following public outrage, the Quebec Council scrapped an ordinance subjecting anyone covering any portion of their face during the FTAA demonstrations to immediate arrest. The mayor of Quebec, alarmed at the preparations for the summit, asked Canada's Prime Minister to cancel the meeting altogether. The PM refused, of course, but that doesn't mean the Summit won't be canceled, by the unruly masses, or by the delegates themselves.

The FTAA faces some hurdles among the member countries themselves. The US and Canada are quarreling over forest products, potatoes, and energy, among other things. Canadians are worried that the pact will include sale of vast amounts of water to the US. Canada is in a bitter dispute with Brazil. Mexico, Venezuela, and Columbia have recently revived their trade bloc, aimed at entering the talks with a united front. Among their concerns are US "protectionist" farm subsidies. Many potential FTAA signatories are in favor of bilateral trade agreements, rather than an umbrella agreement.

In other words, the whole thing could collapse, with a concerted push. Toward that end, thousands of concerned people will be converging on Quebec from all over the Americas, to speak out, conduct a counter-summit, and to take part in a "legal" rally on April 21. Other, less rally-inclined protesters are expected to throw themselves at the summit in a variety of creative, inspiring ways. Canadian Immigration authorities are expected to make it difficult for some folks to cross into Canada. In solidarity, traditional Mohawks are vowing to allow US protesters with previous globalization-related convictions free passage through their reserve into Canada. All in all, this month in Quebec has the potential to be another remarkable milestone in the battle against global corporate dominance.

Closer to home, there will be an anti-FTAA rally in Seattle on Friday, April 20; and then, on Saturday, there will be a joint Seattle/Bellingham/ Vancouver event as the Peace Arch Coalition weighs in at the Peace Arch, on the US/Canada border. A rally and cross border march begins at 10 AM with music, booths, discussion, and entertainment. See the calendar for contact info.