From: cls@truffula.sj.ca.us (Cameron L. Spitzer)
Subject: GATT ALERT!  RAN Action Alert #76
Organization: Save the Humans!
Date: Sat, 26 Sep 92 07:21:24 GMT

Here's Rainforest Action Network's Action Alert #76, September 1992.


  GATT ALERT!   GATT ALERT!   GATT ALERT!   GATT ALERT! 

RAN Gears up to fight GATT during World Rainforest Week

A ruling by a panel for the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
(GATT) could undercut the hard work of RAN, RAGs, and RAN members by
threatening tropical timber bans instituted in the U. S. and Europe in the
last several years--including the imminent California State ban.  This ruling
states that GATT member nations must initiate federal action to overturn any
state and local laws which GATT decides are unfair restrictions on
international trade.

Join us in our fight to preserve these timber bans and other important
environmental and consumer laws.

                          What is GATT?

The United States and 107 other countries are poised to complete a massive
expansion of GATT, a global trade agreement which regulates over 90% of world
trade.  GATT was established after WWII to create terms of trade that would
benefit developed countries and large corporations by lowering tariffs and
removing other barriers to trade.

The current GATT expansion, called the Uraguay Round, could radically
undermine U.S. and international environmental policies by "liberalizing"
trade rules and prohibiting any measures seen as barriers to trade.

A revised GATT has the potential to adversely affect everything from
rainforests and the rights of native peoples to job protection and consumer
safety in the U.S.

                           GATT Update

A few recent and important developments:

o  On August 6, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Waxman-Gephardt
   Resolution, (H.C.R. 246) by an overwhelming majority.  The Resolution
   states that Congress will reject any trade agreement that does not protect
   American environmental and consumer standards.

o  Last year at this time, a GATT secret panel ruled that the use of the U.S.
   Marine Mammal Protection Act to ban the import of "dolphin-unsafe" tuna
   constituted an illegal barrier to trade under GATT.

o  On August 12, Canada, Mexico, and the U. S. announced completion of
   negotiations for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), a mini-
   GATT for North America.  Each country's legislature must now approve the
   agreement.


                        WHAT YOU CAN DO

Help stop GATT by joining us for the sixth annual *World Rainforest Week*
(WRW) to educate your community about the perils of GATT and to put pressure
on our government leaders to reject the currently proposed GATT revisions.

1)  On Tuesday, October 20th, we will stage an *International Day of Protest*
with dozens of simultaneous protests occurring throughout the world.

Hold a protest at a federal building in your city or county or in a central
part of town where there is a lot of foot traffic.  Pass out leaflets on GATT
to the public and encourage people to participate in the mailgram barrage on
October 21 (see Action Item #2).

2)  On Wednesday, October 21, help bring GATT to the forefront of the
presidential campaign with *mailgrams, faxes, and letters.*  To send a
mailgram, call the GATT Action Hotline (800)641-1818, Hotline #9302.  Call
immediately or-- preferably, join thousands of others on October 21.  The
mailgram costs $6.95 and can be charged to your phone or credit card.  The
mailgram sent will be similar to this sample letter:

Clinton/Gore Campaign
112 West 3rd Street
Little Rock, AR 72201-2711  [fax 501/372-2292]

Dear Governor Clinton and Senator Gore,

    Regarding the current Uraguay Round of GATT trade negotiations (as well as
NAFTA), your primary concerns need to be the planet's ecology and sustainable
development for *all* people.  So far the Uraguay Round has proved to be an
anti-democratic attempt to promote the interests of transnational
corporations, without any regard for the health and safety of the planet.

    You must not let this reckless process continue.  I ask that you please
make an ecologically responsible contribution to these trade agreements.
Thank you.


Please also send letters to:

George Mitchell                  Richard Gephardt
Senate Majority Leader           Speaker of the House
S-221, The Capitol               H-204, The Capitol
Washington, DC 20510             Washington, DC 20515

Outside the U.S., please send your President or Prime Minister a similar
letter.
--
Transcribed by Cameron Spitzer with RAN's permission.  Feel free to propagate
this message.
RAN, 450 Sansome ST STE 700, San Francisco, CA 94111 USA 415/398-4404
Newsgroups: alt.save.the.earth,sci.environment