Comment:
Environmentalists Urge Pesticide Fight over NAFTA
2/2/2002
Last night on the new PBS program NOW, Bill Moyers described how the U.S. has lost its sovereignty and the right to democratic process via international trade agreements. Especially troublesome is the one known as Chapter 11 that gives the right to foreign corporations to sue countries for lost business when any country tries to limit or eliminate the use of highly toxic chemicals that can potentially cause serious health and environmental problems. For example, when the gasoline additive MTBE was found to contaminate ground water and cause health problems U.S.government officials attempted to phase out its use, but the Canadian company that makes MTBE sued for nearly a billion dollars. And what goes around comes around -- now Canada herself is threatened with lawsuits for trying to stop the use of Lindane that is made by a American company.
Through the NAFTA chapter 11 provision all democratic societies are in danger of losing their rights to create and enforce prohibitions that protect public health. This law must be modified to exclude this provision.
A. Hotz
|
Nontoxic Products Recommended by Steve Tvedten Now Available |
| Safe 2 Use Products and Services |