Occupy Wall Street against ‘free’ trade with Colombia

Democracy Now! in the USA says about this video:

Colombian, Korean and Panamanian Activists Condemn White House Support for New “Free Trade” Deals

Organizers held a teach-in at Occupy Wall Street on Monday about “free trade agreements” with Colombia, Panama and South Korea now pending in Congress that will expand the market for national corporations and financial corporations from the United States.

“Essentially, it tries to institute once more the things that caused this financial crisis in the first place,” says Sukjong Hong, an organizer with Nodutdol for Korean Community Development. “It also opens the door to outsourcing more American jobs.”

Carlos Salamanca, member of AFSCME Local 372, adds that the Colombian free trade agreement is “the continuation of what’s going on in Colombia, supporting the government who are not doing anything to stop the killing of workers in Colombia, the union members, the human rights activists, and the persecution against the indigenous and Afro-Colombians’ leadership over there.” [includes rush transcript]

USA: The United Steelworkers (USW) warned Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the weekend that their Colombian comrades face an “elevated threat” thanks to the passage of a free-trade deal: here.

Voters elected anti-corruption crusader Gustavo Petro as mayor of Bogota on Sunday, the first time an ex-guerilla has won Colombia‘s second-most important elected office: here.

Secret Service Agents Relieved of Duty in Colombia amid Alleged Misconduct: here.

A Colombian academic jailed for his research on social inequality and the government’s war with Farc said at the weekend that “a chain of solidarity” led to his freedom: here.

There was a Guardian piece over the weekend about Western banks ‘reaping billions from Colombian cocaine trade’ which is well worth a look. It highlights a practise we really hear very little about from the mainstream media – Western banks profiteering from drug money: here.

Seoul residents came out in force today to protest at a new free trade agreement with the United States even as US President Barack Obama welcomed his South Korean counterpart Lee Myung Bak to the White House: here.

Police attacked protesters with water cannon outside the South Korean parliament today at a demonstration against a free trade agreement with the US: here.

Inside Occupy Wall Street: Journalist-Participant Describes What Life Is Really Like at Zuccotti Park: here.

A section of the Occupy Wall Street demonstration made its way uptown Tuesday for a march up Fifth Avenue past the luxury apartment buildings of New York City’s multi-millionaires and billionaires: here.

Occupy Wall Street activists were due to rally outside investment bank JP Morgan Chase as the Morning Star went to press today – one day after a “millionaire’s march” targeted the bank’s boss Jamie Dimon on its path through New York’s wealthiest areas: here.

Protesters camp out at Gates Foundation, demands funds for homeless: here.

This video is called Naomi Klein speaks out at Occupy Wall Street rally in Liberty Square (Zuccotti Park) on October 6, 2011.

Boston Police carried out an early morning raid on anti-Wall Street protesters Tuesday, arresting 100 people in a violent attack on the Occupy Boston protest: here.

Occupy Boston: “They came down with dogs, batons, riot gear, scare tactics”: here.

Occupy Detroit holds first meeting: here.

Occupy Portland protests expand: here.