President Obama is in El Salvador RIGHT NOW discussing economic assistance for ElSalvador's struggling economy. Does it make sense that a lawsuit by the Pacific Rim mining corporation is trying to take $77 million dollars away from El Salvador?  Of course not!!  This lawsuit, which is brought under the "investor protections" provisions of the US-Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), is claiming El Salvador owes Pacific Rim enormous "lost profits" because the Salvadoran government and people rejected its mining permits in defense of the environment. The Salvadoran social movement is mobilizing to demand that the US stop its interventionist policies, of which CAFTA is one example, and respect Central American sovereignty. As a candidate Obama promised to remove the rights of corporations to sue governments from trade agreements- it's time he takes action!

TAKE ACTION TODAY

Join membersof the United States Congress and the 150 organizations from around thehemisphere in telling Obama that "free trade" should not mean free money for transnational corporations. 

1. Call President Obama at 202-456-1111 and tell him to make good on his campaign promise to stop the ability of corporations to sue governments. You can use the script below. I am calling today to urge president Obama to call for a renegotiation ofCAFTA, as he promised to do with NAFTA. I am joining the members of theUS Congress and 150 organizations from around the hemisphere that have sent letters with the same ask and the Salvadoran social movement which is calling on the US to respect Salvadoran and Central American sovereignty. As a candidate Obama promised to remove the right of corporations to sue countries from US trade agreements. Because he hasn’t, the government and people of El Salvador are being sued by a Canadian mining company for their decision to protect the environment.  Even as President Obama is in El Salvador talking about economic cooperation in the US, a mining corporation is trying to take away the money that El Salvador needs to benefit its people.  So again I am urging President Obama call for a renegotiation of CAFTA to remove thesehorrendous corporate rights. 2. Call US Trade Representative Ron Kirk at 202-395-6890 and tell him to represent the interests of people instead of corporations. You can use the script below. I am calling today to urge the US Trade Representative Ron Kirk to call for a renegotiation of CAFTA, in order to remove the investor protectionmechanisms. I am joining the members of the US Congress and 150 organizations from around the hemisphere that have sent letters with this ask and the Salvadoran social movement which is calling on the US to respect Salvadoran and Central American sovereignty. These "investor protections" are allowing a Canadian mining company to sue the government of El Salvador as a result of El Salvador's decision to protect their environment.  Again, I urge Trade Representative Ron Kirk to listen to the will of the people and call for a renegotiation of CAFTA in order to remove these horrendous investor protections. 3. Email President Obama and US Trade Representative Ron Kirk to tell them to renegotiate CAFTA and stop the ability of corporations to sue governments.