PGHIMC - Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

colombia mobilization
by etta Wednesday, Mar. 05, 2003 at 1:55 PM
de_tritus@yahoo.com

ALL OUT FOR THIS ACTION!!

Anyone want to go to connecticut with me?
Yet another instance when i need i ride.

THIS ACTION IS GONNA BE AWESOME.412-802-8575

love etta

p.s. i heard npr was talking about dyncorp yesterday.
!!!




End Corporate Terror in Colombia!


Take Action on March 24, 2003


Where:

UTC/Sikorsky

(manufacturer of Blackhawk Helicopters)~ Hartford, CT

VT Contact: Jason Ford links@asej.org
802-863-0571

NE regional contact: Sean Donohue wrldhealer@yahoo.com



Simultaneous actions will be taking place at:


Coca Cola ~ Atlanta, GA

Contact: Melissa Fridlin - mfridlin@main.nc.us


Oxy ~ Los Angeles, CA

Contact: Kevin Koenig - kevin@amazonwatch.org


Monsanto ~ St. Louis, MO

Contact: Steve Jacobs -

Sfhcw913@aol.com

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Colombia has endured nearly four decades of brutal armed conflict
between the army, guerrillas, and right-wing paramilitaries. The
victims have primarily been civilians.


In 1962 a US special forces trip to Colombia led by US General
Yarborough recommended that the Colombian military create
"paramilitary" and "terrorist" activity to stop the spread of
communism. Since then, the US has approved billions in mostly military
aid to finance the Colombian military who, according to the UN, has
ties to right-wing paramilitary organizations responsible for 70-80% of
all human rights violations in Colombia. This aid has not stopped
drugs coming to the US. Here in the US the war on drugs continues to
unjustly target, imprison and systematically disempower people of color
and ignores the need for treatment programs.


On the other hand the US war on drugs continues to fuel the armed
conflict in Colombia. US corporations have benefited mightily from
this violence in Colombia. For example, Connecticut-based United
Technologies /Sikorsky spent a total of $8,431,443 in 1997 and 1998
lobbying Congress on Colombia issues. In exchange, they received a
contract valued at $234 million to send 16 Blackhawk Sikorsky
helicopters which are currently being used to protect police and
military units that spray Monsanto's lethal Ultra Roundup herbicide
(supposedly on drug crops) poisoning the rural poor, indigenous peoples
and destroying the fragile amazon.


But Monsanto and UTC-Sikorsky are not the only US corporations linked
to the conflict in Colombia and benefiting from US policy there. The
United Steel Workers of America and the International Labor Rights Fund
have sued Atlanta-based Coca-Cola for union busting in Colombia. The
suit accuses Coke of "systematic intimidation, kidnapping, detention,
and murder" in the company's Colombia operation.


L.A.-based Occidental (Oxy) Petroleum stands to receive $98 million in
corporate welfare-- aid to the Colombian military to protect their
pipeline and guarantee their profits in Arauca, Colombia. This is a
$3-5/per barrel subsidy for the company paid for by U.S. tax payers!


Together, more than 100 organizations making up the National
Mobilization on Colombia are working to challenge and change these US
policies and corporate practices. Join Us!



ACERCA/ASEJ is a member of the Colombia Mobilization:

http://www.colombiamobilization.org


To get on the Bus to Hartford call Action for Social and Ecological
Justice-802-863-0571 or links@asej.org

http://www.asej.org

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