Journalists, professors and experts, who gathered for our refresher seminar at the end of August and beginning of September at Mexico City, analysed the theme “15 years of North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA): implications, challenges and perspectives”.
The sessions were organised with the help of specialists on the theme from the autonomous Mexico city, state, metropolitan and national universities (UACM, UAEM, UAM, UNAM), Ibero American University (UIA), Mexican Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Institute of Technology and Higher Studies of Monterrey (ITESM), Networks of studies in theories of communication and communicology (GUCOM-REDECOM), Mexican mainstream media daily Reforma and other institutions in the field of politics, economics, media, culture and human rights.
The seminar analysed labour rights, just wages, sustainable economic alternatives, treaties for all, free trade, globalization, mass media, socio-cultural and political impacts, challenges for journalists, academics and professionals.
In spite of all the good intentions, none of the objectives for the good of Mexicans has yet been achieved. According to the statistics of the last 15 years, though the United States of America is the first beneficiary of NAFTA following Canada, all their citizens do not fully benefit from this North American treaty. The resource persons proved that NAFTA is a treaty by and for corporations rather than by and for the people of North America. Mexicans are the greatest losers on all levels; they even lost their freedom of movement in North America.
The international refresher seminar brought together more than 100 participants and resource persons. They analysed the 15 years of the North American Free Trade Agreement between Canada, United States and Mexico from various angles: political, economic, journalistic, cultural, human rights and the role of the Church.
Political Dimension: NAFTA’s original intention included “greater equality” among the three North American Nations, freedom of movement as in the case of the European Union and many other advantages for the citizens of the three North American nations. But 15 years later, Mexicans now need entry visas even to enter Canada (the United States having required visas already some time ago). The treaty also forced Mexicans to choose their political leaders in the interests of their big brother and neighbour. The treaty reduced Mexico to a cheap market and their political leaders into merchants. Thus in recent years a Coca cola executive became Mexican president.
Economic Dimension: The then President of Mexico, Carlos Salinas de Gortari told the Mexicans and the world that by entering NAFTA, Mexico was entering the first world. This hope of becoming rich with the help of neighbours was never realised. Before the treaty began on 1 January 1994 a strong USA dollar bought only 3.10 Mexican pesos, while today a weak USA dollar buys more than 13 Mexican pesos. Almost 50 per cent of Mexico’s 110 million people live on less than US$ 4 a day. In Mexico City alone, more than 3 million people live without drinking water and these colonies have become a breeding ground for all kinds of evils: unemployment, violence, disease and subhuman living standards.
Journalistic Dimension: Since NAFTA, journalists have become afraid of the new super powerful corporations that control governments and almost all aspects of life. Media houses, men and women practise self-imposed censorship so that they are not caught up in legal battles with the evils arising from capitalism and liberalism. Corporations have bought over almost all the media or sponsors so that they can get their “business” done.
Cultural Dimension: The principle of the “survival of the fittest” is the norm when it comes to cultural issues. Those who have the power and means dump everything in the name of culture. This is where the English-speaking world was able to impose its culture on Canada, especially in English-speaking Canada and in Mexico. The approach of corporations is that Mexican culture is inferior, while Quebec culture is followed by a small minority in North America. Besides, NAFTA has made an untold rule that English is the language of business and thus all other languages are inferior.
Human Rights Dimension: As the corporations decide almost all aspects of life, human rights are seldom respected. There are no adequate laws to protect labourers, many of them have become bonded-labourers and modern slaves. The average daily wage practised in Mexico by the transnational corporations is US$0.50 per hour while it is US$ 7.50 in the United States and US$8 in Canada. This gives an idea why the treaty was signed with Mexico: rich corporations from rich countries can make unjust profits by not paying the citizens of Mexico. On the other hand, this movement of labour to Mexico also affects the rich nations as some of their people lose their jobs.
Role of the Church: The role of the Church in this complex situation is not easy. The Church in North America has no competent institutions or instruments to challenge the new status-quo which is unjust, unchristian and subhuman. However, with the help of many Christian newspapers and online journals as well as Christian journalists in the secular press, the Church and Christians give some leadership in bringing justice to these blind liberal treaties and nations. Many civil society groups have also joined these efforts by making their voices heard mainly through community media both written and broadcast. The Church also wants to do more by helping to legislate just laws for all so that true peace and welfare can be established.
