What's wrong with a free trade agreement between New Zealand and Thailand - and how to find out more about it and object to it.

The 'Closer Economic Partnership' (CEP) which NZ and Thailand are currently negotiating will do nothing to raise raise the appallingly low wages of Thais working in the export manufacturing and processing industries (legally as low as 77 cents an hour), or to improve their conditions of work and standard of living. It could well endanger the jobs of Kiwis working in the clothing, textile and appliance industries if tariff-free goods come in from Thailand, and put these companies out of business.

NZ's global dairy company Fonterra pushed for this agreement, and if it encourages more intensive dairying in NZ then we can expect to see further water pollution and depletion - already at dangerous and unsustainable levels - in the dairying provinces. Export-led growth is also leading to environmental abuses in Thailand, from unchecked industrial pollution, to destructive big energy projects, to targeting protected wild birds for removal in place of the battery system of chicken farming which is the real source of lethal bird flu.

Neither New Zealand nor Thailand has a really open and democratic process for negotiating or concluding trade treaties - big business calls the shots. In Thailand the government IS big business, with the Prime Minister already one of the wealthiest men in Thailand and looking to gain more for himself, his family and his cronies from bilateral trade deals.

More information on what's wrong with the CEP can be found at

http://www.greens.org.nz/campaigns/trade/ThaiCEPsubmission.pdf

and http://www.greens.org.nz/campaigns/trade/Thai-NZ FTA fact sheet.pdf

Also at http://www.greens.org.nz/campaigns/trade/ you'll find media releases and speeches on subject, and leaflets and a poster to download.

Plus there are PUBLIC MEETINGS in SEPTEMBER 2004

CHRISTCHURCH, Monday September 13, 7:30 p.m.
Trade Union Centre, cnr Armagh and Madras

WELLINGTON, Wednesday September 15, 7:30 p.m.
St John's Hall, cnr Willis and Dixon

AUCKLAND, Thursday September 16, 7:30 p.m.
Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn

Speakers from Thailand at the meetings are
Dr Jakkrit Kuanpoth, associate professor of law at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University,

and Ms Sripai Nonsee, labour organizer and ex-factory worker.

Tour supporters include:
Action Research Education Network Aotearoa; Asia Pacific Workers Solidarity Links; Brass Razoo Solidarity Band; Campaign Against Foreign Control in Aotearoa; Caritas; Christian World Service; Clothing Laundry and Allied Workers Union; Envision New Zealand; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand; MADENZ; NZ Council of Trade Unions; Oxfam;Trade Aid.

If you want to OBJECT to the Thai-NZ FTA, let the following groups of people know what is wrong with it:

1.GOVERNMENT MINISTERS
Jim Sutton, Minister for Trade Negotiations
Email: jsutton@ministers.govt.nz

Jim Anderton, Minister for Economic Development
Minister for Industry and Regional Development
Email: janderton@ministers.govt.nz

Paul Swain, Minister of Labour
Email: pswain@ministers.govt.nz

Marian Hobbs, Minister for the Environment
Associate Minister, Foreign Affairs and Trade
Email: mhobbs@ministers.govt.nz

Phil Goff, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Email: pgoff@ministers.govt.nz

Helen Clark, Prime Minister
Email: pm@ministers.govt.nz

(You can also send them letters (no stamp required) addressed to Parliament Buildings, Wellington.)

2.LOCAL MEMBERS of PARLIAMENT
Write to, ring or visit your local constituency MP (whatever party they belong to) and ask if they have any information on what impacts this free trade deal will have on your community, and express your concerns. Do the same with any Labour Party list MPs from your area.
You can find e-addresses and other contact details for all MPs at
http://www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz/YourMP/ListMPs/

3.COLLEAGUES, FAMILY AND FRIENDS
Share information on the free trade deal with them, and encourage them to object to it too. Bring the issue to the attention of your union, professional association, local business association, church or other community group, and discuss it with members.

4.FELLOW CITIZENS
Write letters to the editor, call talk back, hand out copies of the flyer, put up posters - keep the information and interest flowing.

More information on labour conditions in Thailand is available at
http://www.thailabour.org/ and Thai concerns about free trade generally are on line at http://www.ftawatch.org/eng/ Keep checking
http://www.greens.org.nz/campaigns/trade for new information from NZ.

If you have any questions or comments (and if you would like to share the responses you get from the MPs) please contact the September publicity tour organizers, Fair World Links - Box 13-367 Wellington 6004 or links@actrix.co.nz

If you would like to SUPPORT the publicity tour, please send your donation (cheques made out to Fair World Links) to the address above.