VANCOUVER (CUP) – International trade negotiations, such as those aimed at establishing the world’s largest free trade zone, are a threat to public education, a Canadian trade analyst said in Vancouver on Nov. 20.
“There’s an underlying conflict here,” said Jim Grieshaber-Otto from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, “between the principles and purposes of public education and international trade treaties.”
Grieshaber-Otto made his comments at a teach-in the same day talks laying the groundwork for the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas wrapped up in Miami, Florida. Trade ministers agreed on a framework for the FTAA, which would reduce barriers to trade between 34 countries in North and South America.
United Nations treaties protect the right to an accessible and affordable education. But in practice, according to Grieshaber-Otto, rules set out in trade agreements tend to supersede treaties’ provisions for education and human rights.
“Canada should recognize the primacy of human rights law over trade and investment treaties,” he said. To protect its education system, asserted Grieshaber-Otto, Canada should not make or demand any commitments related to education during trade negotiations. Governments must also keep commercialization in schools to a minimum, the trade analyst maintained. “Commercializing public education promotes narrow interests,” Grieshaber-Otto said, “and undermines the fundamental principles of equity, diversity, and openness upon which public education systems are based.” Increasing the commercialization and privatization of primary, secondary, and post-secondary education would also expand the reach of trade agreements, he warned.
About 20 people-mostly teachers-attended the teach-in. Peter Debille, a delegate to the Vancouver and District Labour Council and a member of Vancouver’s antiwar coalition, said he found the teach-in informative, as he is more familiar with the impact of free trade on postal workers than education. Debille added that he intends to get postal workers involved with fighting the FTAA.
“The important thing is to get in the game, and start the ball rolling,” Grieshaber-Otto said, pointing out that activists stopped the Multilateral Agreement on Investment from being finalized. According to the Associated Press, thousands rallied and about 140 were arrested as demonstrators clashed with police in riot gear during the Miami negotiations. Opponents of the FTAA say it poses a threat to the environment, human rights, indigenous people, and workers.
