This Special Section of the Earth Island Journal exposes the Free Trade Area of the Americas agreement, a far-reaching pact that would create the world's largest unregulated trade zone now under active negotiation by the heads of 34 countries in the Western Hemisphere (excepting Cuba).

Like the historic meeting of the World Trade Organization in Seattle in November 1999, the recent successful protests at the Summit of the Americas in Quebec City, Canada marked a pivotal moment for grassroots, pro-democracy activists. Once again, workers, environmentalists, religious leaders, students, and other public advocates came together from around the globe to speak out against the growing environmental and economic injustices caused by corporate-led globalization.

The section features FTAA-related articles and resources for further information and action ideas.

Contents:

• A Public Citizen Primer on the FTAA
  by Public Citizen

• Don't Want Corporations to Control Your Life? Oppose the FTAA!
  by Aaron G. Lehmer, Earth Island Website Manager

• Media Scrutiny Overdue of "White Bloc" FTAA Commentators
  by Norman Solomon, Media Critic from Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting

• FTAA Links and Related Resources
  Organizations and Websites Relating to the FTAA and Activist Resources and Media

Earth Island Journal, the quarterly publication of the nonprofit Earth Island Institute, is the winner of eight Project Censored Awards, the 1997 Alternative Press Award for "Best Scientific and Environmental Reporting," and the UTNE award for best environmental and scientific writing two years in a row (1997 and 1998).

Earth Island Institute, 300 Broadway, Suite 28, San Francisco, CA 94133-3312, (415) 788-3666, fax: (415) 788-7324, www.earthisland.org