Abstract
This paper demonstrates that in order to improve free trade agreements and ensure that they include adequate protection for worker's rights, food security and environmental regulation, the FTAA must be based on a new model, rather than on the failed model of NAFTA. It shows that unless this is done, the only people to benefit from these agreements will be the rich and powerful; and that the workers and traders of the poorer countries will continue to be exploited.

From the Paper
"Free trade policies such as North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) are widening the gap between the rich and poor in a number of ways. This is particularly true in Mexico; a country that has always been concerned with the protection issues associated with major trading countries in the world, tight controls, high tariffs and other restrictive policies. These restrictions have been revoked however in response to the demands to promote export-oriented production, eliminate obstacles to imports, and loosen corporate controls over national domains and enterprises. The result has been a blatantly inequitable distribution of wealth and power both within Mexico and between Mexico and other countries. The track record of NAFTA has raised concerns that this inequity will only be augmented by any such agreement."

Tags:economics, global, globalization, international, exploitation, labor, worker, environmental

Abstract
This paper looks at the effect of NAFTA on the United States in the decade since NAFTA became law and the eight years since it actually went into effect, an effect that cannot be understood in isolation but that must be understood within the context of globalization and transnationalism, looking at some of the most serious consequences of a world with borders made so permeable by alliances and corporations especially in terms of human rights and the environment.

From the Paper
"Transnationalism has changed the shape of our world. This is true even though most of us have only a vague idea about what transnationalism is, and even those who believe that they know what the word means in fact disagree over the definition of the term that is more or less a synonym for "globalization". Globalization, or transnationalism, in general refers to the current flows of capital, people, information and images and culture across national borders. Such flows of money, products and ideas across the previously far more impermeable national borders of the world has been brought about in large measure through two important and related processes: The first of these is the establishment of such international trading agreements as NAFTA, or the North American Free Trade Agreement (a pact that was in many political and economic ways prompted by the founding of the larger and more economically powerful European Union). The second major reason for the increase of economic globalization has been the substantial increase in companies that do business on a global scale. These companies have been substantially helped by such agreements as NAFTA, which is hardly surprising since large corporations provided significant pressure to have such alliances brought about (www.latimes.com)"

Tags:border, trade, organization, tariffs, globalization, EU, partners, government, poor, nations

Abstract
Globalization in general refers to the ways in which capital, people, information and images and culture now flow back and forth across national borders with a greater ease and greater rapidity than they had before. This paper examines what the implications of such exchanges are and what are some of the most serious consequences of a world with such permeable borders, especially in terms of human rights and the environment.

From the Paper
"NAFTA has helped to produce a world in which workers are now linked across national borders through the globalization of production. In other words, NAFTA has allowed jobs that once belonged Americans to be sent to other countries which has detrimental short-term effects on Americans as well as detrimental long-term effects on the workers of all the countries involved. And to short-term and long-term harm to the environment that we all share. All people find themselves increasing connected in this world. The clothes someone wears might well have been sewn in a country thousands of miles away of fiber grown in a third country."

Tags:transnationalism, the, European, Community, NAFTA, First, World, nations

Abstract
This paper explores anthropologist Elisabeth Burgos-Debray description of the Guatemalan women, Rigoberta Menchu , who describes her Indian peasant life to the author. The paper exhibits the relationship between life and the larger political struggles taking place across Guatemala and Latin America as a whole. It also describes the Civil war in this country and the persecution of Rigoberta Menchu 's family by the national security forces.

From the Paper
"The Indians constitute the majority in Guatemala, which differentiates their situation from that of most countries in Latin America where the Indians are a minority without even the most elementary rights. Still, a white minority has the power in Guatemala, and it seems likely that the fact that the majority Indians are divided into 22 different ethnic groups may have contributed to their largely powerless position in their society. Rigoberta wishes to change this situation, and this one woman is not fighting for a mythical Indian past but is instead seeking to play a part in the shaping of contemporary history (Burgos-Debray, 1983), xiii). The world into which this woman was born is a world where the people live in a subsistence economy, working the land for others and moving from place to place as they follow the work through the seasons. This is also a world at war, with Guatemala in the grips of a civil war for more than 30 years. This war affected Rigoberta directly as her father, mother, and younger brother were tortured and killed by the Guatemalan security forces that have been persecuting the peasantry."

Tags:Guatemala, everyday, life, political, struggle, Latin, America, indian, peasant, woman, americas, south, central, indian, ethnic, groups

Abstract
The following paper discusses issues of foreign direct investment, primary exports and trade agreements, among other issues, to present a holistic view of the situation

From the Paper
"In light of increasingly international business practices such as the global sourcing of production and of governmental initiatives such as international agreements on trade and investment, it is easy to predict that foreign direct investment will continue to grow. Costa Rica demonstrates how democratic institutions and transnational market integration can drive and invite that type of investment, and it can be expected that their economy and standard of living will rise correspondingly. The lesson for developing countries is that democracy and regional integration provide the kind of institutional structures that foster economically productive results."

Tags:isolated, process, implement, political, economic, social, market-based, systems, opportunities, amount, uncertainty, characterize, transitions

Abstract
This paper provides a thorough definition of NAFTA and proceeds to examine the impact that this agreement has had on the United States. It deals with personal issues such as claims of heightened unemployment as well as national issues such as tax benefits and improved trade.

From the paper:

"On January 1, 1994, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was implement between Canada, Mexico, and the United States. This treaty drops most tariffs by 50% immediately, and dropped to zero by 2009. It is a unique trading agreement between two developed countries and a developing nation on a single continent. After eight years since NAFTA commenced, there are mixed analysis and opinions on whether this treaty is a success. It was designed to provide a free-flow of goods between countries without imputative measures and tariffs being enforced; it was promoted as a means to improve productivity and create jobs in the three countries; and, it was touted as model for further free-trade blocs to be created in the Americas and in other regional markets. After eights, no other free-trade blocs exists, nor has any other free-trade treaties been pursued and/or implemented by the NAFTA partners; and, with a world in a recession, there are two points of views on whether NAFTA has been more damaging than good during at this time, or if NAFTA has prevented further harm through its free-flow of goods."

Tags:tariffs, border, factory, union, strike, politics, lobby, import, export, Canada, Mexico, government, spending

Abstract
This paper begins by describing the Reggae singer, Bob Marley and his origins and traces the beginnings of his musical career. The factors that influenced his music are explored, such as his early life and his conversion to the Rastafarian religion. The themes of his songs are dealt with, and his life in Jamaica is included in the study. The paper looks at Marley's contribution in introducing Rastafari, reggae, and Jamaica to the rest of the world.

From the Paper
"Bob Marley was born Robert Nesta Marley, O.M., on February 6, 1945, in a small Jamaican village called Nine Miles. He was the son of an English Army Captain, and a Jamaican woman named Cedella Malcolm. The Captain never married Malcolm, but he gave Marley his name. Eventually, he and his mother moved to Kingston, and lived in the slum called "Trench Town.""

Tags:music, Rastafarian, reggae, themes, songs, Jamaica, career, influence, religion, ideology

Abstract
This paper examines the economic growth in Costa Rica, starting with the rich national parks, tourism and ecotourism, where there are a variety of species-rich ecosystems exist. The paper further illustrates its continuing growth as the international business community chooses to develop there, because they can operate in the safety and security of this stable democratic country with good infrastructure and educated people.

Table of Contents
The Increasing Popularity of Costa Rica
Tourism
Ecotourism
Economic Growth of Costa Rica
Free Zones and International Investments
Works Cited

From the Paper
"Once a small nation in Central America famous for its bananas and coffee, the Republic of Costa Rica is now being transformed into an international gateway for commerce between Latin America and the rest of the world. Costa Rica is also becoming a popular vacation destination for jetsetters from all around the world."

Tags:environment, tourism, ecotourism, free, zones, international, investment, intel, commerce, latin, america, democratic, democracy, national, park

Abstract
This paper introduces and discusses the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Specifically, it presents the pros and cons of NAFTA, and how it affects the apparel industry, especially in the California and/or Los Angeles market. It considers such factors as how it affects the job market, manufacturers, contractors, etc.

From the Paper
"The NAFTA agreement has been controversial since it first began in 1992. Many experts felt that the United States would lose a large amount of jobs to Mexico, because of lower wages and fewer trade union restrictions. It created Free Trade between Mexico, Canada, and the United States, and eliminated a large number of tariffs on a sliding scale over the next fifteen years. "On 12 August 1992, the United States, Canada, and Mexico agreed on a plan for free trade that would gradually eliminate tariffs over fifteen years and stimulate trade and investment. While protecting the 1988 free trade agreement between the United States and Canada, this new agreement created the largest common market in total production, with 370 million consumers. It makes U.S. and Canadian industries more competitive by using low-cost Mexican labor, advanced U.S. technology, and rich Canadian resources" (Gianaris 17)."

Tags:Mexico, Canada, industry, market, import, export

Abstract
This essay examines the identity of a death squad; its effects on Salvadorians as well as unveiling the supporters and revealing the future for this type of organization.

From the Paper
"El Salvador has been rocked with instability both economically and politically since its independence in 1838. The existence of the Death Squads, created by the Salvadorian Government, destroyed the countries ability to become prosperous and secure, which has left the country distraught and pillaged after over a decade of horrific abuses of power. The Squads were designed to keep the people of El Salvador in line no matter what the cost, and the economic losses, political instability and human costs were devastating. The world sat back and watched the Salvadorian people be terrorized by the gruesome acts of the government deployed Death Squads and did nothing to stop them. It wasn't their problem. The United States took a much different approach to the volatility in El Salvador, by supporting the government in power, the ARENA party, in order to fulfill their own economic interests, with lower coffee and other agricultural exports prices. This essay will examine the identity of a Death Squads; its effects on Salvadorians as well as unveiling the supporters and revealing the future for this type of organization. Ignorance is no longer an excuse. Ignorance has left tens of thousands dead, and many more emotionally wounded."

Tags:death, el, salvador, squads, execution, army, violent, crime, recruit, gun, victim