COMMENT: A discerning reader has pointed out that the "activist" Raul Yzaguirre is not only a member of the La Raza group (NCLR), and also a co-author on the treasonous C.F.R. document ";Building a North American Community." Note his brief bio on the reports page.
Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton announced Thursday that Raul Yzaguirre, a prominent Hispanic activist and former president of the National Council of La Raza, would co-chair her presidential campaign and lead its outreach to Hispanic voters. The NCLR are known for their outspoken hatred of whites and blacks in America, and have called for killing all non-hispanics in the southwest US, thus reclaiming the area from America.
"Hillary Clinton has spent more than three decades advocating on behalf of those who are invisible in America," Yzaguirre said in a statement. "Not only is she the most experienced and qualified candidate to be president, Senator Clinton has the ability to bring people together to get results and move this country forward."
Move the country forward indeed, straight into the gaping mouth of the North American Union. Vote this woman into office and prepare to trade in your dollars for Ameros.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raul_Yzaguirre
June 19, 2007
NAFTA Superhighway
As of late, there has been much media attention given to the "new, proposed NAFTA Superhighway". NASCO and the cities, counties, states and provinces along our existing Interstate Highways 35/29/94 (the NASCO Corridor) have been referring to I-35 as the 'NAFTA Superhighway' for many years, as I-35 already carries a substantial amount of international trade with Mexico, the United States and Canada. There are no plans to build a new NAFTA Superhighway - it exists today as I-35.
NASCO’s mission is to develop the world’s first international, integrated and secure, multi-modal transportation system, along the International Mid-Continent Trade Corridor, to improve both trade competitiveness and the quality of life in North America through:
* Strategic Planning
* Advocacy
* Infrastructure and Non-Infrastructure Improvements
* Trade Facilitation
* Technology Applications and Solutions
* North American Inland Ports Network (NAIPN)
* Education
Funding:
* Known as the strongest International Trade Corridor Coalition on Capitol Hill
* Lobbying efforts have helped secure more than $150 million in corridor transportation project funding to date
* Helped gain more than $79 million in Corridor projects in FY03 through the National Corridor Planning and Development Program, ITS Program, Interstate Maintenance Program and the Discretionary Bridge Program.
General NASCO Statistics
* NASCO Corridor drives the North American economy
* International trade drives 25% of the country’s economy
* Total commerce between the 3 NASCO nations already nears $1 trillion a year
* By 2020, total domestic freight tonnage will increase 67%
* Three of North America’s Top 20 NAFTA land ports can be found along the NASCO Corridor: Detroit (1st), Laredo(2nd) & Pembina, N.D.(11th)
* The Port of Laredo has seen a 17 year increase of 621% in cross border loaded trucks and a 363% increase in cross border loaded rail cars.
* Traffic in North America has increased up to 37% in the past decade, yet only 1% in new capacity has been added
* The 11 NASCO Corridor states have identified at least $6.3 billion in needed construction and maintenance
* 16% of interstate miles are in poor condition; 21% of bridges are obsolete
* 65% of I-35 will require major upgrades and maintenance in the next 20 years
* $80 billion is lost in congestion costs, nearly quadruple the impact of congestion in 1982
* For every $1 invested in the NASCO Corridor, $5.70 is returned in economic benefits
* Every $1 billion in highway investment generates 47,500 jobs
* Transportation accounts for up to 14% of the price of products we buy
* Since 1999, the Federal Government has directed more than $234 million in project funding towards the NASCO Corridor
http://www.nascocorridor.com/pages/about/about.htm
NASCO’s mission is to develop the world’s first international, integrated and secure, multi-modal transportation system, along the International Mid-Continent Trade Corridor, to improve both trade competitiveness and the quality of life in North America through:
* Strategic Planning
* Advocacy
* Infrastructure and Non-Infrastructure Improvements
* Trade Facilitation
* Technology Applications and Solutions
* North American Inland Ports Network (NAIPN)
* Education
Funding:
* Known as the strongest International Trade Corridor Coalition on Capitol Hill
* Lobbying efforts have helped secure more than $150 million in corridor transportation project funding to date
* Helped gain more than $79 million in Corridor projects in FY03 through the National Corridor Planning and Development Program, ITS Program, Interstate Maintenance Program and the Discretionary Bridge Program.
General NASCO Statistics
* NASCO Corridor drives the North American economy
* International trade drives 25% of the country’s economy
* Total commerce between the 3 NASCO nations already nears $1 trillion a year
* By 2020, total domestic freight tonnage will increase 67%
* Three of North America’s Top 20 NAFTA land ports can be found along the NASCO Corridor: Detroit (1st), Laredo(2nd) & Pembina, N.D.(11th)
* The Port of Laredo has seen a 17 year increase of 621% in cross border loaded trucks and a 363% increase in cross border loaded rail cars.
* Traffic in North America has increased up to 37% in the past decade, yet only 1% in new capacity has been added
* The 11 NASCO Corridor states have identified at least $6.3 billion in needed construction and maintenance
* 16% of interstate miles are in poor condition; 21% of bridges are obsolete
* 65% of I-35 will require major upgrades and maintenance in the next 20 years
* $80 billion is lost in congestion costs, nearly quadruple the impact of congestion in 1982
* For every $1 invested in the NASCO Corridor, $5.70 is returned in economic benefits
* Every $1 billion in highway investment generates 47,500 jobs
* Transportation accounts for up to 14% of the price of products we buy
* Since 1999, the Federal Government has directed more than $234 million in project funding towards the NASCO Corridor
http://www.nascocorridor.com/pages/about/about.htm
June 18, 2007
USA / Mexico Trade Corridor
October 24, 2005
San Antonio Business Journal
More than 10 years after the signing of NAFTA in San Antonio, U.S. and Mexico officials have inked a new pact on Monday designed to increase the flow of international trade between Mexico and KellyUSA in San Antonio.
Officials with Mexico's Secretary of Communications and Transportation office and with the U.S. Department of Transportation joined more than 30 Mexican businesses and KellyUSA representatives to commemorate the creation of the new trade route.
The signing ceremony took place at the Plaza San Antonio Hotel, the same hotel where U.S. and Mexico officials signed NAFTA in 1995.
The letter of intent allows for the movement of air, rail and ground cargo, principally from Asia and South America, through Mexico into the United States via KellyUSA -- the industrial park created following the closure of Kelly Air Force Base in 2001.
Within 30 days of signing the document, officials from both countries will name an individual to begin facilitating all the necessary arrangements to ship goods between Mexico and the new Port of San Antonio at KellyUSA.
Previously, all cargo traffic had to stop along the border for processing.
"What we are saying today with this agreement is that we are joining forces with Mexico to develop multimodal corridors that will be mutually beneficial to each partner," Greater Kelly Development Authority CEO Bruce Miller says.
"We're establishing synergies, origin and destination systems, facilitating access to international markets and creating new pathways for producers, importers and exporters to access the global market -- all of which means economic gains for everyone involved," he adds.
U.S. Assistant Secretary of Transportation Aaron Dychter says Texas' border already processes more than 70 percent of the commercial products being shipped between the Mexico and the United States.
June 17, 2007
Canadian International Trade Overview
Colorado at NAFTA crossroads
-Canada exported $1.0B USD to Colorado
-Canada is state’s largest trading partner ($1.83Cad billion exported to Canada)
-Exports of manufactured products totaled $7.7Cad billion
-Ten Fortune 500 companies HQ in Colorado
-Diverse Economy: Telecommunications, Software Development, and High Tech Manufacturing -Emerging Industries: Biotech, Photonics, Security, Aerospace, and Renewable Energy
-Denver serves as key distribution center for Rocky Mountain Region
-Four federal laboratories present in Boulder (NIST, NOAA, NCAR, and NREL)
-5900 Manufacturing Facilities
-152,000 workers employed (6.8% state employment)
-Colorado has highest concentration of high-tech workers in U.S.
-Highly educated workforce (2nd in United States)
-62% of Colorado’s total exports are high tech products
Colorado Manufacturers Survey
-69% outsource manufacturing operations domestically outside of Colorado
-17% outsource operations internationally
-21% plan to outsource operations overseas in 2006
-44% expect export sales to grow by 10% in 2006
-Greatest concerns: Rising costs of energy, health care, labor rates, and personal property taxes
-89% indicate that health care costs detrimental to business
Computer and Electronics Products
-40,500 employed in sub-sector
-Semiconductors, computers and peripherals, measuring instruments, office machine components, and telecom equipment
-Intel is spending $675CD million to expand facilities in Colorado Springs and Fort Collins for printed circuit board assembly
Aerospace and Defense Manufacturing
-Continued growth projected as a result of increase in homeland defense and aerospace budgets
-Prime Contractors: Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, and Ball Aerospace
-Adams Aircraft adding manufacturing capacity and employees
-New state tax credit in 2005 to benefit aerospace manufacturing and development
-Employs 10,500 workers with 200 more jobs to be added in 2006
-Presence of software, photonics, bioscience and nanotechnology companies to benefit Colorado manufacturers
-Large Military Defense electronic systems projects to reach $182 billion over the next decade
Utah Manufacturing Overview
-Utah employs 123,000 workers in the following manufacturing Sectors:
-Computer Systems Equipment (11,000 workers)
-Medical Equipment (7,700 workers)
-Aerospace and Engineering Services (6,500 workers)
-Canada exports $546USD million in aerospace products and parts
-Home to world’s leading supplier of rocket motors for space launch vehicles, strategic missiles and missile defense interceptors
Growth Opportunities
Manufactured products for imaging and surveillance
-Lasers, remote sensing devices, and cameras
-High resolution satellite imaging and digital mapping technologies
Healthcare Field: Biomedical optics and optical technology forecasted to experience tremendous growth.
-Global market for medical imaging equipment to reach $26.6USD billion by 2007
-With telecom downturn, aging U.S. population opportunities in biotechnology will increase dramatically in years to come
Bioscience and Military Defense contractors will require more data storage capacity
-Big storage manufacturers will benefit
Computer hardware for the wireless industry (1.7 billion subscribers by 2006)
http://www.cme-mec.ca/pdf/DSmithPresentation.pdf
-Canada exported $1.0B USD to Colorado
-Canada is state’s largest trading partner ($1.83Cad billion exported to Canada)
-Exports of manufactured products totaled $7.7Cad billion
-Ten Fortune 500 companies HQ in Colorado
-Diverse Economy: Telecommunications, Software Development, and High Tech Manufacturing -Emerging Industries: Biotech, Photonics, Security, Aerospace, and Renewable Energy
-Denver serves as key distribution center for Rocky Mountain Region
-Four federal laboratories present in Boulder (NIST, NOAA, NCAR, and NREL)
-5900 Manufacturing Facilities
-152,000 workers employed (6.8% state employment)
-Colorado has highest concentration of high-tech workers in U.S.
-Highly educated workforce (2nd in United States)
-62% of Colorado’s total exports are high tech products
Colorado Manufacturers Survey
-69% outsource manufacturing operations domestically outside of Colorado
-17% outsource operations internationally
-21% plan to outsource operations overseas in 2006
-44% expect export sales to grow by 10% in 2006
-Greatest concerns: Rising costs of energy, health care, labor rates, and personal property taxes
-89% indicate that health care costs detrimental to business
Computer and Electronics Products
-40,500 employed in sub-sector
-Semiconductors, computers and peripherals, measuring instruments, office machine components, and telecom equipment
-Intel is spending $675CD million to expand facilities in Colorado Springs and Fort Collins for printed circuit board assembly
Aerospace and Defense Manufacturing
-Continued growth projected as a result of increase in homeland defense and aerospace budgets
-Prime Contractors: Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, and Ball Aerospace
-Adams Aircraft adding manufacturing capacity and employees
-New state tax credit in 2005 to benefit aerospace manufacturing and development
-Employs 10,500 workers with 200 more jobs to be added in 2006
-Presence of software, photonics, bioscience and nanotechnology companies to benefit Colorado manufacturers
-Large Military Defense electronic systems projects to reach $182 billion over the next decade
Utah Manufacturing Overview
-Utah employs 123,000 workers in the following manufacturing Sectors:
-Computer Systems Equipment (11,000 workers)
-Medical Equipment (7,700 workers)
-Aerospace and Engineering Services (6,500 workers)
-Canada exports $546USD million in aerospace products and parts
-Home to world’s leading supplier of rocket motors for space launch vehicles, strategic missiles and missile defense interceptors
Growth Opportunities
Manufactured products for imaging and surveillance
-Lasers, remote sensing devices, and cameras
-High resolution satellite imaging and digital mapping technologies
Healthcare Field: Biomedical optics and optical technology forecasted to experience tremendous growth.
-Global market for medical imaging equipment to reach $26.6USD billion by 2007
-With telecom downturn, aging U.S. population opportunities in biotechnology will increase dramatically in years to come
Bioscience and Military Defense contractors will require more data storage capacity
-Big storage manufacturers will benefit
Computer hardware for the wireless industry (1.7 billion subscribers by 2006)
http://www.cme-mec.ca/pdf/DSmithPresentation.pdf
June 14, 2007
Toward a North American Union
The Global Elite, through the direct operations of the Bush Administration, are spearheading an effort to combine Canada, Mexico and the U.S. into a superstate called the North American Union (NAU). The NAU is roughly patterned after the European Union (EU). There is no political or economic mandate for creating the NAU, and unofficial polls of a cross-section of Americans indicate that they are overwhelmingly against this end-run around national sovereignty.
To answer Lou Dobbs, "No, the political elites have not gone mad", they just want you to think that they have.
The reality over appearance is easily cleared up with an historical perspective of the last 35 years of political and economic manipulation by these same elite who now bring us the NAU.
The Best Government that Money Can Buy
Modern day globalization was launched with the creation of the Trilateral Commission in 1973 by David Rockefeller and Zbigniew Brzezinski. Its membership consisted of over 300 powerful elitists from North America, Europe and Japan. The clearly stated goal of the Trilateral Commission was to foster a "New International Economic Order" that would supplant the historical economic order.
In spite of its non-political rhetoric, The Trilateral Commission nonetheless established a headlock on the Executive Branch of the U.S. government with the election of Jimmy Carter in 1976. He was a hand-picked presidential candidate that was personally tutored by Brzezinski in globalist philosophy and foreign policy. Subsequently, when Carter was sworn in as President, Brzezinski appointed one-third of the U.S. members of the Commission to his Cabinet and other high-level posts in his Administration. This was the beginning of the Trilateral Commission's domination of the Executive Branch that continues to the present day.
With the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980, Trilateral member George H.W. Bush was introduced to the White House as vice-president. Through Bush's influence, Reagan continued to select key appointments from the ranks of the Trilateral Commission.
In 1988, George H.W. Bush began his four-year term as President. He was followed by fellow Trilateral Commission member Bill Clinton, who served for 8 years as President and appointed fourteen fellow Trilateral members to his Administration.
The election of George W. Bush in 2000 should be no surprise. Although Bush was not a member of the Commission, his vice-president Dick Cheney is. In addition, Dick Cheney's wife, Lynne, is also a member of the Trilateral Commission in her own right.
More...
http://www.augustreview.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1&Itemid=4
To answer Lou Dobbs, "No, the political elites have not gone mad", they just want you to think that they have.
The reality over appearance is easily cleared up with an historical perspective of the last 35 years of political and economic manipulation by these same elite who now bring us the NAU.
The Best Government that Money Can Buy
Modern day globalization was launched with the creation of the Trilateral Commission in 1973 by David Rockefeller and Zbigniew Brzezinski. Its membership consisted of over 300 powerful elitists from North America, Europe and Japan. The clearly stated goal of the Trilateral Commission was to foster a "New International Economic Order" that would supplant the historical economic order.
In spite of its non-political rhetoric, The Trilateral Commission nonetheless established a headlock on the Executive Branch of the U.S. government with the election of Jimmy Carter in 1976. He was a hand-picked presidential candidate that was personally tutored by Brzezinski in globalist philosophy and foreign policy. Subsequently, when Carter was sworn in as President, Brzezinski appointed one-third of the U.S. members of the Commission to his Cabinet and other high-level posts in his Administration. This was the beginning of the Trilateral Commission's domination of the Executive Branch that continues to the present day.
With the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980, Trilateral member George H.W. Bush was introduced to the White House as vice-president. Through Bush's influence, Reagan continued to select key appointments from the ranks of the Trilateral Commission.
In 1988, George H.W. Bush began his four-year term as President. He was followed by fellow Trilateral Commission member Bill Clinton, who served for 8 years as President and appointed fourteen fellow Trilateral members to his Administration.
The election of George W. Bush in 2000 should be no surprise. Although Bush was not a member of the Commission, his vice-president Dick Cheney is. In addition, Dick Cheney's wife, Lynne, is also a member of the Trilateral Commission in her own right.
More...
http://www.augustreview.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1&Itemid=4
Kansas City Subtropolis
Economic Incentives
• Foreign Trade Zone - occupants can save significantly by
deferring or avoiding duties on imports
Physical Benefits
Lower your operating & occupancy costs
• consistent, year-round temperature and easily controlled
humidity levels - perfect working conditions
• street level access - safe and easy maneuvering for
over-the-road trucks
• millions of square feet free from exposure to outdoor elements -
no downtime due to weather conditions
With more than 900 acres of developable area, Hunt Midwest SubTropolis is the world’s largest underground
business complex and has buildings for lease from 10,000 to 500,000 square feet. SubTropolis was created
through the mining of a 270-million-year-old limestone deposit and will have 50-million square feet of space
available when it is fully developed. SubTropolis provides an ideal environment for companies specializing in
warehousing, distribution and light manufacturing.
Huge Warehouses being built in KC
All around the Kansas City metro area in places like Olathe, Cameron and Gardner, a phenomenon is in full swing. Companies are building large warehouses, distribution hubs of Jurassic proportions. Since May of 2006, 2.7 million square feet of new warehouse space has been announced within the 18-county region in Missouri and Kansas, with companies like Musician’s Friend, Pacific Sunwear, Case New Holland, Federal Express, American Eagle and Medline at the forefront of this development.
In the 1990s Kansas City’s warehouses and land were overlooked. Cities like Memphis, Columbus, Indianapolis, Chicago and Atlanta got the bulk of corporate attention. Some may say their success has worked against them as they are now congested. Kansas City remained a secret, until now. David Hinchman, first vice president of CB Richard Ellis has been a longtime champion of Kansas City logistics capabilities and knew growth was inevitable.
“The stars are lining up for Kansas City,” he beams. “The primary reason
is that Kansas City is in the center of the U.S. and enjoys amazing
transportation amenities.”
“We are going to be an increasingly important center for international logistics. KCKC is at the convergence of history and geography,” says Bob
Marcusse, president and CEO of the Kansas City Area Development Council.
Optimism abounds, but Kansas City harbors no illusion that it can compete with areas with much higher population densities.
“We’ve moved into a solid second-tier market,” says Hinchman. “Four class-one railroads make Kansas City the number two rail center in the U.S. We have four interstates (I-70, I-35, I-29, I-49) and virtually five with U.S. 71, which goes through a town called Bentonville.”
Experts say the reasons for the spike in interest in Kansas City are numerous. For one, truckers are now mandated to rest after a certain amount of time, which makes a more central warehouse desirable.
KC also boasts the title of #1 in rail/train shipping and has the largest UNDERGROUND warehouse space in the WORLD!
http://www.kcsmartport.com/sec_news/media/documents/Jurassic-SizedStorage.pdf
In the 1990s Kansas City’s warehouses and land were overlooked. Cities like Memphis, Columbus, Indianapolis, Chicago and Atlanta got the bulk of corporate attention. Some may say their success has worked against them as they are now congested. Kansas City remained a secret, until now. David Hinchman, first vice president of CB Richard Ellis has been a longtime champion of Kansas City logistics capabilities and knew growth was inevitable.
“The stars are lining up for Kansas City,” he beams. “The primary reason
is that Kansas City is in the center of the U.S. and enjoys amazing
transportation amenities.”
“We are going to be an increasingly important center for international logistics. KCKC is at the convergence of history and geography,” says Bob
Marcusse, president and CEO of the Kansas City Area Development Council.
Optimism abounds, but Kansas City harbors no illusion that it can compete with areas with much higher population densities.
“We’ve moved into a solid second-tier market,” says Hinchman. “Four class-one railroads make Kansas City the number two rail center in the U.S. We have four interstates (I-70, I-35, I-29, I-49) and virtually five with U.S. 71, which goes through a town called Bentonville.”
Experts say the reasons for the spike in interest in Kansas City are numerous. For one, truckers are now mandated to rest after a certain amount of time, which makes a more central warehouse desirable.
KC also boasts the title of #1 in rail/train shipping and has the largest UNDERGROUND warehouse space in the WORLD!
http://www.kcsmartport.com/sec_news/media/documents/Jurassic-SizedStorage.pdf
Creating a North American Community
Sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations in association with the Consejo Mexicano de Asuntos Internacionales and the Canadian Council of Chief Executives
Three former high-ranking government officials from Canada, Mexico, and the United States call for a North American economic and security community by 2010 to address shared security threats, challenges to competitiveness, and interest in broad-based development across the three countries.
Former Canadian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance John P. Manley, former Finance Minister of Mexico Pedro Aspe, and former Governor of Massachusetts and Assistant U.S. Attorney General William F. Weld make policy recommendations to articulate a long-term vision for North America in a Chairmen's Statement of the Independent Task Force on the Future of North America sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations in association with the Consejo Mexicano de Asuntos Internacionales and the Canadian Council of Chief Executives.
Chief Executive of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives Thomas d'Aquino, President of the Consejo Mexicano de Asuntos Internacionales Andres Rozental, and Director of the Center for North American Studies at American University Robert A. Pastor served as vice chairs of the Task Force. Chappell H. Lawson, associate professor of political science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was the director.
More...
http://www.cfr.org/publication/7912/creating_a_north_american_community.html
Three former high-ranking government officials from Canada, Mexico, and the United States call for a North American economic and security community by 2010 to address shared security threats, challenges to competitiveness, and interest in broad-based development across the three countries.
Former Canadian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance John P. Manley, former Finance Minister of Mexico Pedro Aspe, and former Governor of Massachusetts and Assistant U.S. Attorney General William F. Weld make policy recommendations to articulate a long-term vision for North America in a Chairmen's Statement of the Independent Task Force on the Future of North America sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations in association with the Consejo Mexicano de Asuntos Internacionales and the Canadian Council of Chief Executives.
Chief Executive of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives Thomas d'Aquino, President of the Consejo Mexicano de Asuntos Internacionales Andres Rozental, and Director of the Center for North American Studies at American University Robert A. Pastor served as vice chairs of the Task Force. Chappell H. Lawson, associate professor of political science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was the director.
More...
http://www.cfr.org/publication/7912/creating_a_north_american_community.html
The Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America: Next Steps
Updated: March 31, 2006
The Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America: Next Steps
The three leaders of North America agreed to advance the agenda of the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP) by focusing on five high priority initiatives:
The North American Competitiveness Council. Increasing private sector engagement in the SPP by adding high-level business input will assist governments in enhancing North America's competitive position and engage the private sector as partners in finding solutions. The Council will:
* Consider issues that could be addressed trilaterally or bilaterally, as improvements in our bilateral relationships enhance North American competitiveness.
* Address issues of immediate importance and provide strategic medium and long-term advice.
* Provide input on the compatibility of our security and prosperity agendas, given the linkages between security and prosperity in a global marketplace.
* Offer ideas on the private sector's role in promoting North American competitiveness.
Advancing Cooperation on Avian and Pandemic Influenza. Leaders agreed to the following principles to guide collaboration on all stages of avian or pandemic influenza management:
* Share information among our governments in an open, timely and transparent manner.
* Adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach that incorporates animal and public health aspects in managing avian influenza and influenza pandemics.
* Ensure coordination within our respective national governments on all aspects of emergency management for an avian influenza outbreak or a human influenza pandemic, by building on existing mechanisms of cooperation and strengthening them as required.
* Coordinate our actions and leverage our respective capacities to ensure rapid and effective steps are taken to deal with avian influenza outbreaks or a human influenza pandemic in North America.
* Advise one another in advance of making any decision that could seriously affect the other countries.
* Base our actions on the best available science and evidence-based decision-making.
* Agree that the imposition and removal of veterinary or public health measures on the movement of people, animals, and goods, under our national laws and international obligations, will not be more restrictive or maintained longer than necessary to achieve the veterinary or public health objective so as to avoid unnecessary interference with the movement of people and goods within North America.
* Ensure that the business continuity plans of our respective governments consider the highly interconnected nature of our economies.
* Strive to utilize clear and consistent messaging to the public and international organizations that is proactive, timely and accurate.
North American Energy Security Initiative. A secure and sustainable energy supply is essential for our economic prosperity in North America. To advance our energy agenda we have agreed to:
* Enhance the development of a diverse energy resource base in North America by increasing collaboration on research, development and commercialization of clean energy-related technologies, and
* Strengthen the North American energy market by improving transparency and regulatory compatibility, promoting the development of resources and infrastructure, increasing cooperation on energy efficiency standards, and supporting other efforts aimed at addressing challenges on the demand side.
North American Emergency Management. The commitments made in the SPP recognize that a disaster - whether natural or man-made - in one North American country can have consequences across national borders, and may demand a common approach to all aspects of emergency management. Recent experience with hurricanes, ice storms, industrial accidents and the like demonstrate our interdependencies, as well as the need for coordination and mutual assistance in protecting and safekeeping our populations. Moving forward we will:
* Develop a common approach to critical infrastructure protection, and response to cross border terrorist incidents and natural disasters, across a number of different sectors including, but not limited to, transportation, energy, and telecommunications.
* Develop and implement joint plans for cooperation for incident response, as well as conduct coordinated training and exercises in emergency response.
Smart, Secure Borders. Leaders agreed to complete the following activities, to contribute to smart and secure borders, over the next twenty-four months:
* Collaborate to establish risk-based screening standards for goods and people that rely on technology, information sharing and biometrics.
* Develop and implement compatible electronic processes for supply chain security that use advanced electronic cargo information to analyze risk and ensure quick and efficient processing at the border;
* Develop standards and options for secure documents to facilitate cross-border travel;
* Exchange additional law enforcement liaison officers to assist in criminal and security investigations; and,
* Develop coordinated business resumption plans at border crossings to ensure legitimate trade continues.
More...
http://www.spp.gov/factsheet.asp
The Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America: Next Steps
The three leaders of North America agreed to advance the agenda of the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP) by focusing on five high priority initiatives:
The North American Competitiveness Council. Increasing private sector engagement in the SPP by adding high-level business input will assist governments in enhancing North America's competitive position and engage the private sector as partners in finding solutions. The Council will:
* Consider issues that could be addressed trilaterally or bilaterally, as improvements in our bilateral relationships enhance North American competitiveness.
* Address issues of immediate importance and provide strategic medium and long-term advice.
* Provide input on the compatibility of our security and prosperity agendas, given the linkages between security and prosperity in a global marketplace.
* Offer ideas on the private sector's role in promoting North American competitiveness.
Advancing Cooperation on Avian and Pandemic Influenza. Leaders agreed to the following principles to guide collaboration on all stages of avian or pandemic influenza management:
* Share information among our governments in an open, timely and transparent manner.
* Adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach that incorporates animal and public health aspects in managing avian influenza and influenza pandemics.
* Ensure coordination within our respective national governments on all aspects of emergency management for an avian influenza outbreak or a human influenza pandemic, by building on existing mechanisms of cooperation and strengthening them as required.
* Coordinate our actions and leverage our respective capacities to ensure rapid and effective steps are taken to deal with avian influenza outbreaks or a human influenza pandemic in North America.
* Advise one another in advance of making any decision that could seriously affect the other countries.
* Base our actions on the best available science and evidence-based decision-making.
* Agree that the imposition and removal of veterinary or public health measures on the movement of people, animals, and goods, under our national laws and international obligations, will not be more restrictive or maintained longer than necessary to achieve the veterinary or public health objective so as to avoid unnecessary interference with the movement of people and goods within North America.
* Ensure that the business continuity plans of our respective governments consider the highly interconnected nature of our economies.
* Strive to utilize clear and consistent messaging to the public and international organizations that is proactive, timely and accurate.
North American Energy Security Initiative. A secure and sustainable energy supply is essential for our economic prosperity in North America. To advance our energy agenda we have agreed to:
* Enhance the development of a diverse energy resource base in North America by increasing collaboration on research, development and commercialization of clean energy-related technologies, and
* Strengthen the North American energy market by improving transparency and regulatory compatibility, promoting the development of resources and infrastructure, increasing cooperation on energy efficiency standards, and supporting other efforts aimed at addressing challenges on the demand side.
North American Emergency Management. The commitments made in the SPP recognize that a disaster - whether natural or man-made - in one North American country can have consequences across national borders, and may demand a common approach to all aspects of emergency management. Recent experience with hurricanes, ice storms, industrial accidents and the like demonstrate our interdependencies, as well as the need for coordination and mutual assistance in protecting and safekeeping our populations. Moving forward we will:
* Develop a common approach to critical infrastructure protection, and response to cross border terrorist incidents and natural disasters, across a number of different sectors including, but not limited to, transportation, energy, and telecommunications.
* Develop and implement joint plans for cooperation for incident response, as well as conduct coordinated training and exercises in emergency response.
Smart, Secure Borders. Leaders agreed to complete the following activities, to contribute to smart and secure borders, over the next twenty-four months:
* Collaborate to establish risk-based screening standards for goods and people that rely on technology, information sharing and biometrics.
* Develop and implement compatible electronic processes for supply chain security that use advanced electronic cargo information to analyze risk and ensure quick and efficient processing at the border;
* Develop standards and options for secure documents to facilitate cross-border travel;
* Exchange additional law enforcement liaison officers to assist in criminal and security investigations; and,
* Develop coordinated business resumption plans at border crossings to ensure legitimate trade continues.
More...
http://www.spp.gov/factsheet.asp
Security and Prosperity Partnership Of North America
The Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP) was launched in March of 2005 as a trilateral effort to increase security and enhance prosperity among the United States, Canada and Mexico through greater cooperation and information sharing.
This trilateral initiative is premised on our security and our economic prosperity being mutually reinforcing. The SPP recognizes that our three great nations are bound by a shared belief in freedom, economic opportunity, and strong democratic institutions.
The SPP provides the framework to ensure that North America is the safest and best place to live and do business. It includes ambitious security and prosperity programs to keep our borders closed to terrorism yet open to trade.
The SPP builds upon, but is separate from, our long-standing trade and economic relationships. It energizes other aspects of our cooperative relations, such as the protection of our environment, our food supply, and our public health.
Looking forward, President Bush, Prime Minister Harper and President Fox have identified emergency management; influenza pandemics, including avian influenza; energy security; and safe and secure gateways (border security and facilitation) as key priorities for the SPP. The Leaders also announced the creation of North American Competitiveness Council to fully incorporate the private sector into the SPP process.
http://www.spp.gov/
This trilateral initiative is premised on our security and our economic prosperity being mutually reinforcing. The SPP recognizes that our three great nations are bound by a shared belief in freedom, economic opportunity, and strong democratic institutions.
The SPP provides the framework to ensure that North America is the safest and best place to live and do business. It includes ambitious security and prosperity programs to keep our borders closed to terrorism yet open to trade.
The SPP builds upon, but is separate from, our long-standing trade and economic relationships. It energizes other aspects of our cooperative relations, such as the protection of our environment, our food supply, and our public health.
Looking forward, President Bush, Prime Minister Harper and President Fox have identified emergency management; influenza pandemics, including avian influenza; energy security; and safe and secure gateways (border security and facilitation) as key priorities for the SPP. The Leaders also announced the creation of North American Competitiveness Council to fully incorporate the private sector into the SPP process.
http://www.spp.gov/
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