"free" trade

CAFTA is a controversial subject in Central America. In Costa Rica, TLC (trato libre comercial?) is the law which must be passed in order for the country to join CAFTA. Since presidential elections take place in February, this topic will be a deciding factor. So far I have heard a variety of opinions on the matter.

My host family in San Jose, who seemed to be of the upper class, was strongly in favor of TLC. The mother and daughter had walked in a march in support of TLC and claim its passing will be good for business in Costa Rica.

Some people at INTENSA (the language school in San Jose) seemed skeptical of TLC because they said ever since the country's developement, indigenous culture has deteriorated and people have become more greedy and materialistc.

At EARTH, one of the administrators said in the induction ceremony that though free trade seems to be inevitable, much of the Global South is not yet prepared for its consequences (ie: competition from government-subsidized farms in the US) and that it is up to my/our generation to prepare for the future. Does this mean we should accept the "inevitability" of free trade rather than seek alternatives?

I haven't had any in-depth conversations with fellow students about the matter but it will be very interesting to see what they think.

Below is a picture of the Nacional Congress building in San Jose and its fence covered in graffiti denouncing TLC (and George Bush, the congress, among others...)