Stop “Plan Mexico”! Public Service Announcement, 3.5 minutes

Concept and produced by: Harry Bubbins, with voice by Anna McHugh (hoopergirl.com) and Erin Mc Hugh. Text and language thanks also to: Laura Carlsen of the Americas Program at the Center for International Policy, and also to Witness for Peace. Plan Mexico was hatched by Presidents Bush and Calderon without any consultation from the US or Mexican congresses. Officially known as the Merida Initiative, Plan Mexico,is immediately likened to the failures and violence of Plan Colombia that has led to an increase in human rights violations and cocaine production. Stopping Plan Mexico has been named by the Center for International Policy as one of the top three challenges to protect attempts to build more just and peaceful societies in Latin America. The United Steelworkers came out against it in November and issued a statement demanding public hearings about it after the police crackdowns on miners in Mexico last week. Plan Mexico would provide .5 billion in US Taxpayer monies and equipment to the Mexican military, police, and intelligence services. None of the aid contemplated in this first package of a proposed 3 year deal goes where it’s most needed: addiction prevention and rehabilitation in America, and local development financing in mMxico. Sending equipment to the Mexican police and military in the context of unprosecuted human rights violations encourages impunity. Is this what Americans want our government to do with our tax money? Increased surveillance, secret …