Students gathered Thursday at the M-Shop in the Memorial Union to discuss the Free Trade Area of the Americas and how its choices affect workers.

The Free Trade Area of the Americas, FTAA, is an expansion of the North American Free Trade Agreement and has been in place since 1994. It involves 34 of the 35 countries in the western hemisphere.

NAFTA has affected the lives of many people in the western hemisphere, said Leticia Mendoza Garcia, who was a worker and union organizer at Sewgood Industries in Mexico. “The people in Mexico work many, many hours, and salaries are very low,?Garcia said.

Garcia is working to help inform the workers of Mexico of their rights. “Now that people know their rights, they can actually do something about the abuses they face,?she said.

Elisa Ortega Villa worked for 17 years with Christian Base communities in Agua Prieta for the Sagrada Familia Parish, and she now is co-coordinator of the Maquiladora Organizing Project.

“We have seen the impact NAFTA has on the workers, and it’s not good,?Villa said. She said many families are separated and forced to live alone for years, because both parents must find jobs to support their families.

Derrick Hochstatter, president of the ISU Greens, which sponsored the event, said this week’s events are meant to help people understand impacts of free trade and it how it affects them.

“This involves 750 million people,?said Hochstatter, senior in liberal studies. “Our biggest concern is that the agreements are being pushed by corporations, and the citizens have no say.?p>

More information on free trade will be available from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. today by the Hub, and ISU Greens representatives will be on hand to answer questions. There will also be a teach-in on agriculture and trade policy from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. tonight in room 15 of Curtiss Hall. For more information look on the Web at www.stopFTAA.org.