1	"Why North Americans Should" Why North Americans Should Care About This Country in South America
2	"90%" 90% of the cocaine in the U.S. either originates or passes through Colombia. U.S. drug-related deaths total over 50,000 each year. Countless dollars are lost because of drug-related crimes. An excerpt from a State Department report submitted to Congress in February 2003 succinctly states the national interests in the Andean region: Beyond drug trafficking, terrorism, illegal arms smuggling, and other criminal activities, there are broad and important U.S. national interests in Colombia that include stability in the Andean region trade immigration human rights and humanitarian assistance protection of the environment.
3	"Based on these interests," Based on these interests, the U.S. is clearly compelled to action. As a result, the current U.S. policy of support to Colombia has received strong bipartisan support since its inception.
4	"A Big Problem:" A Big Problem: Drug Use INSIDE the U.S. The only way to secure lasting peace and prosperity for Colombia is to eliminate the armed insurgent groups. Once these groups are out of the way, judicial reform and the strengthening of democracy can proceed unhindered. Revenue from the sale and trafficking of illegal drugs allows these groups to continue their violent behavior. Aerial fumigation and alternative development programs help to address the problem at its source but have only been partially successful. The strong demand for illegal drugs in the U.S. fuels the problem. While only 5% of the world’s inhabitants are citizens of the U.S, these same citizens consume over 50% of the world’s illegal drugs.
5	2002 U.S. Survey on Drug Use and Health 14.4% of the U.S. population had used cocaine at least once in their life. 2.5% had used it in the last year. 0.9% in the last month.
6	Whose reputation is worse? That of Colombia, known for its drug-trafficking, or That of the U.S., known for its drug use Colombia literally bleeds because of the U.S. drug dollars that fuel the violence there…
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9	"Hundreds of thousands of Colombians..." Hundreds of thousands of Colombians are displaced from their homes by the violence funded by U.S. drug dollars…
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12	"The youth suffer." The youth suffer. Most of the guerillas are young. Many are girls.
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14	"Youth are involved in the..." Youth are involved in the drug trade. The violence and corruption from drug money in Colombia robs the country of resources to fund education adequately. Poor youth sometimes turn to common crime, with rings operated by adults who exploit the youth.
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16	"There are many unfortunate people..." There are many unfortunate people in Colombia, and other Latin American countries, who are lured into transporting drugs into the U.S. by the temptation of money to help support their families. See the movie, “Maria Full of Grace”, for a taste of this real-life situation. Our prison system is filled with people caught in this trap. They are not drug-dealers so much as mothers, sisters, or brothers just trying to help their families. It is clear that one of the most effective ways to remedy this problem is legal trade with Colombia… trade that will help provide jobs and income.
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18	The Faces of Colombia Most Colombians are very hard-working people, who suffer from the drug trade, not profit from it. Colombia’s population is much more of a melting pot of cultures than ours.
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24	2000 Survey of Colombianos 90% say their priorities are family and God Admit they are too protective of their children… don’t instill enough independence Distrustful of outsiders and question authority and government. Yet general population is very solidified in causes and believe in helping each other. 71% believe democracy is the best government. 65% believe a military coup would be bad for the country. Rank 2^nd only to Puerto Rico in being the most satisfied people on the planet… 82% Source: Semana.com
25	Colombia is a beautiful country… Terrain varies from flat coastal lowlands, to central highlands, to the high Andes Mountains, to the eastern lowland plains. Highest point is 5,775 Climate varies with altitude. Bogota, at an altitude of 2600 m, usually has days in the 60’s to low 70’s, nights in the low 50’s to 40’s. Medellin, the city of eternal spring, elevation 1540 m, has days in the 70’s to low 80’s, nights in the 60’s.
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38	"The Amazon region of Colombia..." The Amazon region of Colombia is home to 10% of the world’s biodiversity. Colombia is the 5^th largest supplier of foreign oil to the U.S. Largest foreign provider of coal to the U.S. It’s GDP has a growth rate of 3.6%, compared to that of 4.4% in the U.S. Population 42,954,279. Growing at 1.49%. Median age of 26.04 Only S.A. country with coasts on both the North Pacific and Caribbean Latin America’s oldest and most stable democracy.
39	"Colombia’s constitution was changed in..." Colombia’s constitution was changed in 2005 to allow the current president, President Alvaro Uribe to run for a second term in the May 28, 2006 election. Uribe is a tough right-winger whose political life has been dominated by the desire to rid the country of the rebels who killed his father 20 years ago. There have been many attempts on Uribe’s own life. Uribe has received considerable support from U.S. President George Bush.
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41	"In a 2005 trip to..." In a 2005 trip to Bogota, Florida Governor Jeb Bush led a group of Florida businessmen to look at ways to increase trade between Florida and its close neighbor, Colombia.
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44	"Colombia’s desire is to repeat..." Colombia’s desire is to repeat its success with coffee with many other products. Colombia already supplies at least half the cut flowers that enter the U.S. It is a huge business there, but still with much potential growth in other types of cut flowers.
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46	"Colombia wants to do all..." Colombia wants to do all possible to replace illegal drug crops with alternative types of trade.
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55	"Much of Latin America has..." Much of Latin America has swung to the left recently. President Chavez’s leadership of Venezuela and Castro of Cuba are extreme examples of the “anti-imperialist” stance. But many in poverty in Colombia see socialism as an answer. Colombia’s leadership, however, is trying to increase capitalism and trade as socialism can’t work if there isn’t enough wealth to distribute. Cuba is a perfect example. They may have free education and medical care, but what is it worth without jobs?
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57	"Many say that Latin America..." Many say that Latin America is not taking full advantage of the potential offered by international trade.
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59	"Colombia has," Colombia has, however, increased its exports to the U.S. considerably, by 21.9% in the period of January-November 2005
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61	"For example," For example, Colombia is a major exporter of textiles. Fashion is big business in Colombia. Colombiatex in Medellin is an international event. The city is filled with people in the fashion industry from around the world.
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63	"February 2006" February 2006 Free Trade Agreement Signed with U.S. Will generate export opportunities for U.S. agriculture, industry, and service providers, and help create jobs in the United States. Will help foster economic development in Colombia, and contribute to efforts to counter narco-terrorism, which threatens democracy and regional stability.
64	"An agreement with Colombia is" An agreement with Colombia is an essential component of our regional strategy to advance free trade within our hemisphere, combat narco-trafficking, build democratic institutions, and promote economic development.
65	"In addition to eliminating tariffs" In addition to eliminating tariffs, Colombia will remove barriers to trade in services, provide a secure, predictable legal framework for U.S. investors operating in Colombia, provide for effective enforcement of labor and environmental laws, protect intellectual property, and provide an effective system to settle disputes.
66	"Since many products from Colombia..." Since many products from Colombia already enter the U.S. market duty-free under the Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA), the agreement will level the playing field and make duty-free treatment a two-way street.
67	"In 2005," In 2005, Colombia and the United States had $14.3 billion in two-way trade. Colombia is currently the second largest agricultural market for the United States in Latin America. U.S. goods exports to Colombia in 2005 were $5.4 billion.
68	"Top export categories in 2005..." Top export categories in 2005 were: machinery, organic chemicals, electrical machinery, and plastic. U.S. exports of agricultural products to Colombia totaled $677 million in 2005. Leading categories include: coarse grains, wheat, cotton, and soybeans. U.S. foreign direct investment (FDI) in Colombia was $3.0 billion in 2004, primarily concentrated in the manufacturing, mining and wholesale sectors.
69	"Colombia is much more modern..." Colombia is much more modern than many North Americans realize. There are thriving businesses, modern transportation systems, malls more modern than many in the U.S. Real estate is booming. There are fantastic opportunities for tourism, beautiful countrysides, etc.
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89	"One of the great opportunities..." One of the great opportunities for trade with Colombia is in the area of ornamental horticulture. Already our biggest supplier of cut flowers, there is still much potential for exportation of ornamental horticultural crops…
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138	"The situation in Colombia has..." The situation in Colombia has improved greatly in recent years…
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143	"Still," Still, it is a country of great contrasts, with many needs and problems.
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145	What can we as North Americans do? Better try to understand the situation and our part in it. Our problems with drugs cause all kinds of suffering for Colombians. Remember their faces. Realize that it is in our best interest, too, to see Colombia thrive. More trade means more economic opportunities and more jobs.
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147	"The next photo," The next photo, taken in Medellin, was of a church service for people displaced from their homes and land by the fighting… all just from areas in the region near Medellin. In the whole country there are many thousands more like them. Remember, much of the money that funds this fighting comes from the U.S. It’s a complex problem, one which we can’t turn our back on.
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