Documents of the V Summit of the Americas
and the IV Peoples' Summit of the Americas

Draft Declaration of Commitment -- V Summit of the Americas
• 'Securing Our Citizens' Future by Promoting Human Prosperity, Energy Security and Environmental Sustainability' 

A Key Document of the IV Peoples' Summit
• "Regional Integration: An Opportunity to Overcome the Crisis" - Hemispheric Social Alliance

V Summit of the Americas
Draft Declaration of Commitment

'Securing Our Citizens' Future by Promoting
Human Prosperity, Energy Security and
Environmental Sustainability'

- Drafted July 21, 2008 -

1. Guided by a renewed spirit of regional cooperation, integration and solidarity, we, the Heads of State and Government of the democratic countries of the Americas, have gathered in Port of Spain, at the Fifth Summit of the Americas, with a firm commitment to improve the well-being of all our people by advancing collective solutions to the most pressing challenges facing our Hemisphere. We reiterate our will to strengthen national and hemispheric efforts to create conditions for greater peace, security and prosperity for all the peoples of the Americas.

2. In accordance with the principles and values of the Charter of the Organization of American States (OAS), the Inter-American Democratic Charter, and the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, we are determined to continue our fight against poverty, hunger, social exclusion, discrimination and inequality which afflict the lives and erode the hopes of so many in our Hemisphere.

3. We, therefore, renew our commitment, to all the peoples of the Americas, to improve the quality of their lives by adopting and implementing an Inter-American strategy of collaboration, with the support of the institutions of the United Nations and the Inter-American System, to complement all our nations' efforts to foster greater opportunities for decent employment, to improve health, wellness and nutrition, to increase access to quality education, to ensure adequate and sustainable energy, and to manage our environment responsibly.

4. We affirm that these issues are closely inter-dependent with our efforts to build stronger democratic institutions, promote good governance and social inclusion, uphold the rule of law, increase access to justice, protect human rights, combat violence, crime and terrorism, and achieve broader civic participation of all citizens of the Inter-American Community.

Promoting Human Prosperity

5. Deep and persistent inequalities continue to exist, especially in education, income levels, health and nutritional status, exposure to violence and crime, and access to basic services. In response, we will continue to develop and implement social protection programmes that are specifically targeted to the poor and vulnerable groups in our societies, in order to ensure equal access for all men and women to basic social services such as water, housing, healthcare, food and sanitation.

6. We commit to exchange information on policies, experiences and good practices in order to support our national efforts to reduce social disparities and inequality, and halve poverty by the year 2015. We request the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to coordinate the process of reviewing and consolidating all existing social protection and poverty eradication programmes by the end of 2010, in collaboration with the Ministers responsible for Finance, Planning and Development, as well as other regional and sub-regional financial and development institutions, in order to increase efficiency, reduce duplication, identify gaps and optimise the use of resources.

7. We recognize that to eliminate poverty and hunger, create jobs, and raise the standard of living of all our people, we must achieve higher levels of continuous economic growth with equity. We also recognize the positive contribution of open trade policies in the promotion of growth, employment and development. We, therefore, commit to continue implementing sound macro-economic policies that are characterized by appropriate and transparent fiscal and monetary measures, prudent public expenditures, higher domestic savings and high growth rates. We will also continue to promote private sector development, diversify economic activity, improve competitiveness and strengthen economic integration. We are committed to boosting investment in energy, transport and communications infrastructure to attract additional private investment and promote business development.

8. In accordance with the Decent Work in the Americas: An Agenda for the Hemisphere (2006-2015), we will continue to facilitate and encourage the creation of more decent and productive employment opportunities in the formal sector. We instruct the Ministers of Labour, within the context of the OAS Inter-American Conference of Ministers of Labour, in collaboration with the unions and the employers' organizations and with the support of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), to develop a coordinated plan to continue to address the objectives of the Agenda by the end of 2010.

9. With the support of the ILO and in accordance with the Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, we will adopt the necessary policies and regulations to facilitate and promote the movement of enterprises and workers from the informal to the formal sector. We also reaffirm that all migrants regardless of their immigration status, should be accorded the full protection of human rights and the full observance of labour laws applicable to them.

10. We reiterate our commitment to protect women and children from economic exploitation and we call on the Ministers responsible for Education, Labour and Social Development to adopt coordinated national strategies to prevent and eradicate child labour by 2020 according to the Decent Work Agenda, and develop innovative strategies to bring children back into healthy learning environments. We also reiterate our commitment to eliminate forced labour before 2010.

11. Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises are fundamental to economic growth, employment creation and poverty reduction. We call on the World Bank, IDB and other regional banks to accelerate their efforts to promote private sector expansion and development by doubling lending to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and tripling the numbers of enterprises accessing credit by 2012.

12. We will work towards eliminating administrative and bureaucratic barriers to the creation of new enterprises. We will, therefore, adopt the necessary reforms to simplify the processes involved in starting and closing business ventures, and commit to reducing business start-up time to a maximum of 30 days by 2012. We call on the IDB and the World Bank to support national efforts to improve the legislative frameworks and administrative procedures for achieving this target.

13. In order to foster innovation and entrepreneurship, we commit to increasing investment in research and development to a minimum of 1% of GDP by 2015 and to strengthening the linkages among universities, science institutions, the private sector, multilateral agencies and workers. We will also develop, harmonise and enforce intellectual property laws and regulations in order to safeguard works of innovation and creativity.

14. Feeding our people is now the most immediate challenge confronting our Hemisphere and, indeed, the world. We, therefore, commit to taking an active role, working in partnership with the international community, to develop and implement comprehensive policies and programmes to resolve this challenge. We reaffirm our commitment to the 2008 Rome Declaration on World Food Security, to the objectives of the World Food Summit and to the Millennium Development Goal to halve the number of undernourished people by 2015.

15. We commit to developing new national and regional approaches under AGRO Plan 2015 and instruct Ministers of Agriculture to adopt strategic actions to facilitate the implementation of this Plan based on the consensus of their 2007 Hemispheric Meeting in Guatemala.

16. We recognize that the problems of inequality of access and exclusion from basic health services persist, especially among the most vulnerable, including women, children, indigenous peoples and the poor. We, therefore, commit to providing essential social protection and universal access to quality healthcare, taking into account labour, environment, gender and social security policies, and will increase public spending on health to at least 5% of GDP by 2015 in order to address the health challenges faced by our people.

17. While the region has made strides in reducing mortality in infants and children under 5 years, neonatal mortality has not decreased at the same rate. We call on the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) to continue to assist countries in addressing this problem through the implementation of the Regional Strategic Plan of Action based on the Interagency Strategic Consensus on Reducing Neonatal Mortality and Morbidity in Latin America and the Caribbean.

18. We are convinced that the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) can be reduced by comprehensive and integrated preventive and control strategies at the individual, family, community, national and regional levels and through collaborative programmes, partnerships and policies supported by governments, the private sector, the media, NGOs and relevant regional and international partners. We, therefore, reiterate our support for the PAHO/WHO Regional Strategy on an Integrated Approach to the Prevention and Control of Chronic Diseases Including Diet, Physical Activity, and Health.

19. We instruct our Ministers of Health, with the support of PAHO/WHO, to establish surveillance systems by 2015 for NCDs and their risk factors, as part of our national public health surveillance systems. We encourage the establishment of National Commissions on non-communicable diseases to plan and coordinate comprehensive prevention and control strategies.

20. We commit to improving reproductive health, mental health services, community-based health care; the introduction of cost effective prevention approaches; broader screening to permit early detection of disease; and the provision of essential medicines especially to the most needy.

21. In addition, we commit to taking the necessary actions to improve the nutritional levels of all the people in the Americas by 2015 and to the full implementation of the Regional Strategy on Nutrition and Health Development 2006-2015, coordinated by PAHO.

22. In order to address the spread of vector borne diseases, especially dengue, we commit to the implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005) and call on PAHO to prepare a regional contingency plan that contains the new guidelines as set forth in the IHR by the end of 2009.

23. We are committed to the goal of halting and reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS and other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) by 2015 by providing universal access for men and women to prevention, care, treatment and support. We will implement a regional strategy to provide such access under the coordination of the WHO and PAHO. We also commit to reducing the incidence of mother-to-child transmission of HIV to less than 5% by 2015. We reiterate our commitment to strengthening and providing adequate financing to the Global Fund to Combat AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

24. We affirm that equal access to quality education, adapted to local and global realities, is a human right, a public good and a political priority. Improving early childhood care and education, primary education and teacher training are essential approaches to achieving universal primary education by 2010.

25. We reaffirm our commitment to achieving a secondary education enrollment rate of at least 75% by the year 2010 and we now call on the Ministers of Education and the OAS, with the support of the specialised regional institutions and UNESCO, to develop a gender-sensitive hemispheric strategy to reform secondary education and make it accessible to all our children, especially those from marginalised groups, by 2015. This strategy must include reform of curricula based on the principles of equity, quality, relevance and efficiency in education, take into account cultural, linguistic and ethnic diversity, and encourage innovation and creativity.

26. Recognising that education is a lifelong process that promotes social inclusion and allows people to contribute more fully to their societies, we give high priority to improving the quality of, and access to, tertiary, vocational and adult education, especially for women, rural inhabitants, persons with disabilities, Afro-descendants and indigenous peoples. We, therefore, commit to increasing the tertiary participation rate to a minimum of 40 per cent by 2020, and urge countries which have already made considerable advances in this area, to exchange good practices that will support the efforts of other countries to achieve this target. We also commit to support the ongoing professional development of teachers.

27. We will continue to invest in our young people and adopt policies and programmes that will expand their economic opportunities, increase their social engagement, open avenues for leadership, allow for meaningful participation in decision-making activities, and increase the quality and coverage of social services aimed at improving their lives and promoting healthy lifestyles. We, therefore, reaffirm our commitment to the 2008 Declaration of Medellín on Youth and Democratic Values.

28. It is essential that the technological gap, both among and within the nations of the Americas, be reduced. We, therefore, renew our commitment to collaborate with regional, sub-regional and multinational agencies to advance progress in the implementation of initiatives under the Agenda for Connectivity in the Americas and the Plan of Action of Quito. We instruct our Ministers and High Level Authorities with responsibility for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to promote the use of ICTs in our education systems and our public and business sectors, and to widen access for households and communities.

29. We recognise that inter-cultural dialogue and respect for cultural diversity promote mutual understanding and convergence, which help reduce conflict, discrimination and the barriers to economic opportunity and social participation. We commit to nurturing creativity and promoting cultural industries as part of our policies for the promotion of social development, sustainable economic growth, job creation and income generation, especially for young adults.

Promoting Energy Security

30. We will develop clean, affordable and sustainable energy systems by reducing the energy and carbon-intensity of our economies, promoting energy efficiency in all sectors, diversifying our energy by developing low-carbon and renewable sources, and encouraging the cleaner, more efficient use of fossil fuels. We commit to increase the contribution of renewable and low-carbon energy sources to meet a minimum of 50 per cent of our national primary energy demands by 2050 at the latest and will introduce, as necessary, new financing and policy frameworks in order to facilitate and accelerate this process.

31. We also commit to enhancing energy efficiency and conservation, especially in our transport systems and industrial sectors, among small and medium-sized enterprises and at the household level in order to promote more sustainable patterns of production and consumption. We encourage the introduction of minimum efficiency requirements and harmonised ratings systems for both domestic and industrial appliances. We will review building codes and raise the standards for energy efficiency, and develop urban planning guidelines to encourage more energy-efficient cities.

32. We will further promote diversification of energy technologies, infrastructure, supplies and routes, and facilitate non-discriminatory third-party access to transit infrastructure to encourage the development of transparent, efficient and orderly energy markets. We commit to making all relevant planning and regulatory requirements simpler, more coherent, transparent and effective by the end of 2012.

33. Recognising the potential of new and emerging technologies for diversifying the energy matrix, we will encourage the development, manufacture and use of both current and next-generation biofuels including sugar-based, cellulosic, algal and bacterial biofuels, an d will develop a set of compatible specifications by the end of 2015 in order to facilitate their trade and increased use, taking into account existing and planned standards. We will develop strategies for sustainable biomass cultivation and production, with particular regard to the need to ensure food security and, by the end of 2012 at the latest, develop a strategy for second-generation and more advanced biofuels that will ensure that they do not compete directly with other agricultural crops for land, water or fertilizer. We will also support the development and use of on and off-shore wind turbines, conventional and polymer photovoltaics, solar towers, geothermal and hydropower, hydrogen fuel cells and other new energy technologies.

34. Many renewable sources of energy are intermittent or only available in particular locations. We will, therefore, develop and invest in new energy infrastructures, support the development of cross-border, efficient low-carbon energy generation and distribution grids and other energy-trading and cooperation networks. We will cooperate to improve the security, safety and stability of our critical energy infrastructure and supply networks and to ensure that all links in the energy supply chain operate to the highest standards of human health and safety, environmental protection and physical security.

35. We commit to the promotion of clean energy through research and development, the transfer of environmentally sound technologies, and the commercialization of new, cleaner energy solutions. Priority will be given to increasing international cooperation and sharing information in the search for solutions that can benefit all our nations.

36. We will increase public awareness on energy and environmental issues and commit to ensuring, by 2012, that the people of the Americas have universal access to accurate, reliable and impartial information on energy, environmental and climate change issues.

37. Recognizing that the issues of the availability, cost and security of our energy supplies, our economic competitiveness and the sustainability of our environment are closely intertwined, we commit to the development of a coherent policy framework that takes into consideration our diverse situations, circumstances and opportunities and allows for the simultaneous strengthening and diversification of all our economies.

38. We, therefore, instruct all Ministers with responsibility for Energy, Planning, Regulation and Finance, within the framework of the OAS and the Sustainable Energy Partnership of the Americas (SEPA), with the support and guidance of the IDB and the World Bank, taking into account the diverse conditions, opportunities, legislative and regulatory frameworks in our countries, and building on existing energy cooperation and integration initiatives, to develop a strategy of cooperation among our nations, international organizations and the private sector that will increase energy efficiency, diversify energy sources, minimise environmental impact, strengthen energy independence, and secure access to safe, affordable energy supplies for all, especially the poorest. We further instruct our Ministers to develop this strategy by the end of 2011 at the latest.

Promoting Environmental Sustainability

39. All social and economic development depends on the conservation and protection of the environment. We, therefore, reaffirm our strong commitment to sustainable development, as set out in the World Summits on Sustainable Development in Rio in 1992 and Johannesburg in 2002, the Declaration of Santa Cruz de la Sierra of 1996, the Declaration of Santa Cruz +10 of 2006, and the Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations.

40. We commit to take the necessary steps to ensure the eventual stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that will not incur a risk of serious changes in the Earth's climate and weather systems.

41. We will strengthen our mechanisms for the sharing of early warning information on natural disasters, for disaster planning and preparedness, and for managing and coordinating response and relief programmes following a disaster.

42. We instruct Ministers and High Level Authorities responsible for Sustainable Development, in collaboration with the specialised national and regional disaster organizations, to develop, by 2011, a cooperation system within the Americas through which they can collaborate, share information, develop models of good practice, and ascertain which areas of human settlement and sections of essential industrial and transport infrastructure are at risk, and to then ensure that they are either protected or relocated.

43. We will introduce stronger planning and zoning measures to ensure that any future residential, commercial or industrial developments are not located in vulnerable areas, and we will facilitate better access to education, training, land, credit, and housing to ensure that poor people are not trapped in vulnerable areas by the fear of losing their livelihoods.

44. We will also work towards promoting sound environmental governance by strengthening national environmental laws and building institutional capacity to manage environmental resources in accordance with our sustainable development priorities.

45. We also support further dialogue and cooperation under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), including the commitments on long-term cooperative action established in Montreal in 2005 and in the Bali Road Map of 2008, and commit to work towards a global agreement at the UNFCCC Meeting in Copenhagen in 2009.

46. We renew our support for the Inter-American Programme for Sustainable Development (IAPSD) and instruct the Ministers and all other authorities responsible for sustainable development to gather in 2010, under the auspices of the OAS, in collaboration with the PAHO and the international financial and development institutions concerned with sustainable development, and with the participation of the academic community and civil society, to assess the achievements of the Programme to date, and to propose, where appropriate, new goals for a renewed IAPSD, with a particular focus on the integrated management of both domestic and shared water resources, prevention and mitigation of disasters, forest and fisheries management, sustainable agricultural management and rural development, ecosystem and biodiversity protection, natural resources management, urban environmental management and the treatment of hazardous wastes. We will give special attention to the most vulnerable areas, including low-lying coastal regions and small island developing states.

47. We also direct the Ministers and all other authorities responsible for sustainable development, in conjunction with the World Bank and the IDB, working under the auspices of the OAS, to undertake a comprehensive review of the potential impacts of climate change for all the nations of the Americas by 2011, and to formulate national Plans of Action for the management and mitigation of these impacts, with special attention to the needs of people likely to be displaced or to lose their livelihoods. We further instruct that each of these national reviews be used to inform the development of a Regional Strategy for the Management of Climate Change Impacts, to be formulated jointly by the World Bank and the IDB by 2013.

Strengthening Public Security

48. We are determined to persevere in our efforts to prevent and combat terrorism and organised crime, in full compliance with our obligations under international law, including human rights, refugee and international humanitarian law. We, therefore, instruct all Ministers with responsibility for security, policing, intelligence and armed forces, within the framework of the OAS, to continue to cooperate and utilize our collective resources to prevent terrorists and criminal organizations from trespassing across borders and acquiring weapons, and to prevent and combat terrorism and organized crime.

49. We will deny any resources to terrorists and criminals and will combine our efforts to identify, track, seize or freeze assets associated with terrorism and organised crime, in accordance with national legislation and consistent with international law.

50. We direct the OAS, through the Secretariat for Multi-Dimensional Security, to continue in the preparation of a high level meeting of experts and authorities to develop a common approach to matters related to crime and violence and also to prepare a regional strategy to promote Inter-American cooperation in dealing with criminal gangs, giving special attention to young people.

Strengthening Democratic Governance

51. All of our aspirations and goals for the Americas depend on strong democracies, good governance, the rule of law and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. We, therefore, renew our commitment to strengthen our democratic institutions and uphold and apply the principles and values of the Inter-American Democratic Charter.

52. Committed to increasing the transparency, integrity, accountability and efficiency in the public and private sectors, we will strengthen our fight against all forms of corruption and unethical behavior. We renew our commitment to the Inter-American Convention Against Corruption and will develop and implement policies that foster a culture of integrity and transparency among citizens and public officers, and within public offices and institutions.

53. We reaffirm our commitment to the defense, protection and promotion of human rights and to the independence and strengthening of the Inter-American System of Human Rights.

54. The Social Charter of the Americas and its Plan of Action will offer our citizens more opportunities to benefit from sustainable development with equity and social inclusion. We, therefore, commit to conclude and adopt these documents before the end of 2009.

55. We also reaffirm that discrimination of any kind inhibits the full participation of all persons in society and will continue and conclude negotiations on the Inter-American Convention Against Racism and All Forms of Discrimination and Intolerance. We will also continue to develop the American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

56. We commit to continue mainstreaming gender into our public policies and to strengthen the institutional mechanisms for the advancement of girls and women. We will advance women's full and equal participation in political life and decision-making at all levels in their countries, and enforce laws that promote respect for their human rights, and gender equity and equality.

57. We recognise the important role of the OAS in the peaceful resolution of our differences and in support of the objectives of the Inter-American Democratic Charter. We commit to improve the capacity of the OAS in its efforts to assist in enhancing peace and the democratic, social and economic stability of our region.

Strengthening the Summit of the Americas, Follow-Up and Implementation Effectiveness

58. We recognise that the issues of human prosperity, energy security and environmental security are closely intertwined and that an integrated, coherent policy framework is essential to the achievement of the commitments we have made here to the people of our Hemisphere.

59. In order to strengthen Ministerial participation in the Summit Process, to improve the implementation of our decisions at this Fifth Summit, and to increase accountability to the people of the Americas, we instruct the technical secretariats of all Ministerial Meetings to inform their Ministers and High Level Authorities of the mandates of this Summit and initiate strategic actions, by the end of 2009, to facilitate the implementation of our commitments. We further commit to convening the Summit of the Americas on a regular basis and no later than every three years.

60. We instruct the General Secretariat of the OAS, in accordance with its central role in the implementation of Summit mandates, to provide a comprehensive report to the Summit Implementation Review Group (SIRG), annually, on the actions and progress made at all Ministerial Meetings and by the institutions of the United Nations and the Inter-American System, towards achieving the specific targets set at this Summit.

61. We direct the Ministers of Finance in collaboration with the multilateral financial institutions to convene a meeting, in the first quarter of 2010, to ensure that technical cooperation resources are available to finance the different elements of the Inter-American initiatives agreed in this document.

62. We reiterate the call, made at the Third Summit of the Americas in Quebec City, for Ministers of Finance to increase their involvement in the Summit of the Americas process and instruct them to explore ways to strengthen the strategic alliances, at the national level, among all Ministries, including those responsible for education, health, labour, social development, youth, information and communication, agriculture, energy, the environment, and crime and security.

63. We also call upon the institutions of the Joint Summit Working Group to further strengthen their commitment and to develop coordinated programmes of action to deliver the goals for the Americas set out in this Declaration.

64. We commit to encouraging the participation of civil society in the design and execution of development policies and programmes by providing technical and financial assistance to strengthen and build their capacity to participate more fully in the Inter-American System.

65. We also commit to continue exploring ways in which our governments can build, strengthen and maintain alliances with the business sector and to harness the expertise and resources which exist within this sector, in order to develop and implement effective, practical and sustainable interventions to achieve our national and hemispheric development goals.

66. We, the Heads of State and Government of the Americas, agree that this document shall be known as the ‘Declaration of Commitment of Port of Spain', and we hereby approve it on this the 19th day of April, in the year 2009.

A Document of the IV Peoples' Summit

"Regional Integration: An Opportunity
to Overcome the Crisis"

- Hemispheric Social Alliance, March 2009 -

The Crisis as a Unique Opportunity

The current economic crisis is systemic in nature and marks the demise of the neoliberal model of development and globalization. It is imperative that we build concrete alternatives to this model, which, until recently, had been artificially sustained by a bubble of multiple speculative operations. We must also reflect on the fact that this pattern of functioning of the world economy in general, and of the financial system in particular, has come to an end. In this context, Latin American countries have before them a historical opportunity for advancing towards a just and sustainable model of development for the region.

When proposing solutions to the crisis, we have the advantage of not having to confront the model while in its full force, as it has obviously reached its limits. Indeed, this is where opportunity lies, as such a broad space for proposing and constructing alternatives was not as visible a short while ago, nor was it expected to appear -- especially in the world of "laissez faire -- laissez passer," of the dominant neoliberal "pensee unique" and "the end of history."

The current crisis exposes the failure of a system full of promises, yet incapable of fulfilling them. The women and men excluded by capital's policies have lost faith in the "free trade" myth and the current hegemonic model of production and management of natural and energy resources.

Why Regional Integration Is a Solution

Regional integration appears today as an alternative that will enable countries in the region to overcome the global economic crisis by creating dynamic economic relations and ties of solidarity among themselves.

- The global market crisis and the limits of domestic markets

The global markets have suffered a collapse and lost their capacity to generate dynamism for the economies in the region, which, in recent years, had gaily navigated the waves created by spectacular increases in food and livestock, mineral and energy commodity prices. The impacts of the crisis are already becoming visible in our countries, demonstrating that the improvements in some macroeconomic indicators, which had been achieved through this type of insertion into the world economy, have not been sufficient to produce structural changes to the development model. That is, the model has not become one of increased sectoral homogeneity, with a dynamic internal market based on the consumption of those at the "bottom of the pyramid"; diversified exports in terms of both products and trading partners; improved job and product quality; and greater social and environmental justice.

There is no guarantee that the economic situation after the crisis will be one of great liquidity of capital and credit, as there was in recent years. Therefore, national governments must face the dilemma of either waiting for the global crisis to pass and when it does, try to slowly recuperate the dynamism in sales of traditional export products on the international market, knowing that the chances of this happening are low; or pursuing limited nationalist solutions that are constrained by the lack of resources and markets most countries in the region face when acting alone.

- Energy, food and water for all

Latin America -- as a region -- has abundant water, environmental, social, cultural, mineral and energy resources, as well as considerable technological development capacities. Its chances of attaining food, water and energy sovereignty are greater than other regions of the planet. There are public and private enterprises that own infrastructure and could be brought into the regional integration process. Finally, there are governments and social movements in the region that share a reasonable level of political solidarity with regards to the integration process.

When faced with the dilemma posed by the current crisis, then, regional integration appears as a viable and important alternative, as a possibility of moving towards a new development model that is more sustainable and just than the one that has been implanted in our countries until now.

Regional integration, as conceived by the people in the region, offers greater opportunities for our countries. It proposes that the principle of solidarity replace savage competition and the free market, which -- as we well know and the crisis has clearly demonstrated -- lead neither to balance nor justice, as some theorists claimed it would. The peoples' integration would be founded on the principles of complementarity and solidarity and would focus on attaining more socially and economically equitable and just societies. The ultimate objective would be to ensure that system works to benefit all men and women in a holistic manner.

Non-traditional experiences in integration, like the ALBA (Alternativa Bolivariana para las Americas or Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas, in English), show that complementarity and solidarity between our countries can satisfy the needs of our population in a much more rational and efficient way than intra-regional competition, free trade or having the market act as the system's only regulatory mechanism.

Processes of Integration in the Region and the Dispute for a Popular and Sustainable Integration Model

While looking at the various integration processes in the Americas, one can say that, on the bright side, they have evolved slowly -- so slow that they appearing to be paralysed. One cannot deny that some progressive measures have been taken in Mercosur: for example, the incorporation of concerns about the existing asymmetries within the block and incipient efforts to create funds for addressing this problem. The same can be said for changes in political institutions and the advances in the Union of South American Nations, or UNASUR (its abbreviation in Spanish). However, in more concrete terms, the processes' potential to improve the quality of living of the peoples and workers in our region is far from becoming reality.

On the down side, one can observe the subjugation of these processes to neoliberal thought through the adoption of the "open regionalism" model. The application of this model has left grave marks on the Andean Community (CAN), Central America and the Caribbean. Encouraged by the promotion of indiscriminate competition -- both within and between trading blocks -- and the signing of bilateral free trade agreements with Europe and the United States, open regionalism has reduced integration to its commercial aspects (trade), thereby eroding possibilities to develop the other dimensions of integration. Nothing indicates that this type of integration has benefitted the societies of these countries.

In other words, when one observes the lengthy experience of regional integration processes in the Americas -- some having lasted for over 40 years -- and takes into consideration the path they have followed until now, it is not clear that regional integration could potentially benefit our people. What is evident, though, is that the rhetoric of political commitment to integration has often been confronted, in practice, with the adoption of solutions that give priority to national political or economic interests. Collective actions and solutions are relegated to a secondary plane, as governments have been unwilling to assume the so-called short-term "costs" of integration.

To overcome the political dimension of this problem, the pursuit of the consolidation of national sovereignty must be understood within the framework of a common commitment to deepening democracy and the autonomy of the region; an example of this is UNASUR's recent intervention in conflicts in Bolivia. In this sense, consistent and sustained commitment of governments to the integration processes is fundamental. Such a commitment must be expressed through the building of solid institutions that function according to policies and common actions developed while truly exercising shared and genuine sovereignty.

It is undeniable that what has made an alternative form of integration possible and feasible is the fact that in many countries, the State has recuperated its ability to promote productive and social development or has made significant progress in this area. This is why we must insist that the alternative model of integration we pursue is not incompatible, but rather complementary to the defence of and advances in national sovereignty. This does not imply defending strict nationalism, but rather a possible path towards integration between nations -- nations that are not simply victims of imperialist plans, but rather sovereign nations with national development projects. These projects must be articulated on a regional level.

Latin America, the New Geopolitical Situation and the Construction of a New Regionally Based Model of Development

Regional integration can play a key role in this new historical context, especially when we consider two fundamental strategic perspectives that have widened in recent years:

* Countries in the region want to define their own role in the multi-polar world that is emerging, in spite of the growing difficulties caused by the U.S. government's unilateralism. They are unable to assume this role on their own,

* No single country, not even the most powerful ones, acting isolatedly will be able to implement dynamics that differ from those driven by the globalized world market. In other words, to be "post-neoliberal," national development processes must be linked to regional integration.

* However, to move forward in this direction, the integration process must be seen as part of a transition towards an alternative model of production and consumption that overcomes the limits of the current development model.

The crisis and the limits it imposes on the possibility of maintaining the status quo should compel us to overcome existing weaknesses and to develop the new dynamism that institutional developments must promote. These efforts must be linked to the need to respond to the crisis with an autonomous and alternative development project for the region -- that is, one that has been emancipated from the interests of current world powers.

Defining the Path that Will Lead Us to the Type of Regional Integration We Propose

- A regionally organized and regulated production strategy

First and foremost, this strategy must be radically different from providing support for major companies that are seeking to acquire at the regional level the strength they need to compete in the global market. This type of integration only results in increasing capital's mobility and profits. This strategy has been promoted in the region for over a decade, through proposals such as the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas (FTAA) and the Initiative for the Integration of Regional Infrastructure in South America (IIRSA), as well as the push for progressive liberalization during negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO). These companies will soon attempt to reactivate this process, which could advance freely and rapidly if it is not confronted by an integration project based on solidarity that serves as a political and economic counterproposal. This is not, however, the kind of integration we want.

To construct regional integration as an alternative to the crisis, we must focus our attention on two essential elements. First, one important task for the on-going process of building alternative regional institutions should be the regulation of these companies' operations at the regional level, taking into account social, cultural, environmental and other interests. Second, it is fundamental that the production chains in the region be restructured according to a new scale of the companies' operations at the regional level. This must be done in a way that ensures that their expansion is not seen as an attempt to reaffirm hegemonies and the power of some countries over others, but rather as one possible way of generating economic dynamism, employment and wealth for the entire region.

- Overcoming asymmetries as a short-, medium- and long-term objective

One of the priorities of the integration process should be to overcome asymmetries between countries and within the countries of the region, creating integrated production systems as well as production, service and trade circuits in which everyone may become integrated. The fundamental objective would be to use this process to generate dynamic development opportunities for regions and countries that are currently experiencing difficulties or suffering from stagnation. Given the historical accumulation of fragilities of entire regions and countries in Latin America, we should first adopt specific policies that seek to compensate existing asymmetries in the short run, namely in the area of social development, in a way that reduces the differences and, at the same time, allows these regions to develop their ability to take advantage of dynamic opportunities in the process.

- Regional technical and cultural production

Incentives could and should be provided for important elements, due to their capacity to propel the regional development process and to increase the visibility and popularity of our alternatives. They also have potential to generate dynamism and to contribute to finding solutions for specific problems in the region.

One such element is the integration of centres of technological development and cultural production/broadcasting in the region. In several countries, there already exist centres for technological development (specialized or generic) in various fields ranging from agriculture and livestock to the aeronautic and pharmaceutical industries, among others. There is no reason not to integrate these centres. We should do so in order to take advantage of their synergies and use the resources generated in the region for the benefit of all of Latin America. The same can be said for the region's enormous potential in audiovisual production and sports, and its even greater potential for development, which only the creation of a new scale of consumption derived from an expanded regional market could provide.

Furthermore, this proposal must be defended during negotiations in the WTO and with other trading blocks (like the EU) on "Rules of Origin." The major powers specifically use these rules to stop small countries and emerging economies from coordinating their productive activities with the goal of exporting to markets outside of the region.

- Small and medium enterprises as a priority

Another element is providing general or sector-based incentives for the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). SMEs could be stimulated by the integrated development of regional markets. They could also operate in a range of fields -- from software development to tourism (e.g. a network small hostels or hotels) -- and take advantage of the region's diversity in cultures and environments. Small and medium enterprises offer real potential in terms of job creation. Moreover, by linking them to the regional integration process -- that is, one that truly supports development -- they could lend significant social legitimacy to the process.

- Regional food sovereignty and support for family farming in small and medium production units

The viability of certain local and regional items produced by family and peasant farmers is compromised by the limits of consumption in these regions and in some countries. Therefore, the creation of a regional market could help to guarantee the viability of a more diversified production of agricultural products. This production must differ from the homogeneity of the products and productive processes that are typical of agribusiness, with its highly concentrated and transnationalized commercialization structure and technological packages. The distribution of these products could also gain momentum and promote regional gastronomy, gastronomic tourism and other activities that could generate economic dynamism and foster cultural integration.

- Facilitate intra-regional public transportation with the people as a priority

Integrating the region's transportation infrastructure is another fundamental element that would contribute to the regional integration process. It must take advantage of the diversity of existing modes of transportation and take into account local solutions for addressing environmental and climate issues. It must also consider regional perspectives for technological production and development and the possibility of creating regional public enterprises. Here, we need to think big, as problems in long-distance transportation cannot be resolved by building more highways. Why not think of reactivating and integrating local and regional railway systems? Why not think of integrating sea and river transportation by taking advantage of what already exists? Why not think of creating a regional airline company that makes the integration of a network of medium-size cities in the region feasibly by using small- and medium-size planes that the aeronautic industry in the region already has the potential to produce. We are not talking about an abstract problem, but rather one that every Latin American who has attempted to travel or transport cargo within the region has faced. It is important that we consider the impact of these processes in each country. We must also reaffirm strong support for the improvement of public transportation in urban centres, as a way to discourage the use of individual means of transport that have impacts on the demand for energy.

- Regional financial integration

The debate about the Banco del Sur brought to light the political challenges and different perspectives that exist in various countries. But it also showed the enormous potential and the need to develop a regional financial system that could simultaneously regulate finances on the regional level and protect economies in the region and the regional economy from external shocks. It should also create one or more mechanisms for fostering regional development and allow for a dynamic process of exchange between the Latin American economies, which does not mean sanctioning, through the use of currency, the power of the central capitalist economies. In other words, it should allow for the creation of a regional currency or a system in which a common unit of reference (that does not necessarily aim to make a common currency feasible) would be used in the region. Rather than acting as restrictions, the difficulties and financial turbulence should serve as a motive for intensifying discussion on and actions aimed at moving forward with the process of regional regulation and financial development.

- Regional energy solidarity and complementarity

Difficulties in regulating potential energy generation through regional agreements should have led to the consolidation of a regional public entity that regulates and promotes an integrated energy system. Moving beyond limited national interests, efforts to render energy generation feasible at the regional level must promote the use of all alternative sources, so that production methods are the least harmful as possible to the environment while, at the same time, ensure the satisfaction of a new pattern of production and consumption that will be established by an alternative regional development process. Reducing distances between producers and consumers to decrease the amount of energy used to transport products could be one of the many initiatives that would help to consolidate a new energy model. Fundamentally, this new model must be based on the premise of energy sovereignty and solidarity, on striving for increased efficiency and the diversification of energy sources, namely renewable ones.

- A new model for participation and transparency

Political and social sectors in favour of deepening Latin American integration processes must come together to reflect on what the appropriate mechanisms for civil participation are. We must avoid reproducing the logic inherited from the 1990s. In this sense, in order to promote the consolidation of democracy, mechanisms of social participation must be effective channels of dialogue and for advancing proposals through which social movements and organized civil society (made up of diverse political actors, including members of political parties and parliament) may express their needs and views on sensitive issues. For example, in the case of productive or infrastructure projects that have different kinds of territorial and environmental impacts, we need to develop a methodology that guarantees real participation in the decision-making process. This methodology must go beyond the logic of "presenting environmental impact studies," which capital has learned to manipulate for its benefit. It must guarantee that the decisions made take into account the collective interests of those directly affected by the projects, social license (as foreseen by the UN International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, ESCR, art.1, paragraph 2.), the redistribution of the project's benefits and its concrete contributions in terms of reducing poverty.

Constructing Integration for and by the Peoples

The essence and the motor of a new regional development model must be: the integration of millions of Latin American women and men into a new system of consumption and production that generates wealth and employment, allows for the expansion of the market in the region, builds an alternative development process and strives to drastically reduce all kinds of inequalities that exist among the people in the region.

In the same way we have already stated that we must overcome asymmetries between countries and within countries in the region, we must also assume a commitment to reducing social inequalities between the peoples and within the peoples. Here, we, the social movements, are proposing the transformation -- of the socioeconomic development model -- by transforming ourselves; that is to say -- we conceive the integration of diverse social subjects within our peoples as the starting point for the integration of the peoples. As such, the integration of the peoples -- of our nations -- must not only be "based on the political transformation for the peoples," but also based on the social transformation of the people. We conceive this process as an opportunity to advance in the transition towards another model of production and consumption, which requires new forms of organizing social, community and labour relations.

Transforming weakness into strength, needs into potential for development, inequalities to be overcome into possibilities for transformation and technological development, respect for cultural differences into the driving force of the regional integration process, even in economic terms. This is to be the engine of an alternative we can build so that -- far beyond the haziness and the turbulence of the current economic crisis -- we may see our real potential for creating a different and better world in Latin America and the Caribbean. We can then integrate this new world with other regions that must also take advantage of and develop their own possibilities.

Today, we, the social movements, when addressing the current global crisis or the combination of specific crises, have the historical opportunity of contributing towards what could be the beginning of the final stage of an exhausted system, which has been backed into a corner. We must go beyond merely responding to the crisis, caused by the inherent contradictions of the system itself, and move towards a real confrontation between the included and the excluded. This will only be possible if we are able to build an alternative productive matrix that allows us to live well and enjoy the good life.

For other documents and information visit the Common Frontiers' website for the IV Peoples' Summit: http://www.commonfrontiers.ca/IVpeoplessummit/

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