To the Editor:
The group of seven Dartmouth students protesting against free trade on the argument that it endangers human rights and the environment needs to travel more to developing countries. Nothing endangers human rights and the environment like abject poverty or centralized economies.
My observations are that introduction of first-world technology and business have greatly elevated the lifestyle of those in economically deprived nations who seek to improve their lot in life (granted, some do not wish to do so), and modern business practices have mitigated the impacts on the environment that result from poorly engineered and undercapitalized industries and business. In my business (mining), international design and construction standards exceed by far the local standards employed by local businesses. That is why we are welcomed by local governments and communities. The facts are, free trade improves the lives of local citizens and improves the environment.
Where on earth have these students been? We're not talking Paris and Rome here. We're talking northern Mexico, eastern Poland, central Brazil, west Africa, southern India, and many similar under-developed places around the world where populations are expanding faster than the existing local economies can accommodate them.
