Over 10 Cities Mobilize Coordinated High Visibility Actions To Shine a Light on Secret TransPacific Partnership Trade Deal
[Seattle (and 10 other cities)]– To pull the TPP out of the shadows and into the light of public scrutiny, citizens in over 10 cities are taking their messages to interstate overpasses, prominent monuments, and busy city streets using coordinated daytime and nighttime high visibility tactics. They will deploy giant 30-foot banners saying No New NAFTA, mobilize LED light panels saying “(thumbs up) Democracy, STOP The TPP,” and bright light cannons with messages like “Corporate Tribunals WTF?.”
The TPP has been called NAFTA on steroids, a “corporate coup,” and concerned citizens from across the nation are calling on congress to Flush It. The TPP, the largest ever of it’s kind, is a race to the bottom international agreement on domestic and international policies of food safety, internet freedom, medicine costs, financial regulation, and the environment.
Masked as a trade deal, the agreement has been negotiated under supervision of 600 unelected corporate “trade advisors” while the text has been hidden from members of congress, the press, and the public. What has been learned about the TPP has come through leaked texts, and is alarming to members of congress worried about sovereign powers being negotiated away, public health officials, labor representatives, environmental groups, and advocates of consumer issues.
While Congress is constitutionally required to negotiate any international treaties, Fast Track would forfeit the Congress’ responsibility and the public’s right to weigh in on the TPP negotiations.
These coordinated citizen’s actions coincide with ongoing TPP negotiations taking place in Salt Lake City, Utah from November 12th – 24th and with a anticipated release by congressperson Rosa DeLauro and George Miller detailing the historic opposition to “Fast Track” among congress. In September, to the surprise of secret service, members of the Backbone Campaign “redecorated” the United States Trade Representatives office by scaling the building and unfurling giant banners demanding a release of the TPP text. The coordinated day of action and the anticipated statements by congress reveals the growing opposition to the TransPacific Partnership.
WHO: Backbone Campaign, Public Citizen’s Global Trade Watch, Washington Fair Trade Coalition, Popular Resistance, and more.
WHAT: Visibility Actions in Seattle and over 10 cities shining a light on secret trade agreement.
WHERE: SEATTLE (Other locations can be found at event pages below) I-5 Overpass at NE 50th Street and 7th Avenue NE Seattle WA
WHEN: 5 – 6 pm (in Seattle)
VISUALS: Giant Light Projections on public and government buildings, bright LED activist scrabble on freeway overpasses, and giant freeway overpass banners with messages like “NO New NAFTA,” “TPP Dismantles Democracy,” and “Corporate Tribunals WTF?” (A sampling of what to expect can be found here.
- Seattle, WA: Facebook Event HERE call 805-776-3882 for any questions.
- Dallas/Fortworth/Lewisville, Texas: Facebook Event HERE
- Sand Diego, CA: Facebook Event HERE
- Chicago, IL: Facebook Event HERE
- Detroit, MI: Facebook Event HERE
- Spokane, WA: Contact Ziggy @ 509-879-3988
- Bellingham, WA: Occupy Bellingham Website
- Olympia, WA: Facebook Event HERE or email Rod Tharp smcrae@earthlink.net
- Portland, OR: Facebook Event HERE
To speak with organizers of the day of action please contact Bill Moyer at 206-356-9980 or Eric Ross at 805-776-3882
Info and Collaborator Web Sites:
FlushTheTPP.Org
Popular Resistance
Public Citizen’s Global Trade Watch
Washington Fair Trade Coalition
Oregon Fair Trade Coalition
TPP Talking Points
Expose The TPP