Brussels, Belgium – As the 14th round of TTIP negotiations commenced, fair trade activists began their ‘games’ to raise awareness of the anti-democratic nature of the agreement and to slow its progress.
Early on, there were actions to ‘rebrand’ the negotiations, a tactic also known as ‘brandalism.’
Wow! the CocaCola ad screen in Brussels hacked by anti TAFTA activists! #TTIPgo #TTIPGAMEOVER pic.twitter.com/NQ3zDxpeVl
— Global NuitDebout (@GlobalDebout) July 14, 2016
On the first day of negotiations, with the help of the animal kingdom, activists found that the negotiations had been moved.
70 animaux #EZLN contre les négociateurs du #TTIPgo #MakeSomeNoise #TTIPGameOver ▶ Plus d’infos ici… https://t.co/TkRwG0LwFB — OccupyB✖L StopTTiP (@marchebxl) July 12, 2016
Nevertheless, hundreds of activists succeeded in making a lot of noise outside with a casserole demonstration.
Cacerolada frente a la Comisión en Bruselas contra el TTIP y CETA. #TTIPGAMEOVER pic.twitter.com/3DFWeyIbM9
— Podemos en Europa (@EuroPodemos) July 12, 2016
Can’t have a noise demo without the samba. Obviously! #TTIPGAMEOVER #D1920 #MakeSomeNoise #TTIP pic.twitter.com/gi7OPEdwNS — Pascoe Sabido (@pascoesabido) July 12, 2016
Shame on you! At EU Comm #STOPTTIP #TTIPGAMEOVER pic.twitter.com/Azq1SUAc9s
— Marcel van Baaren (@MarcelWoerden) July 12, 2016
Some of the negotiators unwittingly carried the TTIP Game Over message inside.
A new fan? Climate Commissioner, Miguel ‘oil baron’ Cañete, backing #TTIPGAMEOVER! & fracking; & #TTIP; shame on u! pic.twitter.com/16kdNo5M2o — TTIP GAME OVER (@TTIPGAMEOVER) July 12, 2016
On the second day of negotiations, activists were out early to make noise again!
That’s right, #MakeSomeNoise #TTIPgameOver Wake Up Brussels we’re not finished yet. #STOPCETA #STOPTTIP pic.twitter.com/deeUTSxmvm
— Ben Borges (@benborges_) July 13, 2016
Honk if you don’t want #TTIP! Commuters getting involved in #TTIPGAMEOVER pic.twitter.com/6HZwimjGUo — TTIP GAME OVER (@TTIPGAMEOVER) July 13, 2016
They found bold and creative ways to reach people with their message.
Coca Cola must hate #TTIP by now – or maybe just #TTIPGAMEOVER? Great action! #TTIPGO pic.twitter.com/m99CbWzmeQ
— TTIP GAME OVER (@TTIPGAMEOVER) July 13, 2016
For all those on your way to work, the message is pretty clear: #TTIPGAMEOVER. Which team was it this time? #TTIPGO pic.twitter.com/J3Gbh77qyZ — TTIP GAME OVER (@TTIPGAMEOVER) July 13, 2016
Some were visual and some used other senses.
Reports just in that stink bombs have been let off at the #ttip stakeholder day. #TTIPStinks #TTIPGAMEOVER #TTIPgo pic.twitter.com/sBiyRQ23n9
— TTIP GAME OVER (@TTIPGAMEOVER) July 13, 2016
On the third day, activists succeeded in locking down the entrances to the building where the negotiations were being held and they stopped the negotiations from proceeding.
Activists blocking TTIP negotiations building in Brussels #TTIPGAMEOVER #StopTTIP #StopCETA https://t.co/68f5Hk6gr6 pic.twitter.com/K1xDMnuw4x — AnotherEuropeNow (@AnotherEurope) July 14, 2016
Action de blocage des négociations secrètes du #ttip #ttipgo #ttipgameover pic.twitter.com/9xpuoNN61q
— Xavier Delwarte (@Altertierra) July 14, 2016
TTIP lock-down -all entrances covered #TTIPgo #TTIPGAMEOVER pic.twitter.com/XkyuZ8KAw5 — TTIP GAME OVER (@TTIPGAMEOVER) July 14, 2016
From pots and pans to pipes: ‘guardian angels’ at #stopTTIP lockdown to welcome negotiators. #TTIPGAMEOVER #TTIPgo pic.twitter.com/NSwFQdT0Mi
— TTIP GAME OVER (@TTIPGAMEOVER) July 14, 2016
Thanks to these early risers, #TTIP negotiators starting to arrive get democracy w their coffee-to-go. #TTIPGAMEOVER pic.twitter.com/5K1krkkNYW — TTIP GAME OVER (@TTIPGAMEOVER) July 14, 2016
[1/3 VIDEO] Before the police arrived – all blockades in place #TTIPLockDown #TTIPGAMEOVER #TTIPgo pic.twitter.com/aD0V8RcAG3
— Pascoe Sabido (@pascoesabido) July 14, 2016
[2/3 VIDEO] The moment the police arrived – from both sides #TTIPLockDown #TTIPGAMEOVER #TTIPgo pic.twitter.com/CRktNZcxPQ — Pascoe Sabido (@pascoesabido) July 14, 2016
[3/3 VIDEO] the police violently dragging people off the blockades #TTIPLockDown #TTIPGAMEOVER #TTIPgo pic.twitter.com/SUeHXcTei3
— Pascoe Sabido (@pascoesabido) July 14, 2016
With the negotiations shut down, it was time to celebrate!
Have the negotiators been partying all night? They’re covered in glitter! Or was that a #TTIPGAMEOVER team? #ttipgo pic.twitter.com/E60PPNYzOL — Pascoe Sabido (@pascoesabido) July 14, 2016
A giant thank you to our allies in the EU who put themselves on the line to protect people, all living creatures and the planet! Thank you for your courage.
From locked-on to locked-up: activists put in cells for blocking #TTIP talks. Spirits still high. #TTIPGAMEOVER pic.twitter.com/BdpoiP5lT0
— Pascoe Sabido (@pascoesabido) July 14, 2016
Solidarity outside the jail where the 40 who were arrested were held.
Solidarité devant les casernes une 40taine d’activistes arrêtés #TTIPLockDown #TTIPGAMEOVER #StopTTIP pic.twitter.com/m1aPXYtcuW — OccupyB✖L StopTTiP (@marchebxl) July 14, 2016