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Hundreds Of Thousands March In Germany Against TTIP, CETA

Above Photo: Consumer rights activists take part in a march to protest against the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) in Frankfurt, Germany, September 17, 2016. (Photo: Reuters/Kai Pfaffenbach)

These agreements, says critics, ‘threaten environmental and consumer protection for millions of people in Europe and North America’

Hundreds of thousands took to city streets across Germany on Saturday as they marched against a pair of corporate-backed trade deals they say will undermine democracy, attack workers and local economies, and accelerate the threats posed by corporate hegemony and global warming.

“These agreements will weaken food safety laws, environmental legislation, banking regulations and undermine the sovereign powers of nations.” —Jennifer Morgan, Greenpeace International

Taking aim at both the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and theComprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), European Union deals with the United States and Canada respectively, opponents say the agreements are not really concerned with expanding trade but rather increasing corporate power.

“CETA and TTIP threaten environmental and consumer protection for millions of people in Europe and North America,” said Jennifer Morgan, co-executive director of Greenpeace International.  “These agreements will weaken food safety laws, environmental legislation, banking regulations and undermine the sovereign powers of nations.”

In a tweeted video, Morgan added:

And others used the #StopCETATTIP hashtag to share photos, thoughts, and updates during the day of action:

With large rallies in Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, Leipzig, Frankfurt, and other cities – the crowds have been estimated at anywhere from 250,000 to 320,000 nationwide.

Though TTIP negotiations, as Common Dreams reported, were said to have “de facto failed” last month, U.S. President Barack Obama has vowed to see the deal approved. And despite widespread opposition German Chancellor Angela Merkel also remains supportive.

Despite the precarious negotiations, the people in the streets on Saturday appear unwilling to take any chances. As those who spoke with the BBC indicated:

“I want us to get rid of TTIP and for European social and environmental standards to be respected, maintained and improved,” said Peter Clausing in Berlin.

Many demonstrators think the deal would lead to exploitation of people by businesses on both sides of the Atlantic.

“It will be the enterprises and banks that will have power over people worldwide,” said Tobias Kuhn. “That is a no-go. People need to know that and we will protest until there’s no chance of that happening anymore.”

In photos:

Around 250,000 people were expected to turn out for protests in seven German cities (AFP Photo/Odd Andersen)
Around 250,000 people were expected to turn out for protests in seven German cities (AFP Photo/Odd Andersen)
Around 250,000 people were expected to turn out for protests in seven German cities (AFP Photo/Odd Andersen)
Around 250,000 people were expected to turn out for protests in seven German cities (AFP Photo/Odd Andersen)
Consumer rights activists take part in a march to protest against the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) in Berlin, Germany, September 17, 2016. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch
Consumer rights activists take part in a march to protest against the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) in Berlin, Germany, September 17, 2016. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch
A man dressed like the Statue of Liberty attends a demonstration against the planned Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, TTIP, and the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, CETA in Berlin, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016. Thousands of people are rallying in cities across Germany to protest against planned European Union trade deals with the United States and Canada. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
A man dressed like the Statue of Liberty attends a demonstration against the planned Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, TTIP, and the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, CETA in Berlin, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016. Thousands of people are rallying in cities across Germany to protest against planned European Union trade deals with the United States and Canada. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
People demonstrate against the TTIP and CETA trade agreements in Leipzig, Germany, Sept. 17, 2016. Thousands of people are rallying in cities across Germany to protest against planned European Union trade deals with the United States and Canada. (Photo: AP)
People demonstrate against the TTIP and CETA trade agreements in Leipzig, Germany, Sept. 17, 2016. Thousands of people are rallying in cities across Germany to protest against planned European Union trade deals with the United States and Canada. (Photo: AP)

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