Now that Congress has given the President authority to Fast Track the TransPacific Partnership (TPP), US negotiators are working furiously to complete the deal. The word is that the group negotiations fell apart in Maui in July so negotiators are meeting in secret one-on-one to work out the final details. There is contention over sections regarding agriculture, pharmaceuticals, automobiles and intellectual property rights.
Some countries are hesitant because the TPP is a bad deal for everyone except the transnational corporations and financiers who are set to line their pockets with more cash. Recently, tens of thousands of people took the streets in New Zealand with the message: “TPPA No Way, NZ Walk Away!” The world is mobilizing this fall against corporate globalization and for trade that puts people’s needs and protection of the planet over profit.
This is a crucial time to show greater resistance to this bad deal in the US. If we escalate now while the situation is fragile, we can win. If we rest now, they will proceed to finish it.
That is why we’ve issued this urgent national call to action for a mobilization in Washington, DC from Nov. 14 to 18 during the Asian Pacific Economic Council meetings.
Take action now!
1. Sign the TPP Resistance pledge: CLICK HERE.
2. Sign your organization on to the National Call to Action Against Global Corporate Domination (see below).
3. Join the National TPP Resistance Calls on Wednesday nights and participate in one of the working groups on media, outreach, education, action and creating TPP Free Zones or organize your own affinity group and plug in. CLICK HERE to register for the calls.
For questions and more information, contact Mackenzie@PopularResistance.org.
Call to Action
Against Global Corporate Domination
Click here for a pdf of the call to action that you can share: TPPTTIPTiSACalltoAction
The United States is negotiating three massive international treaties–the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the TransAtlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and the Trade-in-Services Agreement (TiSA). These agreements, whose contents are classified secrets, will expand global corporate domination, harming the planet and people everywhere and destroying democracy. From November 14 to 18, 2015, during the APEC meetings in the Philippines, thousands of people will converge on Washington, DC to demand that the first of these deals, the TPP, be stopped and an alternative international economic agreement that puts people and the planet first be negotiated in a transparent and democratic way.
These treaties, often called “trade agreements,” are much bigger than trade–only 5 of the 29 TPP chapters even deal with trade. They are corporate power grabs that impact every aspect of our lives.
Consider these examples:
- Rigged Tribunals: If passed, the TPP, TTIP, & TiSA wouldempower corporations to sue governments for laws down to the local level that hurt their expected future profits in rigged trade tribunals where the judges are usually corporate lawyers on temporary leave from their corporate job. Trade tribunals can overturn worker protections and bans on fracking or mining, prohibit labelling for public health or GMO foods, increase the cost of medicines and healthcare, prevent a rise in the minimum wage and regulation of big banks, disadvantage renewable energies and so much more. These tribunals will be more powerful than US courts, superseding even the Supreme Court.
- Deregulation: Laws at all levels of government will be required to be consistent with the secret trade agreements. The combination of the tribunals and the requirement for legal harmonization removes the power of governments to pass laws to protect people and the planet. As an example, the treaties ban Buy American or Buy Local provisions.
- Privatization: TPP, TTIP, & TiSA would drive greater and permanent privatization of services (80% of the US economy) from prisons, education and health care to management of services like municipal water and the postal service. The treaties ban climate action, immigration reform, buy american/local provisions, and take away our right to create a better society.
These agreements are a bad deal for people around the world, but some will be hurt worse than others. These treaties are a modern form of colonialism that will impact people of color, the poor, and oppressed communities greatly. They will expand US empire, white-supremacy, and corporate capitalism at home and abroad.
The world is rising against corporate globalization. In many countries, thousands are taking the streets to stop these agreements and call for a new system that puts human needs before corporate greed. In the US, a large and diverse movement of movements that includes labor, environmentalists, advocates for food security, education, human rights, housing, education, Internet freedom and more has come together.
This call to action, issued by Flush the TPP, is for everyone. Let us rise with our global sisters and brothers in creative nonviolent resistance this November. Join the call to action by completing the form below.
Click here to make a donation to support this work. For more information, visit www.FlushtheTPP.org.
Click here for a pdf of the call to action that you can share: TPPTTIPTiSACalltoAction
Endorsers:
Popular Resistance