July 12th 2014 was the national day of action against the biggest threat to democracy in recent years. The Transatlantic Trade & Investment Partnership (TTIP) is a so-called ‘free trade’ deal currently being negotiated by the EU and US. This deal will give big business more power over our society, our environment, our public services, and our democracy.
Negotiations on TTIP between the EU and US began in July 2013 and are still ongoing. The sixth round of negotiations started on 14 July 2014 in Brussels, just two days after our national day of action.
In Edinburgh, activists decided to have a dancing robot flashmob on the day of action, to depict the ‘fight’ between corporations and people in the EU and US.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwsKkWrOhyk[/youtube]
We made over 30 robot costumes and had many brilliant robot dancers on the day, both people invited to the flashmob, but also passers-by who wanted to join in!
Behind the robots dancing, there was a massive banner saying ‘NO NHS PRIVATISATION, NO FRACKING, NO CORPORATIONS SUING GOVERNMENTS, NO TTIP!’
Photo Credit: Ric Lander
The robots were a great way to attract attention and people came over to watch the performance, so we got lots of action cards signed.
Coverage of TTIP has been minimal,because the biggest bi-lateral trade deal ever negotiated is going on behind closed doors, but a photo of the robots got in The Herald on Sunday.
More robot action…
On Monday 14th July, an exclusive group of attendees convened for the sixth round of TTIP negotiations, intent on achieving ‘regulatory coherence’ between the US and EU. Alarmingly, the negotiating text has been hidden from the press and public, whilst hundreds of corporate lobbyists have access to both the text and the negotiators.
British American Business is organising a TTIP roadshow around the UK to ‘highlight to companies across the UK how they can benefit from a successful trade agreement between the US and EU’. On 23rd September, the roadshow will be in Edinburgh, and the robots will be there to say no to TTIP!
More photos here, and here and here!!
If you want to get involved, please email activistsassemble@gmail.com!
And please write to your MP here to demand full transparency on the TTIP negotiations and to protect democracy, public services and the environment by opposing this aggressive new trade deal.
Photo Credit: Ric Lander
