TTIP: Take Back the Power is a free public event organised by the Trade Justice Movement. 7:30pm, Tuesday 11th December. Speakers include John Hilary of War on Want and Liz May of Traidcraft. The nearest tube station is Aldgate East.
TTIP
One tiny thing you can do to stop TTIP
At our July meeting, group treasurer Tina Everett gave a talk explaining in just five minutes why we need to fight TTIP. The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) is a deal being negotiated between the United States and the European Union. Sounds like business as usual – but this business is being conducted behind closed doors, so secretively that many people are only just hearing about TTIP, despite the fact that negotiations began in July 2013.
Perhaps the most scary part of the proposed deal is the Investor-to-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS). In plain English, that means that corporations will have the right to sue governments for acting against corporate interests. So when citizens’ interests and the interests of big business clash, governments will be afraid to stand up for their own citizens. For example, similar deals have been used to prevent governments bringing in plain cigarette packaging, because that’s good for public health but bad for the profits of the tobacco industry.
The good news is that people are waking up. The European consultation on TTIP got a record number of responses, despite barely being reported in the media anywhere. And there was a national day of action in July. Oxford WDM has been in touch with our political representatives in both the UK Parliament and the European Parliament and we’ve had some encouraging responses to our concerns.
Right now, there’s one tiny thing you can do to help stop TTIP: sign the 38 Degrees petition to Business Secretary Vince Cable. It should take just a few seconds, but it will help to show the depth of feeling against this terrible trade deal.
TTIP: national day of action
Saturday 12th July will be a day of action against the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP),We’re joining forces with lots of other groups – including trade unions, anti-poverty campaigners and environmental organisations – to raise awareness of the dangers posed by TTIP.
Confused about what TTIP is? At our July meeting, one of our group members will be giving a quick talk (less than 5 minutes) explaining why this rather dull-sounding treaty spells disaster for campaigners like us.
