A Very Worrying Issue To Keep A Close Eye On Tell Us About the TPP NOW! Say Protestors. The World Needs to Know. 24.9.13 Yesterday afternoon protestors gathered outside the US Trade Representative’s office, calling for a democratic process re the looming TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership). The group, which included members of CODEPINK and EarthFirst, expressed great concerns about the damaging consequences this agreement would have on US laws, workers’ rights and the environment. So far, the ‘’classified” treaty has been drafted with an unprecedented degree of secrecy by Obama, despite the fact that more than 600 corporate advisors, from companies like Monsanto, Walmart, Halliburton and Chevron, have had free access to the treaty’s text. And, in addition to denying public access to its text, the president has urged Congress to use Fast Track to pass the treaty, which will mean that Congress will only have 30 days to consider its ramifications. With banners that read “Transparency: Release the Text” and “Democracy, not Corporatocracy,” protesters joined Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) and many others opposing Fast Track and calling for the text’s immediate release. Earlier this summer, Rep. Grayson called the treaty an “assault on democratic government.” Sen. Warren noted in her letter to U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk, “… if transparency would lead to widespread public opposition to a trade agreement then that trade agreement should not be the policy of the United States.” While the full content of the treaty remains unknown a new report from the Centre for Economic Policy and Research has found that the TPP will produce small economic growth, and reduce the wages of a vast majority of US workers. Resistance isn’t limited to the U.S. alone, and, other members of the treaty, including Japan and Malaysia, have seen significant public demonstrations in opposition to the agreement. Meanwhile, protesters in the US have promised to escalate their tactics if President Obama continues to undermine the Constitution, transparency, and democracy. commondreams.org/newswire/2013/09/23-0
Posted on: Mon, 23 Sep 2013 23:59:20 +0000
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