[Peace-discuss] *tomorrow* noon Thu Feb 4th, Davis' office: Stop the TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership)

[Stuart Levy]

It's short notice, but tomorrow there will be a *rally against the TPP* ...

    *Rally against the Trans-Pacific Partnership*
    noon Thursday, Feb. 4th (tomorrow!)
    US Rep. Rodney Davis' office
    2004 Fox Drive, Champaign IL (see map)
    <https://www.google.com/maps/place/2004+Fox+Dr,+Champaign,+IL+61820/@40.0906949,-88.252365,17z/data=%213m1%214b1%214m2%213m1%211s0x880cd12a0ef1ee7b:0x200ac1da16befde>


We'll have a few signs, or bring your own.   And if you'd like to *write 
and bring a letter to Davis* about the issue, please do - Lois Kain of 
Food and Water Watch is organizing a 'letter drop' on the spot.   Deb 
Schrishuhn of PDA will bring pieces of paper, one letter per sheet, 
spelling out FLUSH THE TPP - if enough of us are there, we can make a 
visible statement that way!

This is part of a national mobilization against the TPP.   There may 
well be other local events over the coming weeks - they'll be announced 
on the peace list if so.

Though Rep. Davis has expressed support for the TPP, Public Citizen 
<http://citizen.typepad.com/eyesontrade/> is among many organizations 
opposing it, e.g.

http://citizen.typepad.com/eyesontrade/2016/01/icymi-trans-pacific-partnership-tpp-facts-and-figures-for-sotu-prep.html

and so is the Sierra Club (more detail below):

http://www.sierraclub.org/trade/trans-pacific-partnership

It's a dirty deal:
https://www.sierraclub.org/sites/www.sierraclub.org/files/uploads-wysiwig/dirty-deal.pdf

And as many have pointed out, including Paul Krugman, 
<http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/22/opinion/paul-krugman-trade-and-trust.html?rref=collection%2Fcolumn%2Fpaul-krugman&_r=0>it's 
*not even primarily a trade deal.*


A recent example of what the TPP will do for us, if Congress passes it: 
its "investor-state dispute settlement" (ISDS) provisions will extend 
those already created by other agreements such as NAFTA, giving 
corporations great power to sue governments, superceding democratic 
rights (see below).    Right now, under NAFTA, TransCanada is suing the 
US government 
<http://commondreams.org/news/2016/01/07/nafta-lawsuit-over-keystone-xl-proves-free-trade-deals-kill-democracy>- 
for $15 billion - over its rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline.

===========

The Sierra Club is deeply concerned about the lack of transparency 
around the TPP and the deal's environmental implications. Here's why:

  * *Extreme Secrecy.* The TPP negotiations took place in extreme
    secrecy.  And public input has been drowned out by dominant
    corporate input; more than 600 corporate advisors have actively
    worked to shape the agreement while the public is being kept in the
    dark.

  * *Threat to Forests, Wildlife, and Fish.* While the TPP environment
    chapter should set strong and binding rules to address conservation
    challenges like illegal timber and wildlife trade, its rules will
    likely be too weak to have an impact on the ground and are unlikely
    to be enforced, rendering the chapter essentially meaningless. Read
    more here
    <http://www.sierraclub.org/compass/2015/05/far-progressive-trade-deal-trans-pacific-partnership-would-harm-our-environment>.

  * *Unfettered Rights to Corporations.*The TPP will include provisions
    that give corporations the right to sue a government for unlimited
    cash compensation -- in private and non-transparent tribunals --
    over nearly any law or policy that a corporation alleges will reduce
    its profits. Using similar rules in other free trade agreements,
    corporations such as Exxon Mobil and Dow Chemical have launched over
    600 cases against more than 100 governments. Dozens of cases attack
    common-sense environmental laws and regulations, such as regulations
    to protect communities and the environment from harmful chemicals or
    mining practices. Read more here
    <https://www.sierraclub.org/sites/www.sierraclub.org/files/uploads-wysiwig/Investor-State-Climate-FINAL.pdf>about
    how harmful investment rules included in other trade pacts have led
    to the attack of climate and environmental policies.

  * *Increase in Dirty Fracking.*The TPP may allow for significantly
    increased exports of liquefied natural gas without the careful study
    or adequate protections necessary to safeguard the American public.
    This would mean an increase of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking,
    the dirty and violent process that dislodges gas deposits from shale
    rock formations. It would also likely cause an increase in natural
    gas and electricity prices, impacting consumers, manufacturers,
    workers, and increasing the use of dirty coal power. Read our
    factsheet on the TPP and natural gas exports here
    <https://www.sierraclub.org/sites/www.sierraclub.org/files/uploads-wysiwig/TPP-LNG_Factsheet_Updated.pdf>!





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