UN calls for suspension of TTIP talks over fears of human rights abuses

[Jesus Malverde]

Source: Guardian UK

A senior UN official has called for controversial trade talks between the European Union and the US to be suspended over fears that a mooted system of secret courts used by major corporations would undermine human rights.

Alfred de Zayas, a UN human rights campaigner, said there should be a moratorium on negotiations over the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), which are on course to turn the EU and US blocs into the largest free-trade area in the world.

Speaking to the Guardian, the Cuban-born US lawyer warned that the lesson from other trade agreements around the world was that major corporations had succeeded in blocking government policies with the support of secret arbitration tribunals that operated outside the jurisdiction of domestic courts.

He said he would becompiling a report on the tactics used by multinationals to illustrate the flaws in current plans for the TTIP.


Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/global/2015/may/04/ttip-united-nations-human-right-secret-courts-multinationals

[ananda]

1. Good.

Get all the craven cowardly TTIP shit out in the open
where everyone can smell the stink!

[Jack Rabbit]

2. He just figured this out?

Better late than never.

[Jackpine Radical]

3. This is bullshit.

Obama has assured us that these trade deals will improve the lot of the average American and give us control over our own destiny.

Surely these people, and the majority of our wacko Democrats in Congress are wrong.

I mean, when you have Obama and every one of the Corporate Republicans™ agreeing on something, it's gotta be right, right?

[Geronimoe]

4. Calling Bernie to fix this mess

It is going to take someone like Bernie to clean up corporate owned and run Government.

[Beartracks]

7. Well, him and a lot more Dems/progressives in Congress.

The President can't do everything alone. Congressional votes (especially mid-terms) are important, people!!!!!

Even if you gotta hold your nose to vote for some centrist Dem in YOUR state, at least do that so that we as a nation can hopefully get enough (D)s in Congress to provide a supportive majority (e.g. committee chairmanships, etc.) for the progressive Dems that some of use are lucky enough to have representing us on Capitol Hill -- and to similarly provide a support system to a Democratic President!!

=======================================

[NBachers]

5. Well, that's a welcome surprise

[GoneFishin]

6. Laws against slavery can really eat into corporate profits.

Bathroom breaks and meal breaks are so last century.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

8. wow!

Well, looks like we're digging even deeper than we thought. What an opportunity for some more deep cleaning!

Talk about light clearing out the dark places......

[Phlem]

9. oooops.

wonder if they was anything in the "secret" agreement that was objectionable. Wehehehell then I'm glad Obama's negotiating it. He'll keeps us safe yes? Why be concerned.

[stuffmatters]

10. Congrats Ron Wyden, you're now oficially UN registered as Dem human rights violator/betrayer

[JDPriestly]

11. Can't wait to read his report! Hurrah! Someone with the evidence is speaking up!!!!!

[djean111]

12. So - IT IS NOT JUST US. I suppose the UN is now anti-Obama.

The TPP and TTIP are not really trade agreements between countries, they are corporations telling countries what to do. I certainly see why they were kept secret.