Can we DU this TPP Petition please?

[OrwellwasRight]

This weekend is a critical weekend for the trade talks -- and outside agitation, including filling the email inboxes of the trade ministers at the talks, could help prevent countries from caving on critical issues regarding investor to state dispute settlement and extraordinary giveaways to big Pharma!

http://act.aflcio.org/c/18/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=7025

Thanks!

[idwiyo]

1. k&r

[2naSalit]

2. I dunno...

I’m writing you to let you know that I’m joining working families throughout the world who are calling on you and other trade representatives to make sure the Trans-Pacific Partnership Free Trade Agreement puts people, not corporations, first.

A good TPP should put people first by respecting International Labor Organization core labor rights, protecting the environment, not allowing special rights to foreign investors to bypass local, state and national laws and promoting access to lifesaving medicines with fair patent rules.

Sincerely,

I think we don't need the TPP at all so asking that it be about something that it apparently won't be about is kind of counter productive. These guys aren't even considering making about us, it's completely about them and their ability to own everything including our rights, and basically our lives, so asking them to make it about us isn't going to float the boat.

[OrwellwasRight]

4. I personally agree.

But since it is going to trade ministers, they are not sympathetic at all to that message. All of the trade ministers want a deal, so telling them what kind of deal is a message they are more sympathetic to hearing. I think it is a reasonably smart approach.

In addition, I am not sure any of us are against trade per se. I mean, do you drink coffee, eat bananas, enjoy Italian wine or French cheese? If we are going to do trade anyway (and I think we are) why not trade on a pro-worker model that undoes some of the damage done by corporate rights agreements.


Feel free to be ideologically pure if you want to (it's your right), but that's just one less voice for fair trade that the trade ministers will hear from.

[2naSalit]

6. I don't exactly see it that way

What I see is that it doesn't really matter what we want or say nor will it matter what the trade ministers want or say... that would be my point.

I do like some of our imported goods and I already focus on fair trade items and do a darn good job of avoiding most everything else, granted it's not entirely possible but I can, personally, attest that I have very few imported things in my life that are not fair trade. This is mostly because I don't buy much and I have to travel pretty far to go "shopping" anywhere that most folks in the country go to shop. I don't do internet transactions either.

I guess you could say that I am not a capitalist but participate only as much as is absolutely necessary and unavoidable to survive and not a bit more.

I do see your point but I am afraid it will not matter much if it matters at all.

[OrwellwasRight]

10. I hear you, but . . .

I have to believe that we can still have some impact -- that we can make democracy work again -- that we can change things. If I thought that our voices didn't matter, that we could not cause change by uniting them in support of social and economic justice, I'd stick forks in my eyes and never be heard from again.

[2naSalit]

12. I see your point.

Don't hurt your eyes! How on earth do expect to be able to see the political toons and SCE's LOL Cats?!?!

It's better to just do what you think makes a difference and hope for the best.

[OrwellwasRight]

13. I'd definitely miss SCE's LOLcats!!!

[DJ13]

3. K&R

[emsimon33]

5. Done with additional comments

[OrwellwasRight]

8. Great and thanks!!

[newfie11]

7. Done. K&R

If this pile of sh_t passes the corporations win.

[OrwellwasRight]

9. Thank you!

Please tell your friends. Share this on twitter and Facebook too!

[newfie11]

11. Done !