The Daily Blog Open Mic – Thursday 18th August 2016

By
The Daily Blog
-
4
0

openmike

 

Announce protest actions, general chit chat or give your opinion on issues we haven’t covered for the day.

Moderation rules are more lenient for this section, but try and play nicely.

 

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

4 COMMENTS

  1. Clinton’s opposition during the Democrat primaries would make it politically impossible for her to pass the TPPA. [4] Senator Elizabeth Warren released a powerful video on why the US should reject the TPPA which you can watch and share in the link below. [5]

    https://www.facebook.com/CREDO/videos/vb.6851405967/10154989115915968/?type=2&theater

    While US groups might delay the TPPA, stopping New Zealand’s involvement in the deal is up to us. We need to let the public know that this deal isn’t done and dusted and the next Government must withdraw from the TPPA. We also need to stop similar treaties being negotiated (such as the China-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership RCEP) and unwind the most damaging elements in similar treaties that New Zealand has already signed – such as the mechanism that allows foreign corporations to sue our government. Our work is cut out for us.

    The Day of Action aims to connect up a wide range of groups who are opposing corporate control and working for a better future, linking issues across the TPPA, climate change campaigns, anti-privatisation campaigners, local food and organics networks, trade unions, housing and poverty campaigns, peace activists and defenders of rights under te Tiriti o Waitangi.

    https://www.facebook.com/CREDO/videos/vb.6851405967/10154989115915968/?type=2&theater

  3. …and from Laura and the local anti-TPPA Action Group

    It’s been a long time since I wrote to you, and that’s because I’ve been away at a campaign conference for the past two weeks where I was very fortunate to meet organisers from the Bernie Sanders campaign, talk strategy with the Director of the Stop TTIP movement in Europe (TTIP = TPPA’s evil European/US twin) and brainstorm with campaigners from 13 other countries to think about how our people-powered movements the world over can defeat deals like the TPPA and pave the way to the fairer, more just and sustainable world we know is possible.

    I’m happy to report today, that the future of the TPPA is in doubt.
    In the US, the Republican nominee Donald Trump has been attacking the deal every day on the campaign trail, while on the Democratic side progressives and Bernie supporters are holding Hillary Clinton’s feet to the fire over TPPA leading to her speaking out against the deal on record. [1]

    It’s true that some (including myself) have expressed doubts that Hillary Clinton would reject the TPPA if elected President because of her corporate ties, worldview and most recent appointment of a known TPPA supporter to chair her transition team. [2, 3] But others argue that political support for trade deals like the TPPA has been eroded and Clinton’s opposition during the Democrat primaries would make it politically impossible for her to pass the TPPA. [4] Senator Elizabeth Warren released a powerful video on why the US should reject the TPPA which you can watch and share in the link below. [5]

    Our calculation is this: If US activists, movements and organisations can stop a ‘lame duck’ (the period of time just after the election) vote on the TPPA the agreement will most likely be put on hold heading into the next administration as both Clinton and Trump are on record against the TPPA.

    This won’t be easy, President Obama is dead set on getting the legislation implementing the TPPA through so I am actively in conversation with US groups MoveOn.org, SumOfUs.org and CREDO Action to work out if there is anything ActionStation members can do to support their battle on their ground. More on that soon.

    Meanwhile in New Zealand, It’s Our Future are planning a major Day of Action in towns and cities across Aotearoa for Saturday 10th September.

    https://itsourfuture.org.nz/day-of-action-across-aotearoa/

    While US groups might delay the TPPA, stopping New Zealand’s involvement in the deal is up to us. We need to let the public know that this deal isn’t done and dusted and the next Government must withdraw from the TPPA. We also need to stop similar treaties being negotiated (such as the China-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership RCEP) and unwind the most damaging elements in similar treaties that New Zealand has already signed – such as the mechanism that allows foreign corporations to sue our government. Our work is cut out for us.

    The Day of Action aims to connect up a wide range of groups who are opposing corporate control and working for a better future, linking issues across the TPPA, climate change campaigns, anti-privatisation campaigners, local food and organics networks, trade unions, housing and poverty campaigns, peace activists and defenders of rights under te Tiriti o Waitangi.

    The Days of Action are being coordinated by local groups across the country. Most will include music, speeches, stalls and displays, as well as marches. The Day of Action is a protest, but also an affirmation of our collective hopes and aspirations for a fairer, more just, more sustainable society. The plan is to highlight and celebrate the positive alternatives in communities in Aotearoa, inviting participation from all those who are building a better future, whether through community housing, supporting refugees and the homeless, growing organics and working in community gardens, creating transport alternatives and community renewable energy, divesting from fossil fuels, or supporting community finance and local exchanges schemes.

    Planning for the Day of Action in each community is being led by local TPPA groups, and coordinated by the It’s Our Future network, together with a growing number of allies.

    To get involved, stay up to date or join with the local TPPA campaign in your community to help plan and deliver the day of action, please click here.

    https://itsourfuture.org.nz/day-of-action-across-aotearoa/

    I’ll be at the Auckland event on September 10th, I hope to see some of you there.

    Power to the people!
    Laura and the team at ActionStation.
    ________________________________________
    References:
    1. How progressives are putting Hillary Clinton in a tough spot on trade (again), The Washington Post, August 14 2016
    2. The Problem With Hillary Clinton Isn’t Just Her Corporate Cash. It’s Her Corporate Worldview, The Nation, April 6 2016.
    3. Progressives lament Clinton’s choice of transition chair, Politico, August 16 2016.
    4. Hillary Clinton: I Oppose TPP Now, I’ll Oppose It as President, Bloomberg, August 12 2016
    5. America shouldn’t be signing lousy trade deals, period, CREDO Video on Facebook
    ________________________________________

Comments are closed.