2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumHundreds of Thousands Call on Leader Pelosi to Block the Undemocratic TPP
JEREMY MALCOLM
Electronic Frontier Foundation
EFF has joined with partners including MoveOn, CREDO, Daily Kos, and Demand Progress to call on Democratic Party Leader Nancy Pelosi to stop the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) from going to a vote during the "lame duck" session of Congress following the November election.
As we explained in a press conference yesterday, the TPP is simply bad for tech users and innovators: it exports the most onerous parts of U.S. copyright law and prevents the U.S. from improving them in the future, while failing to include the balancing provisions that work for users and innovators, such as fair use. Outside of these copyright provisions, it does nothing to safeguard the free and open Internet, by including phony provisions on net neutrality and encryption, trade secrets provisions that carry no exceptions for journalism or whistleblowing, and a simplistic ban on data localization that enabled the USTR to buy off big tech.
If you didn't sign that letter, it's not too late. EFF will be following up with Leader Pelosi's District Office in San Francisco on July 21, when we present hard copies of the petition and ask for her response. We're hoping that she will heed the concerns of the thousands of Americans who have spoken up about their concerns about the TPP, and you can add your name to theirs if you act within the next two weeks.
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pipoman
(16,038 posts)I have lost all hope that my party will ever represent workers again. If she doesn't kill this we lose in November.
MohRokTah
(15,429 posts)think
(11,641 posts)it. So are the environmental, indigenous, and human rights groups.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2016/02/18/top-house-democrat-on-trade-opposes-trans-pacific-partnership/
http://www.aflcio.org/Issues/Trade/Trans-Pacific-Partnership-Free-Trade-Agreement-TPP/Ten-Critical-Problems-with-the-Trans-Pacific-Partnership
http://content.sierraclub.org/press-releases/2016/03/major-environmental-landowner-indigenous-groups-congress-learn-keystone-xl
http://www.sierraclub.org/compass/2015/10/more-dozen-environmental-organizations-warn-trans-pacific-partnership-risks
https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/01/12/trans-pacific-partnership-serious-rights-concerns
And of course Elizabeth Warren is. Warren just made a very well reasoned plea on behalf of Credo to encourage their members to sign this petition to try and stop the passage of this corporate rigged process:
And everyone knows that the corporations basically wrote the TPP for their own benefit:
by Mike Masnick - Mon, Jun 8th 2015 9:29am
Back in 2013, we wrote about a FOIA lawsuit that was filed by William New at IP Watch. After trying to find out more information on the TPP by filing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, and being told that they were classified as "national security information" (no, seriously), New teamed up with Yale's Media Freedom and Information Access Clinic to sue. As part of that lawsuit, the USTR has now released a bunch of internal emails concerning TPP negotiations, and IP Watch has a full writeup showing how industry lobbyists influenced the TPP agreement, to the point that one is even openly celebrating that the USTR version copied his own text word for word.
What is striking in the emails is not that government negotiators seek expertise and advice from leading industry figures. But the emails reveal a close-knit relationship between negotiators and the industry advisors that is likely unmatched by any other stakeholders.
The article highlights numerous examples of what appear to be very chummy relationships between the USTR and the "cleared advisors" from places like the RIAA, the MPAA and the ESA. They regularly share text and have very informal discussions, scheduling phone calls and get togethers to further discuss. This really isn't that surprising, given that the USTR is somewhat infamous for its revolving door with lobbyists who work on these issues. In fact, one of the main USTR officials in the emails that IP Watch got is Stan McCoy, who was the long term lead negotiator on "intellectual property" issues. But he's no longer at the USTR -- he now works for the MPAA.
You can read through the emails, embedded below, which show a very, very chummy relationship, which is quite different from how the USTR seems to act with people who are actually more concerned about what's in the TPP (and I can use personal experience on that...). Of course, you'll notice that the USTR still went heavy on the black ink budget, so most of the useful stuff is redacted. Often entire emails other than the salutation and signature line are redacted.
Read more:
https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20150605/11483831239/revealed-emails-show-how-industry-lobbyists-basically-wrote-tpp.shtml
When the TPP was "fast tracked" only 28 House Dems vote for it. Around 190 members of the GOP voted to fast track the TPP. The overwhelming majority of Democrats in congress voted against fast tracking the TPP
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/6/18/1394407/-These-are-the-28-Democrats-who-voted-for-fast-track-twice
https://www.thenation.com/article/why-so-many-democrats-rejected-obamas-lobbying-trans-pacific-trade-deal/
MohRokTah
(15,429 posts)think
(11,641 posts)as to why the TPP isn't a good trade bill. They are very clear in their statements as to the things that need to be changed so that the TPP is a FAIR trade bill that doesn't just work for corporations and their profits.
You're the only one making the claim that the intent of opposing the trade bill is due to a desire to be isolationists.
Everyone else is trying to deal with the problems in a realistic and professional manor.
MohRokTah
(15,429 posts)It's all protectionism.
floppyboo
(2,461 posts)We've already seen enough fooking around with mining companies - oil companies (TransCanada) switching through reverse take overs to countries with more lax laws. I'm Canadian. We watched Harper lick Bush's ass and loosen laws - including de-regulating the Canadian wheat board to benefit ADM and Monsanto, the mining industry to benefit the rape of South America.
Is this FAIR Global trade??? Free for some, not fair for the many.
I can't sign this petition, but please, neighbours - consider the whole planet.
floppyboo
(2,461 posts)before I paste this, consider when ConocoPhillips (Koch Bros) 'joined' TransCanada. The deal was that they would be responsible for maintaining and building out the pipelines. Forget for a moment that Koch bought up huge tracts of oil sands - not their baby - they like pipelines. In effect, it was a reverse take-over, and now 'they' are suing the USA. You do realize it is the Koch's suing their own country, right? (TransCanada registered as a Delaware Co, headquarters Texas)
And now this more recent, equally slimy Conoco Phillips deal in Africa: http://business.financialpost.com/news/fp-street/behind-oando-energys-rise-to-940-million-from-2-million-in-eight-years
• Oct. 2009. Exile and Sonegal complete a deal where Nigerian-based Oando plc is granted 75% of Exile’s 40% interest in the Akepo field “in return for funding Exile’s past costs, and financing the future development of the project.”
As things turned out, that farm-in was a turning point for Exile. It gave the company exposure to a large Nigerian company and allowed the two to work together – and build a relationship. It also paved the way for Exile’s next transaction.
• July 2011. Oando inquires, informally, about a broader relationship. In time, a deal is hatched where Exile would acquire all of Oando’s upstream exploration and producing assets in exchange for stock. One month later the parties announce an intention to proceed. Oando’s market cap is less than $150-million
• July 2012. The deal – effectively a reverse takeover – is completed. Because Exile is required to issue so many shares, it consolidates its stock on a one new share for 16.28 old shares. Even so, it issues 100 million new shares. Exile changed its name and the shares were listed on the TSX.
