Why were people so active? The TPP is poised to become the largest Free Trade Agreement in U.S. history. Approximately 600 corporate lobbyists have been granted access to the negotiating texts, while the general public is barred from even reviewing what U.S. negotiators are proposing in our names.
- Offshore good-paying jobs to low-wage nations and undercut working conditions globally
- Create new tools for attacking environmental and consumer safety policies
- Deregulate Wall Street banks, hedge funds and insurance companies
- Further concentrate global food supplies, displacing family farmers and subjecting consumers to wild price fluctuations
- Lengthen patents thereby blocking access to affordable, generic medications
Groups who endorsed one or more of the actions in Leesburg included the American Medical Student Association, CISPES, Citizens Trade Campaign, Communications Workers of America, Fair World Project, Friends of the Earth, Global Justice for Animals and the Environment, HealthGAP, International Association of Machinists, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, ItsOurEconomy.us, National Family Farm Coalition, New York Whale and Dolphin Action League, Nodutdol, Occupy Wall Street Trade Justice Working Group, October2011.org, Organic Consumers Association, Pennsylvania Fair Trade Coalition, Public Citizen, Sierra Club, Trade Justice New York Metro, United Students Against Sweatshops and many others. (Click here for a PDF of the rally flyer)
Photos from the Leesburg Round of TPP Negotiations
CTC projected public comments about the TPP inside the resort where negotiators were meeting.
CTC projected public comments about the TPP inside the resort where negotiators were meeting.
Approximately 50 CTC supporters wore t-shirts with messages directed to negotiators inside the public “stakeholder” events
Communications Workers of America chief-of-staff Ron Collins kicked off the “TPP: Out of the Shadows!” rally
Friends of the Earth US president Erich Pica speaking at the “TPP: Out of the Shadows!” rally
The National Family Farm Coalition and Rainforest Action Network were just two of the many groups that participated in the “TPP: Out of the Shadows!” rally
ItsOurEconomy.us and the Backbone Campaign were two of the many groups that participated in the “TPP: Out of the Shadows!” rally
Access to medicine was one of the themes at the “TPP: Out of the Shadows!” rally
The photo at the top of this post is of Allison Chin, president of the Sierra Club, speaking at the “TPP: Out of the Shadows!” rally