TTIP & what 38 Degrees are up against

Even some American economists think the TTIP would be bad for Europe.

nhap.org/new-report-says-ttip-will-bring-european-disintegration-unemployment-instability/

Thanks for bringing this up. TTIP is the scariest legislation we have seen and this idea that we don't really understand it is so undemocratic. Thank goodness for 38degrees. It gives us the opportunity to speak out and to organise.

If anyone is still unsure about what exactly TTIP is and why it is being campaigned against War on Want have some excellent information about the potential impact it will have: www.waronwant.org/campaigns/trade-justice/more/inform/18078-what-is-ttip

Just been sent this email about the TTIP.
Although the government seems to have forgotten about it, or is hoping if they ignore the opposition to it, we will go away, fortunately lots of people in Europe have not forgotten about it.

www.globaljustice.org.uk/news/2015/feb/4/campaigners-across-britain-tell-eu-commission-we-don%E2%80%99t-want-ttip

Eloethan, what the People's Assembly feared was passed in parliament.

www.thepeoplesassembly.org.uk/pantomime_in_parliament

TTIP again. Although 97% of those who responded to the enquiry oppose it, the EU appears to want it to go through.

https://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/nick-dearden/does-european-commission-understand-no

act.sumofus.org/go/6530?t=5&akid=8267.1669823.-AQMJe

Just been sent this by sumofus. If the TTIP goes through, this is what could happen in this country. Not because of nuclear power yet, but because of all the profit that US health companies were promised by this government.
It's not just health, it's all sorts of promises made. We will be forced to accept GM or the government will be sued. We will be forced to accept fracking or the government will be sued.

The TTIP is very worrying; and it was being discussed in secret until 38 degrees, sumofus, the TUC, the People's Assembly and other groups found out about it.
The only parties against it are the Green party and the NHA party. Fortunately the Green Party in Europe is quite a lot more influential than in this country.
The TTIP situation just shows how similar all the 4 main parties are in our parliament.

David Babbs has recently reported that he's received hundreds of messages from people absolutely appalled at the way he was spoken to.

It's sort of backfired because, as a result of the Committee's behaviour, apparently many people (myself included) immediately made donations or set up regular monthly payments to 38 Degrees.

My understanding is that this Agreement is likely to contain a clause whereby disputes between companies and governments will have to be heard by a "tribunal" formed as part of the Agreement and outside the legal jurisdiction of any government.

It is a very complicated subject and, although I have read quite a lot about it, only those with an in-depth knowledge of international law/contract law and the way it has been applied through other trade agreements (such as NAFTA) are in a position to fully understand the way this TTIP Agreement might operate. However the warning bell has been sounded by many of those who have a pretty comprehensive understanding of how these sorts of Agreements have operated and the detrimental effect they have had on ordinary people.

Surveys, can you trust any of 'em? Surely, they've all got an axe to grind and profits to make. I used to think YouGov was government-funded but I have no illusions about who is underwriting the Lord Ashcroft polling set-up.

durhamjen I hadn't seen it.

I can't see how Osborne could make a law to force any government to reduce the deficit by 2018. It would surely invalidate the point of having an election if future governments could be bound by the dictates of past governments? People are already disillusioned with the political process and can't see the point in voting - can you imagine how many more people would stop voting if such a law were allowed.

Why shouldn't MPs do YouGov surveys under the same conditions as everyone else? They are voters and members of the public and UK citizens as well as politicians. If they choose to do the surveys anonymously, they don't even have to toe any party line there might be.

It's not only TTIP that should scare us.

I've just come across this on the people's assembly website.

www.thepeoplesassembly.org.uk/austerity_to_become_legally_binding

This surely should not be allowed.
Is it you, Eloethan who is a member of the Assembly? Have you seen it before?

As I understand it at present US companies running things here are supposed to abide by our rules. I think if the agreement goes through our rules won't count. I think David Babbs was called before the committee to explain himself and 38 Degrees reason for raising the petition - not to allow him to question anything.

Hope you feel better tomorrow Mishap

Thanks Geraldine. That's the best explanation I've seen so far. But what to do? What to do? All the main parties except the Greens seem to be for it. There is no opposition. Why? Surely if it was so bad someone in power would oppose it? Are they all being bribed? Why the secrecy?

You are not alone, * G62*, wool is being pulled over our eyes by those supposed to be our good shepherds. But take heart, before the evil ones get their way all this junk has to be agreed by all 28 EU members and ratified by many EU parliaments in accordance with their constitutions (pity the UK doesn't have one, but that's quite convenient for the devious UK gang-masters). So there is a good chance that the big bad barons won't get their evil way with the 'umble servants without a damned good fight. Bring it on!

I am also puzzled as to why David Babbs was called before the Business Select Committee in the first place. We only heard what I presume was a small clip, but, if it was to find out 38 degrees' views, was there any opportunity to do that at all? I do not think that someone should be called before a committee but not allowed to express their views.

Another question......has it not always been the case that US companies (or indeed any other nation's) could be in the running for NHS or any other public service contracts here?

Thank you for posting that geraldine To be quite frank it just makes my brain hurt.

Is this something that is going to go through parliament? - apologies if the article tells me this, but i am feeling pretty rough today. If not, by what means could anyone influence the decision?

Q. What is TTIP

A. www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/what-is-ttip-and-six-reasons-why-the-answer-should-scare-you-9779688.html

Curiouser and curiouser, I have just read through this thread and have no idea who 38 degrees are, what TTIP/ISDs are, looks like I have a bit of research to do, which I will directly......

but before I do maybe some kind person, (for the benefit of newcomers to the discussion and these hidden stories which affect us all) would care to expand and clarify the abbreviations and their meanings.

After all there is power in knowledge, let us stop the select few wielding their power, by empowering the population with the basics at least.

I thank you.

off now to follow the links and find out more........

It just gets worse and worse doesn't it? It seems to constantly slip beneath the radar.

The powers-that-be are very good at deflecting our attention away from anything that they'd prefer to keep us in the dark about.

It confirms that we're regarded as just pawns in their games

action.wdm.org.uk/ea-campaign/action.retrievestaticpage.do?ea_static_page_id=3521

This is a European campaign.
I have just been on we own it website, and according to them only 39% of people polled were against the TTIP. Could it be because we are not told?

Another thing I've noticed on the parliament website is that some MPs make a bit of money filling in Yougov etc. polls. Should they be allowed to do this? Surely we all know their opinions anyway. I wonder if any poll has been skewed in this way.

TTIP/ISDS - I've spent some time updating myself about all this and cannot believe what the EU and our government are covertly up to. Their plan quite clearly is to give multi-national corporations, often US controlled, total control over nation states, which means all of us, purely to maximise profit. I usually support the EU but over this I don't. Surely this is something UKIP should be doing something about instead of just taking the pay-cheque from Brussels and running away. Unless, of course, they secretly support all this deviousness. I must now go away and sharpen my rusty, trusty, old toothpick of protest. In the meantime more power to 38 degrees!

My grandson thinks I know everything, papa. I keep telling him I do not, but it's good to have someone have faith in me.

Yes, despite my own strong assumption that I know everything about everything, Dj, sometimes, (more and more, many say) I don't, so I shall be very pleased to catch up.