A key element of the TTIP is the deregulation genetically modified seeds and plants for cultivating in European soils, writes Julian Rose. This alone is reason enough for us to reject it - but it's only the beginning of a huge power grab that would make our governments more accountable to corporations, than to people.
… emerges is an understanding of TTIP as the political project of a transatlantic corporate and political elite which, on the unfounded … to this already draconian exercise in power politics, the court hearings on such actions …
A huge EU-US trade and investment deal may not be quite so dangerous as its opponents portray it, writes Gabriel Siles-Brügge - but it still represents a serious threat to governments' ability to regulate for the benefit of citizens and environment, and would entrench 'competitive' markets in public service provision.
… 'Few or no benefits' plus 'meaningful political costs' One argument that is … EU-US investment chapter to impose meaningful political costs on the UK." Healthcare and … for concern. Ultimately a lot depends on the politics that have engulfed the negotiations …
The LibDems fear the Greens will beat them in the Euro-elections, writes Rupert Read. Now they plan to use Green opposition to the 'corporate charter' TTIP trade deal to batter the Greens on 'jobs'.
… Greens Rupert Read | 10th March 2014 News UK Politics Trade Corporations cleggie-2.png The … and are resorting to their usual dirty-politics tactics of smears and fibs. From … . Twitter: @GreenRupertRead (political) or @RupertRead (personal). Our …
We have a new European Commission - so what does it mean for the environment, GMOs and trade negotiations? Lawrence Woodward can't help feeling that the best part of the package is Commission President Juncker himself. Now, will his 'team' pull together and work to deliver his vision? We can't quite count on it.
… Woodward | 11th September 2014 Comment EU Politics Trade GMOs Energy juncker-cut.jpg We … Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, set out his political agenda for the incoming Commission. …
A series of judgments against Canada in secret corporate tribunals costing taxpayers $100s of millions show that 'free trade' agreements really do restrict governments' right to protect health, environment and endangered species, writes Nick Dearden.
… Canada Nick Dearden | 26th March 2014 Comment Politics Corporations Trade Mining Canada EU … they try to explain things." In the UK, the political divide is laid bare In a … shows why it's important for progressive politicians to stick to their guns - and for …
The Government has let down Britain with its repeated failures to seize the opportunities of green growth, healthy local food, better housing, environmental protection - and is instead pinning all its hopes on flawed, outmoded ideologies that betray our futures.
… Natalie Bennett | 6th June 2014 Comment UK Politics Climate Change Farming Fossil Fuels … dealing with climate change. In fact, when political historians look back on the …
The Commission's refusal to 'register' a European Citizens Initiative demanding an end to negotiations over the TTIP trade deal is more than just an affront to the 'democratic values' that Europe is meant to represent, write Mary Fitzgerald & Michael Efler. It is also unlawful, and the legal challenge filed today at the ECJ is richly deserved.
… counterpart .) Activists and even some politicians have been up in arms about one … want you want but it doesn't change anything' Politically, the argument of the Commission … wants to gain time with an unfounded and politically motivated rejection. Democracy …
The European Parliament votes today on the TTIP 'trade' deal, described as a 'Bill of Corporate Rights' that will undermine democracy in both the EU and the US, writes Polly Jones. But given the extraordinary secrecy that shrouds the negotiations, few of the MEPs themselves really know what they are voting on.
… July 2014 Comment EU USA Trade Corporations Politics g8-lough-erne-cut.jpg The European … select committee made up of MPs from across political parties concluded that the case for …
A 300-strong coalition of civil society groups is taking the European Commission to the European Court of Justice, claiming that its refusal to register a official 'Citizens Initiative' opposing the EU-US TTIP trade deal was unlawful.
… the protest said: "The gap between European politics and people is to be overcome - according to the rhetoric of politicians. However, the discrepancy between this spin and actual politics is a disgrace. "Brussels' arrogance …
As the UK Prime Minister welcomes the recommendations of his science advisors to 'go it alone' in Europe and embrace GMO crops, Pat Thomas wonders - whatever happened to the Precautionary Principle?
… - 'harmonisation' is what this is called in political and regulatory parlance - it … And it serves as proof that Europe's politicians and regulators are failing to put … 'innovation' has, in the mixed up world of political rhetoric, become the unquestioned …
Euro-MPs have backed Green demands for the immediate suspension of talks leading to the proposed new TTIP trade and investment deal between the EU and the US, following wide scale US spying on EU citizens
… The Ecologist | 15th February 2014 News Trade Politics EU snowden-american-hero.png Euro-MPs …
The TPP - Trans-Pacific Partnership - is far more than just a trade agreement. It is a global-scale corporate power grab - anti-people, anti-environment and anti-democratic. And it must be stopped, writes Chris Lang.
The new Commission may have dropped environmental protection from its 2015 work plan - but it's pressing ahead with a new Directive to protect corporate secrecy, threatening consumers, journalists, whistleblowers, researchers and workers.
… 2014 Comment EU USA Corporations Trade Politics pills-paula-bailey-cut.jpg The new …
Vandana Shiva reminds us that the very future of food security in India (and indeed worldwide) lies in protecting and promoting the country's small farmers.
… is big”, ecologically, economically and politically. Seed abundance under threat At …
France, Germany and other wealthy countries have positive policies on climate change, writes Steven Herz. So why are they handing out back door financing for new coal power stations abroad via 'export credits'? Over $5 billion from EU countries since 2007 ...
… many European governments from across the political spectrum have embraced the need to …
As the world gears up to finance Gaza's $6bn reconstruction after Operation Protective Edge, an EU source has revealed that Israel will earn billions of euros by making sure that all the steel, concrete and other materials and other aid are sourced in Israel and benefit Israeli companies.
… construction and transaction costs, and is a political problem that has to be dealt with." …
The EU faces a choice: a green, democratic future of clean prosperity and social justice? Or a dirty future of corporate domination with resurgent nuclear power, expanding fossil fuels, GMO agriculture and weak human and environmental protection? Junckers' Commission represents the latter. We must assert our own vision - or there will be little worth staying in for.
… privilege, secrecy and dodgy back-room political deals, of weak-wristed regulators … policies, and that our own clay-footed politicians would be even more ready to …
For all France's rhetoric about supporting the small farmer, the authorities are bending legalities to push through the country's biggest dairy farm, writes Evan Jones. This reveals the 'socialist' government true loyalties: to subsidy-driven 'free trade', and industrial agriculture that pollutes, depopulates, unemploys - and generates vast profits for a powerful elite.
… has long been practised, successfully, by the politically powerful and ever-expanding … le Foll: "Today, your discourse and your political mediations are the expression of a … time to run. Evan Jones is a retired political economist from the University of …
Campaigners today today delivered Commission President Juncker a 'birthday card' with 1.1 million signatures from EU citizens. Yes, it really is his birthday today - but the real message was calling on him to back off from negotiations over the TTIP and CETA trade deals with the USA and Canada.
… and stop both treaties immediately. "Politicians are always calling for citizens to get actively involved in European politics, and here are more than a million …
The EU's Fuel Quality Directive is set to be the first casualty of the TTIP trade talks, writes Derek Leahy. Canada and the US have threatened to pull out unless the EU ignores the massive emissions of oil from tar sands - and the EU is collapsing under the pressure.
… safer, the Canadian government is using its political muscle to push things in the …
Major world trade deals now under negotiation would allow corporations to sue governments for billions if they tighten up laws and regulations, writes Thomas McDonagh. But increasingly countries are rejecting these dispute mechanisms that undermine sovereignty and democracy.
… - what they could not attain in an open political process." Stiglitz also outlines … - what they could not attain in an open political process. …
The UK and 13 other EU trade ministers have written to the European Commission's new head imploring him to include secret, much criticised investor protections in the controversial TTIP, the EU-US trade and investment deal, writes Jurgen Maier. Is this a democratic snub too far?
… of this House and that you will find in my Political Guidelines: My Commission will not …
Surging Chinese demand for rosewood used in 'hongmu' furniture is ruining forests across southern Asia, writes Zuzana Burivalova. As demand surges, China must impose stricter regulations and harsher punishments or the forests may never recover.
… with unstable land tenure and an explosive political climate. Act now or lose it It is in …
The TTIP - a massive trade and investment deal under negotiation between the US and the EU - could be the end of democracy as we know it, writes Morton Thaysen, as corporate rights will supplant those of ciizens and elected governments. Join a global day of action today!
… chicken in Europe. The primary argument that politicians, bureaucrats and business leaders … and hugely overblown. Lately British politicians have taken to more extreme … and trade unions that are opposing it. When politicians start to beg corporations for help …