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notices and features - Date published:
7:58 am, January 25th, 2016 - 43 comments
Categories: Abuse of power, democracy under attack, Economy, Globalisation, International, Politics, trade, us politics -
Tags: Jane Kelsey, lori wallach, TPPA, trans pacific partnership agreement
Posted with permission from the legendary Bryan Bruce.
And from his Facebook page:
Huge TPPA Auckland Town Hall Meeting 7pm Tomorrow Night.
Please Share.
It’s not too late to stop the TPPA. Tomorrow night (26th January) in the Town Hall at 7pm you can hear why and what we can do to prevent it happening.
Speakers will include:
US former trade attorney and TPPA expert Lori Wallach, Director of Public Citizen Global Trade Watch, on how the US politics may sink the TPPA.
Professor Jane Kelsey who will explain the highlights of the expert papers saying what the TPPA would really mean for Kiwis.
Grant Robertson, Labour; Metiria Turie, Greens; Marama Fox, Maori Party; and Fletcher Tabuteau, NZ First who will form a political panel a political panel to tell us why they oppose the signing of the TPPA:
The speaking Tour then continues at the following venues
Wellington St Andrews on the Terrace on Wednesday 27th 7pm
Christchurch on Thursday 28th at Cardboard Cathedral at 7pm
Dunedin on Friday 29th Burns Hall (next to First Church), Moray Place. at 7pmThese are free events. Please come to them if you can.
The Facebook event page for the meetings is here.
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The site will be off line for some hours.
two excellent and succinct videos that say it all really.
I especially appreciate the clear naming of what Labour’s problem is, that it’s the caucus not the party.
The Daily Blog is livestreaming the Auckland meeting tomorrow night from 7pm,
http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2016/01/25/tppadont-sign-fill-the-auckland-town-hall-tomorrow-tues-7pm/
Any chance we could have a dedicated post up at 7pm tomorrow for discussion?
Yep. I hope to be there with the media so will do this.
cheers.
The level of secrecy is highly disrespectful of our democracy!
It’s all here.
http://tpp.mfat.govt.nz/text
“Download a Zip file of all 30 Chapters (excluding Annexes) [ZIP, 3.15MB]”
“(excluding Annexes) ”
no its not – its the annexes that tell the detail and how the clauses work together.
and when do we get to comment on the contents?
Is this link better?
https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/about-us/who-we-are/treaty-making-process/trans-pacific-partnership-tpp/text-of-the-trans-pacific-partnership
Nope still Excluding annexes.
do those annexes explain the detail and how the clauses work together?
or are they annexes within the chapters?
(i dont know)
OK – im getting a bit lost in terminology – but the text released (as far as im aware) doesnt have the heavy detail that fully explains the way it all works – ie: they are but summaries of the chapters at an individual level
regardless – when did the public get to have a say on the TPP, after being made aware of its contents via official channels?
I have no idea, haven’t read it.
if I did, I’d doubt I’d understand 10% of it, that’s if I could get through more than the first few pages without falling asleep.
Guess what it boils down to, is a trust issue.
Do you think the reptilian Illuminati shape shifter is working for what’s best for NZ or for other nefarious reasons ?.
Like the majority of NZ voters I believe it to be the first option and welcome our new TPPA overlords.
umm yeah whatever
i do think that claims that what has been released is only a summary, to be correct
you?
regardless – when did the public get to have a say on the TPP, after being made aware of its contents via official channels?
Christ, it’s hard enough to get 12 countries to agree, then you want every bush lawyer and his dog to have a say.?
This thing was kicked off by Labour and finished by National, both parties together represent around 80% of the voting population.
I trust that both parties have done their best and have tried to achieve the best out come for NZ.
what are select committies for BM?
im pointing out that the TPP has had LESS democratic input than most other legislation, and that the common rebuttal from others is to claim a democratic mandate via election.
the original comment on this thread is about democracy
i dont care how much the majors represent – because i hold the view – one supported by basic logic – that there is no mandate for a single policy without a vote in the house (and public input if were lucky) on said policy.
so – considering that this chain of discussion is off the back of a comment about democracy, maybe give us your view of why the TPP has a democratic mandate and how democracy has been upheld during its progress?
(and frankly i trust none of them, even the ones i vote for – i thought you would as well)
It really is impractical for twelve separate nations to negotiate a deal of this nature, then post the fact have each parliament try and effectively re-negotiate it.
That is why for instance the US Congress, under fast track authority, can only do an up or down vote.
In the New Zealand context, Parliament’s role is essentially only a public examination, without a vote. Ratification is done by the executive (i.e. the govt of the day). Similarly for enabling legislation, if needed, it is effectively an up or down vote. In this instance ACT and UF are locked in as part of the core of the govt. The MP has always opposed TPP, but it is actions like this which make them effectively only part-time members of the governing coalition.
So in a fundamental sense BM is right; this is an issue of trust. Supporters of the govt trust them to do the right thing. Most commenters on this site think the opposite, and typically attribute venal motives to everything the govt does.
But there is a middle group of voters, who may or may not support the govt, who nevertheless expect the government of New Zealand to act in New Zealand’s best interests. For instance many supporters of the govt did not necessarily agree with the partial sale of the SOE’s. But they had enough trust in the government’s general competence and philosophy to continue voting for them. In short they trusted the government.
And without some level of trust, even of ones opponents, our democracy would be seriously weakened.
For instance, I don’t suport Andrew Little. But I do trust him to honestly to act in New Zealand’s interest. He of course does many things I don’t agree with. But I have had no reason to actively distrust him.
But most commenters on this site don’t seem to accept that any of their opponents can act honestly; they simply default to a view that all their actions are simply a sell out to US corporate interests. But I am not sure how you can easily explain how the Vietnamese communists, the Malaysian nationalists and the Chilean social democrats have sold out to US corporate interests.
“In the New Zealand context, Parliament’s role is essentially only a public examination, without a vote”
so its anti democratic – thanks for playing wayne
so – considering that this chain of discussion is off the back of a comment about democracy, maybe give us your view of why the TPP has a democratic mandate and how democracy has been upheld during its progress?
and as for trust – i trust none of you lot – untill youve earned it! And frankly – if you want ‘me’ to give ‘you’ power im going to be skeptical of you every damn day
Wayne if MPs from National, United Future and ACT are the only MPs who vote for TPPA then is it democratic? What proportion of the 2011 vote did they achieve. I make it 48%.
How can John Key and his executive sign NZ up to an agreement when he has only 48% of the vote? Is that democratic or a sign of galactic arrogance?
it was started by NZ under Labour , but the nature and control of the agreement changed the day the US decided to join.
Traitors always plot in secret.
Australian video on TPP
So is Labour officially anti-TPP now if Robertson will be attending the panel?
No, its more just a case of Robertson officially (or publicly) declaring his point-of-difference and thearby positioning himself for the inevitable leadership challenge late this year.
Its the same reason Adhern is hitting the populist womens magazines in an attempt at a charm offensive.
Absolutely correct. Robertson has to win the union vote to be leader and will say whatever he thinks the unions want to hear. He is the most ambitious person in Labour and will have a campaign of speaking out without permission. Little cannot control Robertson.
It is an issue of trust
So why what was the purpose of the secrecy during negotiations?
Why are public submissions only held AFTER signing for NZers?
Why were the public not treated as stakeholders?
Why did our negotiators accept the form of ISDS which was rejected by the EU?
Why don’t you address the specific points raised by experts pointing out the flaws in the TPP instead of falling back on the “Trust us” meme?
The other thing to consider is that it is not just a matter of having trust in our negotiators or the current Govt. It is the untrustworthiness of the big corporates who had huge input and access to the text that is a huge issue. The TPP is being used as a means of bypassing governments and locking in regulations for the benefit of corporations but at the expense of consumers; for example, removing the Country of Origin labelling requirement for beef.
The whole TPP process has illustrated a disregard for the public who are now expected to “honour” and have “trust” in the outcome! You’ve got to be joking, Wayne.
no the vast majority of people would agree with Wayne, you are the outlier TMM but that’s your perjogative. TPP overhype is just going to play into Nationals hands, the left just keeps shouting wolf and people have just turned off
Here’s an extract from the Guardian on Investor State Dispute Settlement ISDS.
http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/jun/10/obscure-legal-system-lets-corportations-sue-states-ttip-icsid
For more information read this link:
Chapter 5: Speculating on injustice: Third-party funding of investment disputes
http://corporateeurope.org/trade/2012/11/chapter-5-speculating-injustice-third-party-funding-investment-disputes
You really need to read the whole article to grasp the scale of the operations.
Who do the public believe, Honest John or Jane Kelsey?
Honest John every time.
Crying wolf all the time and always being wrong makes people not listen. Out free trade deals have all been criticised by Jane Kelsey and all have been a roaring success. Note that even Chicken Little has never said that he would remove NZ from the TPPA. Of course not. Our negotiaters have struck such a great deal that there may be problems getting US ratification.
Tim Groser and his team have agreed a good if not great deal. Go ahead and have your meetings and marches. The sky will not fall. The fears will be baseless and the economy will continue to grow. Beneficiaries will soon get a massive rise and many will find jobs and housing.
One thing John Key and National have been very successful at over the past 6-7 years is growing the countrys debt from $10 Billion to $105 Billion, we may have had more growth recently.
would appear we now have along way to go to pay it. Gezz John cant you do better than that whose bitch are you
Are you blind in both eyes and deaf in both ears or just a right wing chain puller
TPP is not a free trade deal.
TPPA is a trade deal. Better in than out. When has Jane Kelsey ever been right?
I trust Helen Clark Andrew Little and Phil Goff who all reckon it’s a good deal
The impact on GDP in the long term is projected as:
Reductions in tariffs and quota barriers on goods trade $624m
Reductions in non-tariff measures (NTMs) on goods trade $1,460m
Improved trade facilitation measures $374m
Reductions in barriers on services trade $250m
Copyright term extension -$55m
Foregone tariff revenue -$20m
No wonder Tim Groser was delighted.
Fishy answer from fisiani the South African spin doctor employed by the National party to disrupt the left.
Helen Clark is trying to be elected to head the United Nations she will have grovel to all the world leaders any hint of dissent no chance to take over from Bankemoon.
yes, trade deal. not “Free” trade deal.
Care to name any free trade deal?
Fishy you were freely traded from South Africa by the National party Dirty tricks brigade to disrupt the left.
Poor spin.
Never been to South Africa. Fisiani is a Chitumbuka moniker.
hey fisi, have I got a deal for you….if you let me vet your business plan, I’ll get you a 1% increase in turnover in 15 years….a couple of riders though, if i find something in your business plan I don’t like I’ll need it removed and if you don’t agree my mates and I will decide whether thats ok…what do you reckon?
oh and by the way there will be a small fee for this service
Love it.
I have noticed more of these types of jokes as everyday kiwis make fun of the stupidity of our supposedly expert ‘elites’.
Here is another one.
http://www.interest.co.nz/property/79662/pm-says-report-showing-auckland-4th-least-affordable-world-reflects-demand-auckland#comment-839973
“Care to name any free trade deal?”
Uh, any of the others NZ has signed. Clue: they focus on ‘freeing up’ trade, not restricting it like most of TPP’s clauses do.
Free is not freeing. Nice try but still no evidence any any Free trade deals. it’s a loose term I admit and the TPPA will free up some trade and restrict a few.
let me quote you independent numbers from MFAT officials
The impact on GDP in the long term is projected as:
Reductions in tariffs and quota barriers on goods trade $624m
Reductions in non-tariff measures (NTMs) on goods trade $1,460m
Improved trade facilitation measures $374m
Reductions in barriers on services trade $250m
Copyright term extension -$55m
Foregone tariff revenue -$20m
From a sumofus.org petition this morning .. for anyone who still thinks the TPPA is a good idea and enjoys poisoned food …
‘Monsanto just filed a lawsuit against California, to stop the US state adding glyphosate (the active ingredient in Roundup) to its list of known carcinogens.
Without a hint of irony, Monsanto’s lawsuit calls California’s environmental health hazard assessment agency an “unelected, undemocratic, unaccountable and foreign body”. ‘
http://action.sumofus.org/a/monsanto-agm-shareowner/?akid=16706.6552347.hNSLkk&rd=1&sub=fwd&t=2
AND….this morning on Natrad big discussion being had about glyphosate and it’s status.
BUT…all discussees very carefully avoiding the words Roundup or Monsanto.
Funny that.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/201786959/should-glyphosate-weedkiller-be-banned-in-nz
Oh! but think of the economy!.
Too bad if cows and and humans die and we can’t buy new generation drugs – think of the poor economy.