FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 07, 2014
Week of Action against Fast Track for the TPP!
The Nicaragua Network urges you to participate in the campaign to stop Fast Track and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Read more below!
STOP THE SNEAK ATTACK ON DEMOCRACY
Week of Action against Fast Track for the TPP * November 8 - 14, 2014
The #StopFastTrack week of action comes as President Obama and other heads of state head to Asia this November in attempt to push forward the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). It also comes as the Lame Duck session of Congress gets underway, with various Congressional leaders already calling for Fast Track legislation to be considered then. It is a time of year when a lot of people take a break after the elections, and start getting ready for the holidays, such that political accountability is very low. We need your help remaining vigilant so that Fast Track does not sneak through then or in early 2015.
BACKGROUND:
The TPP threatens good-paying jobs, a clean environment, affordable medicine, internet freedom, indigenous rights, food safety, commonsense banking regulations, public procurement and more.
The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Free Trade Agreement is a twelve-nation pact that, if approved, would set rules governing approximately 40% of the global economy — with a built-in mechanism for additional countries to join over time. It covers some 29 separate chapters, handcuffing communities' ability to make decisions on everything from financial services and intellectual property to the environment and food safety. The TPP would have profound implications for the economy, environment and public health worldwide — yet it's being developed behind-closed doors.
The TPP is a sneak attack on democracy:
· The TPP has been negotiated in secret
Six years into the negotiations, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative still refuses to tell the public what they're proposing for the TPP in our names. Meanwhile, they have granted hundreds of corporate lobbyists — representing companies like Walmart and Chevron and Cargill — special access to the texts and to negotiators. What we know about this secretive pact comes, not from our own government, but from a handful of leaked documents and from one-on-one conversations with negotiators from other countries.
· Corporate lobbyists now want to rush the TPP through Congress using "Fast Track"
Fast Track is a Nixon-era procedure that would allow the TPP to circumvent ordinary Congressional review, amendment and debate procedures. Fast Track takes control over trade agreements away from the public and our elected officials, and puts it further into the hands of trade bureaucrats and their corporate advisors. Fast Track rightfully expired in 2007, and would need to be raised from the dead by Congress in order to apply to the TPP and other trade agreements.
· They're even threatening to sneak in a vote for Fast Track during the Lame Duck session
As if pushing Fast Track for a secretive pact weren't bad enough, the corporations behind the TPP are now hoping to sneak the Fast Track vote into the Lame Duck session — after the elections, when political accountability is at its lowest. The good news is that we've stopped Fast Track before and we can do it again. If we all speak out loudly enough, we can derail Fast Track this November and into the future.
The November 8 - 14 Week of Action against Fast Track comes as President Obama and other heads of state visit Asia to discuss the TPP, and right as the Lame Duck session of Congress begins to get underway. It's a time of year when a lot of people take a break after the elections, and start getting ready for the holidays. We need your help remaining vigilant so that Fast Track does not sneak through then or ever.
ORGANIZATIONS ARE NEEDED TO:
· Endorse the week of action website StopFastTrack.com.
· Schedule an action alert urging your members to contact Congress betweenNovember 8 and 14.
· Help organize and promote anti-Fast Track rallies during the week of action.
TO SEE WHAT ORGANIZATIONS HAVE ALREADY ENDORSED THE CAMPAIGN, GO HERE: http://www.stopfasttrack.com/
Upcoming Events
Join a rally near you!
California
Sacramento Community Forum on the TPP & Fast Track - Stop the Sneak Attack on Democracy!
Wednesday, November 12 * 5:30pm
SEIU Local 1000
1325 S St * Sacramento, CA
RSVP Online: https://www.facebook.com/events/730070970381918/
Contact: Xiomara Castro, xiomara@citizenstrade.org
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#StopFastTrack Overhead Light Brigade
Monday, November 10 * 5:00pm
Taylor Street Overpass over I-8
RSVP Online: https://www.facebook.com/events/858778814167627/
Contact: Kali Gochmanosky, kali@citizenstrade.org
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San Diego #StopFastTrack Rally
Wednesday, November 12 * 4:00pm
Outside Congresswoman Susan Davis' Office
2700 Adams Ave * San Diego, CA
RSVP Online: https://www.facebook.com/events/783089711732353
Contact: Kali Gochmanosky, kali@citizenstrade.org
Colorado
Rally: Stop the Sneak Attack on Democracy
Friday, November 7, 2014 *12:00pm
Outside Rep. Jared Polis’ Office
4770 Baseline Rd. * Boulder, CO
RSVP Online: bit.ly/FastTrackRallyCO
Contact: Carolyn Bninski, Carolyn.Bninski@gmail.com
Veterans' Day Fast Track Protest (MoveOn Metro Denver Council)
Tuesday, November 11 * 5:00pm
Veterans Park at the Capitol
200 E. Colfax Ave * Denver, CO
Contact: Laura Avant, lavant04@comcast.net
Florida
Fast Track Opposition Commitment Appreciation Presentation
Date and Time TBA * Contact Event Organizer
South Florida AFL-CIO
4349 NW 36th St * Miami, FL
Contact: Fred Frost, frost180@bellsouth.net
Reminding Rep. Castor to Help #StopFastTrack (Tampa MoveOn.org)
Thursday, November 13 * 12:00pm
Outside Rep. Castor's Office
4144 N Armenia Ave * Tampa, FL
RSVP Online: https://www.facebook.com/events/677294822367924/
Contact: Chris Radulich, cradulich@yahoo.com
Contact: Harriet Heywood, harrietheywood@gmail.com
Illinois
Mike Quigley Has Mail (#StopFastTrack Literature Drop)
Saturday, November 8 * 2:00 - 4:00pm
Lakeview/Wrigleyville Neighborhood * Chicago, IL
Contact: Carson Starkey, iltrade@citizenstrade.org
Rally Against Fast Track in Elgin
Sunday, November 9 * 1:00pm
Eligin Public Library
270 North Grove Avenue * Elgin, IL
Contact: Carson Starkey, iltrade@citizenstrade.org
#StopFastTrack Accountability Phone Bank
Monday, November 10 * 5:00 - 7:00pm
Workers United Office
333 South Ashland Ave * Chicago, IL
Contact: Carson Starkey, iltrade@citizenstrade.org
Massachusetts
Protest: Stop the Sneak Attack on Democracy, Rep. Neal!
Wednesday, November 12 * 8:00am
Outside the Boston Harbor Hotel
70 Rowes Warf * Boston, MA
Contact: Pat Fiero, patfiero@yahoo.com
Oregon
Fast Track Protest at Sen. Wyden & Rep. Blumenauer's Offices
Friday, November 14 * 12:00pm
Gather Outside Rep. Blumenauer's Office
729 NE Oregon St * Portland, OR
Contact: Elizabeth Swager, elizabeth@oregonfairtrade.org
Pennsylvania
#StopFastTrack Rally
Thursday, November 13 * 12:00pm
Outside Rep. Dent's Office
3900 Hamilton Blvd * Allentown, PA
Contact: Amy Conahan, amy@citizenstrade.org
Washington
Stop Fast Track Rally (Occupy Bellingham)
Saturday, November 8 * 2:00 - 6:00pm
Holly and Railroad * Bellingham, WA
Contact: Dianne Foster, diannefoster234@gmail.com
Stop the Sneak Attack on Democracy! Light Brigade Action
Tuesday, November 11 * 5:00 - 6:30pm
Federal Building
915 2nd Ave (btw Marion St & Madison St)* Seattle, WA
RSVP Online: https://www.facebook.com/events/297265820474582/
Contact: Gillian Locascio, gillian@washingtonfairtrade.org
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