Today, on the 9th of December, the fourth day of our Lima in Brussels gathering, we showed our solidarity with the coalition Stop TTIP CETA and TISA and the Federation of Young European Greens by taking our banners, spirits and vocal cords and getting together in front of the European Commission main building. Our objective was to show our immense discontent with the secretly prepared TTIP trade agreement between the EU and the USA that the European Commission is negotiating under Jean-Claude Juncker’s leadership. More than 1 100 000 people have already signed the self-organized European Citizens Initiative against TTIP, which means that it is time that the Commission took our voices seriously!
So, what is actually wrong with the so-called Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP)? Mainly this: TTIP would introduce a parallel judicial system, unchecked by democratic institutions. This would allow big businesses to sue governments over changes in national laws that put people and planet first, but may dent corporate profits. What is at stake? Literally every piece of future legislation that would limit corporate profit in the name of any other interest. This would open the door to a storm of corporate lawsuits, possibly demolishing every single piece of labour-legislations, social security measures, and, last but not least, environmental safeguards. In other words – want to put a tax on carbon emissions? Subsidize community renewable energy? Ban fossil-fuel companies from drilling? Forget all that – you would have to expect lawsuits piling up, demanding fat compensations. TTIP would seriously limit the power of democratic institutions to prevent corporate destruction of standards that protect social and environmental wellbeing – or at least those that we still have left.
Surprising? Not at all. It is precisely these corporations, which have the secret negotiations in their hands, just as they unfairly and excessively curb the climate talks in Lima for their interest. That is why we had to say clearly: it is high time we put a check on corporate power, both in Brussels – and Lima. Get the FF out!
So that is why around 100 people – including us – gathered to bash Mr. Juncker’s 6oth birthday party with a very special gift: over one million people’s voices chanting: “TTIP, NOT FOR ME!”. We need more ambitious climate action and real solutions to climate change –not even more concessions to dirty corporations!
Unfortunately, Jean-Claude did not arrive to receive his present, but we sang the following birthday song (hopefully) loud enough for him to hear us to hear us:
Happy birthday to you x2
Happy birthday president Juncker
Happy birthday to you
After two months only
Juncker listen carefully
We gathered a million
Voices te – e – lling you:
We don’t want TTIP
We don’t want CETA
And the movement is growing
Come out, see what we are showing