Doctors Worldwide Blast TPP's 'Chilling Effect' on Health, Climate Protections

[eridani]

http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/02/13/doctors-worldwide-blast-tpps-chilling-effect-health-climate-protections

An international coalition of doctors representing seven Pacific Rim countries is demanding the public release of draft trade agreements currently being negotiated in secret between world governments.

The corporate-friendly Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), along with the equally troubling Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), "threaten the ability of governments worldwide to provide affordable health care and to put in place health and environmental laws that protect public health and mitigate health inequity," reads a letter (pdf) signed by 27 health leaders, to be published Saturday in the international health journal The Lancet.

"Although USA-based industry advisors have been granted privileged access to negotiating documents, health agencies have been forced to rely on leaks for information," the document continues, referring to WikiLeaks's efforts to shed light on the draft texts.

The signatories hail from New Zealand, Australia, the U.S., Canada, Chile, Malaysia, and Vietnam—7 of the 12 countries that would be covered by the TPP—and the list includes leaders of the World Medical Association and World Federation of Public Health Associations. The effort was led by medical providers from New Zealand and Australia, who note that TPP provisions could "push up the cost of affordable and life-saving medicines" for vulnerable populations in those countries and elsewhere.

"The negotiations are not about the way most of us think of trade—you and me buying and selling things," said New Zealand psychiatrist Erik Monasterio, a co-author and lead signatory. "Instead they are protecting the massive investments profits of multinational companies that are bigger than the whole New Zealand economy. They want to make sure that countries won’t be able to pass laws or change policies, no matter how important to the local country, if that would cut profits of an overseas investor."

[polly7]

1. Great article, thanks eridani. nt.

[hollysmom]

2. how cn a country continue to exist when all it's necessities are made in countries where htey can bo

Like for example all our medicines? All of mine are made in China - besides he possibility of the milk poisoning that killed cats years ago, there is the possibility of boycott - no heart medicine for you!
Or phones or trains or........
How much of this country is being stripped of our resources to sell over seas and bring back stuff.

With the drones that are being sold to people, the software engineers in China are putting in code to avoid airports and the white house - what else is in the code?

[newfie11]

3. I don't understand why Obama is pushing this

Why, what does he get from this being approved?

[randome]

4. Neither do I, which means it's probably more than soundbite articles like this one.

There aren't any specific objections in the article, only 'fears'.

Most trade agreements are initially written in secret until all the details are ironed out then they get voted on. To do otherwise means Conservatives would be trying to attach abortion 'amendments' and crap to get their whiny way about something.
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[djean111]

5. Yes, by all means - let's wait until not one word can be changed.

This agreement is between corporations, IMO, and not countries. Doesn't matter one bit what anyone thinks about Obama at this point. He cannot be reelected; in that sense, and in the most IMPORTANT sense of how Washington works these days, Obama is now irrelevant as a politician. Only thing that counts to most of those in office - staying in office. But - Hillary had a hand in this, and I cannot and will not get over or justify it because of anything else she has done.

[MisterP]

7. he's a genuine Blairite: basically "Bush, but okay with gays eventually": the only thing worse than

a bought politician

is one who doesn't need to be bought

[hedda_foil]

6. You know, I've always pooh-poohed the tinfoil hatters' one-world government fears.

Still do, when it comes to the U.N., but this treaty and the one with Europe could potentially lead to one world of the corporations, by the corporations and for the corporations.

Sheesh! And I was always an optimist.