"Biggest Protest This Country Has Ever Seen" Against Both the TPP and TTIP

[LongTomH]

In this country, 'mainstream' media and 'centrist' politicians have lined up in support of the TPP and TTIP (Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership), opposing views are largely muted. In Berlin, people are taking to the streets:

And while the US population, which is far more perturbed by what Caitlyn Jenner will wear tomorrow than D.C.'s plans on the future of world trade, has been mute in its response to the passage of the first part of the trade treaty, the TPP - after all the MSM isn't there to tell it how to feel about it, aside to assure it that everything will be great even as millions of highly-paid jobs mysteriously become line cooks - other countries are standing up against globalist trade interests meant to serve a handful of corporations.

Case in point Germany, where today hundreds of thousands of people marched in Berlin in protest against the planned "free trade" deal between Europe and the United States which they say is anti-democratic and will lower food safety, labor and environmental standards.

TTIP critics fear that it would lead to worse safeguards in Europe, bringing down standards for consumer safety, food and health or labor rights down to those in America. European nations have stricter regulations for things like genetically modified foods or workers benefits than the US does. There is also discontent with the secretive nature of the negotiations, which prompts skeptics to assume the worst about the document they would eventually produce.

The organizers - an alliance of environmental groups, charities and opposition parties - claimed that 250,000 people were taking part in the rally against free trade deals with both the United States and Canada, far more than they had anticipated.

"This is the biggest protest that this country has seen for many, many years," Christoph Bautz, director of citizens' movement Campact told protesters in a speech.

[tazkcmo]

1. Oh, my mistake.

I thought TTIP and TTP was a boy band on America's got talent and wanted to see what type of shenanigans those crazy kids were getting into. While I'm here, what's a "Berlin"?












sarcasm

[mikehiggins]

6. Wasn't Berlin the band that did "take my breath away?" Will they be appearing? n/t

[ProfessorGAC]

10. Yeah, Right After They Started Sucking

When they were more a New Romantic synth band, they did much better music than that Dianne Warren dreck.

[Hoyt]

2. Yet Merkel and leaders of other European nations support it.

[tazkcmo]

9. And other

people in position of wealth and power. And you of course.

[pampango]

11. It seems that support for the TTIP is weakest in Germany, strongest in Scandanavia, eastern Europe

and the UK/Ireland. It may be that Germany's economy dominates now. Germans may like things the way they are and don't want to take a chance on any change.

........................................

http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/01/29/is-europe-on-board-for-a-new-trade-deal-with-the-u-s/ ..... http://www.borderlex.eu/eurobarometer-whos-ttip-eu/

[2naSalit]

3. One of the most important reasons

there is so much at stake in this election cycle. I get the sense that this could be our last election, especially if the Rs win... and that means Congress too.

[hedda_foil]

4. I have the same sick feeling, 2naSalit.

Both Cruz and Trump seem capable abrogating every tenet of the Constitution and law without batting an eye. Cruz, of course, would be a Dominionist Theocratic dictator while Trump is an out and out fascistic in the corporo-governmental sense. They are both highly dangerous men.

[2naSalit]

5. Exactly.

[pampango]

8. It is worth noting that both Trump and Cruz oppose both the TPP and TTIP, FWIW.

Perhaps a 'silver lining' to otherwise very dark 'clouds'. (Of course, both may only be saying it because it is what the base wants to hear.) Rubio is the one who will probably support both.

[JEB]

7. K&R