dust Posted January 22, 2015 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transatlantic_Trade_and_Investment_Partnership The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) is a proposed free trade agreement between the European Union (EU) and the United States of America (USA). http://action.sierraclub.org/site/DocServer/TTIP_Investment_Letter_Final.pdf?docID=14701 ISDS forces governments to use taxpayer funds to compensate corporations for public health, environmental, labor and other public interest policies and government actions: ISDS has been used to attack clean energy, mining, land use, health, labor, and other public interest policies. In fact, of the more than $14 billion in the 16 claims now pending under just U.S. free trade agreements, all relate to environmental, energy, financial regulation, public health, land use and transportation policies – not traditional trade issues. http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2013/october/tradoc_151791.pdf There are several examples of cases where a developed country has expropriated a foreign investor, not paid compensation and prevented them from going to local courts. In these circumstances, investors are left without anywhere to bring a claim for compensation, unless there is an ISDS provision in the investment agreement. On the one hand, it seems to me that nobody in any country should be signing agreements with foreign investors if there's a chance that the agreement will be broken by a change in national policy (and, consequently, certain profits and jobs will be lost). Then again, in this case, whether or not the government is right in banning fracking (an entirely different matter), this environmental matter should be entirely in the hands of the Quebecois government, but it seems like a lot of power is in the hands of the US company. Also, most companies that benefit from such agreements are going to be the likes of McDonald's, Monsanto, Wal-Mart... and they need no help from anyone. We should be taking steps to ensure that companies never reach such heights of international wealth and power. Seems to me that such agreements leave much room for abuse. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brian Posted January 22, 2015 Just one step closer to Idiocracy, sponsored by Taco Bell. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
joeblast Posted January 22, 2015 Seems to me that such agreements are purposefully set up so that those who set them up can abuse at will, largely unbeknownst to the rest. ftfy 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dust Posted January 22, 2015 Thanks Well, sure, it's all largely unbeknownst to most... but it's not like nobody has the capability to know, is it? http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/what-is-ttip-and-six-reasons-why-the-answer-should-scare-you-9779688.html The Independent is a major UK newspaper. They told people, and I'm sure many others have talked about it... but it's not interesting news. Nobody's died, nobody's been raped (literally anyway), nobody's been abducted, nobody's scored a last-minute goal against Real Madrid... so nobody gives a shit. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
joeblast Posted January 22, 2015 the dead are countless, the prince and bubba did literally do so (and epstein was sure to collect evidence and details for future bribery, of course), killed is easier than abducted unless there is a further use for you, and I didnt know there w as a fake Madrid Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
soaring crane Posted January 25, 2015 Just one step closer to Idiocracy, sponsored by Taco Bell. And the Idiocracy this time will be of trans-Atlantic proportions... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites