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from the secret-negotiations-are-always-good-for-the-people dept.
Apparently, Greenpeace got their hands on a version of the TTIP documents and plans to release them to the public at today, Monday 2nd of May, 11:00am (UTC+2) from Netherlands, while at the same time giving a press conference at the re:publica. While Greenpeace is apparently mainly concerned about the loss of the precautionary principle (in Europe, if a product is thought to pose a risk to the population or environment, it is prohibited until proven safe, as opposed to the US where it is permitted until proven harmful. According to Greenpeace (sorry, only in German), this is a reason that in US, 170 genetically manipulated plants are in the agricultural market, while in Europe it is only one.
While these mainly environmental concerns deserve some consideration, the more fundamental issue is that such a far-reaching contract, invalidating many of hard fought-for consumers rights in one coup and affecting half a billion people alone in Europe, is negotiated secretly. This is entirely unworthy of any democratic government system.
The documents are available for download.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday May 02 2016, @12:44PM
We (USA) are the workers from the Far East trying to take their jobs.
Maybe that's why we don't hear much about TTIP on the campaign trail here!
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Monday May 02 2016, @01:10PM
I think jobs are the least of our (Europeans) concerns. It's the precautionary principle that the OP mentions (which not only works for GMOs, but on many levels, including privacy) and level of social security (through ISDS) that causes worries to most people here.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Monday May 02 2016, @01:11PM
I'm not versed on this agreement, but the pattern itself strikes me as "give people nowhere to turn".
I hope they at least put that much vigor into making sure all corporations start paying their fair share of taxes. (hah!)
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday May 02 2016, @01:29PM
no no no, we're not coming to take their "JOBS" we're coming to take their "JERBS!"
PAY ATTENTION PEOPLE!
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Monday May 02 2016, @11:14PM
You don't hear about it because big business, which owns the media, don't want you to hear about it. Out of sight, out of mind, in their pockets.
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---