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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, @02:36PM
I expect this will bring the crazy regional branding laws. Champagne from California and Cheddar from Wisconsin will become illegal, because Champagne is some place in France and Cheddar is some place in the UK.
I wonder if it is at least legit to rename our own cities so that we can still make these products. Maybe that would be cause for war.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday May 03 2016, @12:39AM
I'm sure you'll enjoy Polish bourbon.