BREAKING NEWS!
WikiLeaks just released part of the TPP trade agreement document draft. It has to do with intellectual property rights. Here is an excerpt from their website:
Today, 13 November 2013, WikiLeaks released the secret negotiated draft text for the entire TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership) Intellectual Property Rights Chapter. The TPP is the largest-ever economic treaty, encompassing nations representing more than 40 per cent of the world’s GDP. The WikiLeaks release of the text comes ahead of the decisive TPP Chief Negotiators summit in Salt Lake City, Utah, on 19-24 November 2013. The chapter published by WikiLeaks is perhaps the most controversial chapter of the TPP due to its wide-ranging effects on medicines, publishers, internet services, civil liberties and biological patents. Significantly, the released text includes the negotiation positions and disagreements between all 12 prospective member states.
You can read more here.
I read some of the document and I can honestly say, in my opinion, its a bunch of legal gobbledy gook. It is completely open to interpretation. For example, Article QQ. A.8: “The Most Favored Nation Treatment” clause certainly sounds disturbing.
1. Nothing in this Chapter shall prevent a Party from adopting appropriate measures to prevent: (a) the abuse of intellectual property rights by right holders or the resort to practices that unreasonably restrain trade or adversely affect the international transfer of technology.
Will that pertain to the labeling of genetically modified foods? In other words, citizens will not have a right to know what ingredients are in foods because disclosing such information might cause the food manufacturer to lose revenue?
Article QQ. A.12: International Exhaustion of Rights. The Parties are encouraged to establish international exhaustion of rights. What does that mean?
The entire document is full of these vague descriptions, that make no sense to me. The majority of Congress has not read any of this document and if the way they handled the ObamaCare bill is any preview, then we are all in for a whole lotta’ pain.
“Intellectual Property” is defined as – “a work or invention that is the result of creativity, such as a manuscript or a design, to which one has rights and for which one may apply for a patent, copyright, trademark, etc.”
That definition seems to sum up that everything can be included to mean intellectual property, from seeds to medicines to — anything.
Remember when Nancy Pelosi urged Congress to sign “the healthcare bill, so they could read what’s in it?” And then Obama was quoted saying, “Some stray cats and dogs were sneaked into the law?” (back in 2010) — when he was talking about millions losing health insurance they liked.
If you think this law is a mess and even if you don’t, the TPP is so much bigger. This law is outside our nation’s jurisdiction and the Supreme Court can rule in our favor all they want… the International Court supersedes them. The Supreme Court has as much influence on this law — as me.
So, why is this agreement so vague? My guess is so Congress and anyone else who reads it won’t understand it, but sign it anyway because some lobbyist will blow smoke up their ass to “encourage” them to go along with it. Campaign contribution dollars is such a good incentive.
The exposure of the TPP by Wikileaks is yet another example of this administration’s on going assault on American freedoms and lack of transparency.
If you like how Obama is putting the “change” he talked about in his campaign speech, into action — then you are going to love the change coming down the pike with the TPP.
If you like the freedoms you have today. You can keep them. Period. Or not.
If you are concerned about this, you can attend a rally this weekend in Orange County. There is a Face Book page that will give the details on how you can get involved.
Welcome back Inge! Some of us will try and make it out there this weekend.
RT is awesome. It’s the first channel that I switch on in the day and often the only one I switch on. Can you list some basic info about Saturday Inge for those that are not on Facebook.
Facebook probably endorses the TTP agreement also. ha.
Here is information for those not connected to Face Book who would like to take part:
When: November 16th at 1:00 pm
Where: South Coast Plaza
3333 Bristol St, Costa Mesa, California 92626
South Coast Plaza, sidewalks – Intersection of Bristol and Anton, in front of Scott’s Restaurant.
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If you can’t go to action, you can contact your U.S. Representative. If you don’t know who they are, find out here:
http://whoismyrepresentative.com/
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Spread the word. Email, twitter, call your friends and family. Include this info when you do:
What is the TPP & Fast Track?
4 min. Overview Video:
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WHY PARTICIPATE?
It is time for Americans to RALLY to demand the US Congress stands with “We the People” by performing their job as outlined in the Constitution* and working for the benefit of ALL citizens, not the benefit of multi-national corporations.
The Obama administration wants congress to give him Fast Track (Trade Promotion Authority) so he can ram into law very damaging legislation that was written by over 600 corporate advisers: the TPP (see overview above). The TPP is masquerading as a free “trade” agreement that will destroy our national sovereignty, totally destroy our limping economy, and basically make us all slaves to the multi-national corporations.
TIME IS SHORT:
The bill for Fast Track is expected to be introduced and voted on before Thanksgiving. Fast Track is the Achilles Heel of the TPP: We must STOP FAST TRACK NOW.