This in from Mike Starke, in his own words.
Growing numbers of Islanders have become aware of the threat to public services, food safety and wages posed by an international trade treaty being cobbled together behind closed doors by EU governments – including Britain.
Protesters will be turning out on Saturday (11 October) to spread the warning to even more people.
Similar events in Ryde and Newport a few weeks ago were part of around 600 demonstrations across the country, co-ordinated by respected pressure group 38 Degrees and attended by thousands of concerned people from all political parties and walks of life. Their action has been backed by a national petition, which is close to reaching its 200,000 target.
Find out more on Saturday
A spokesman for the organisers said:
“Everyone is welcome to join us on Saturday at 11am in St James’s Square, Newport, where we will be handing out leaflets and explaining the dire threat posed to all of us by TTIP.”
He added:
“This is not just some bit of Brussels bureaucracy we can afford to ignore; every one of us will be affected by it. We will be powerless to prevent even our most private details from being grabbed by TTIP predators for commercial purposes.”
Europe-wide opposition
The strength of opposition to the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) has taken governments by surprise across Europe, as top officials have been conducting negotiations with their opposite numbers from the United States, deliberately hidden from public scrutiny.
Among the most sinister threats posed by TTIP is the anti-democratic Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS). In effect, this would be a secret court presided over by big business and allowing firms to sue governments for millions if they are deemed to have passed laws that might interfere with profits. This includes hard-won legislation on food safety and toxic chemical safeguards, as well as bids to raise poverty wages.
MPs and peers linked to NHS private contracts
The spokesman added:
“With the 2015 general election looming, all the political parties are falling over themselves to pledge more money for our cherished NHS. This has privatisation promoters among TTIP’s big business backers rubbing their hands with glee. For it means signatories to the treaty will have to submit to the extra public money being siphoned off for private profit or risk being sued under the ISDS.
“Worryingly, a report out this week reveals that 24 Tory MPs and peers have been linked to 15 firms that have pocketed £1.5bn of NHS private contracts since 2012. If TTIP is signed, there will be no stopping the rot, as no future government will be able to reverse the deal.”
