TPPA protest planned



Protest organiser: Democrats for Social Credit deputy leader Chris Leitch strongly opposes the ratification of the TPPA in New Zealand and is seeking support with a public protest rally. Photo supplied.

Democrats for Social Credit deputy leader Chris Leitch is organising a protest rally against the possible ratification of the TPPA this week and is asking for moral support for his cause.

The rally will be held at a Whangarei TPPA promotion hui (gathering), run by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade, at the Distinction Hotel, Riverside Drive, on Wednesday morning.

Mr Leitch says the 8.30am protest is intended to be a peaceful gathering to highlight to participants, "there are significant negatives to New Zealand, proceeding with the TPPA".

All participants are expected to be handed material detailing those negatives in preparation for asking questions of ministry officials.

They will also be provided with an alternative proposal showing how the economy could be boosted by double that predicted for the TPPA, without any loss of sovereignty, he says.

Mr Leitch says he and his party believe the TPPA has many inherent costs and risks, such as; "the threat to climate action and our environment; the impact it will have on our public health and medicines and the cost to consumers for copyright extensions".

He says other costs and risks include, the threat to GMO labelling and country of origin labelling; the impact of harmonised risk assessment processes for GMOs and the potential for enormous costs under an ISDS claim.

In a media statement Environment and Trade ministers Dr Nick Smith and Todd McClay say the chapter of the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement offers real benefits for both New Zealand’s environment and trade.

"TPP is not just good for the New Zealand economy but good for the environment. It goes much further than any other New Zealand trade agreement on issues like protecting endangered species and preventing pollution and also provides a valuable avenue for New Zealand to advance its environmental and conservation interests by working with, and pooling resources with other TPP countries," Dr Smith says.

For the first time in a free trade agreement, there is a platform for environmental cooperation with some of the world’s most advanced economies alongside developing countries.

Side bar:

National and Labour members of the Foreign Affairs & Trade select committee were served with a memorandum of injustice at recent TPPA hearings.
The memorandum, distributed by the Democrats for Social Credit party, sets out the grounds for a class action against committee members in the event they recommend ratification of the TPPA and the Democrats for Social Credit view that its subsequent implementation causes significant detriment to New Zealand or its citizens.

Before distributing the memorandums and at the conclusion of his submission against the TPPA, D for SC deputy leader Chris Leitch said, "if, as a result of you proceeding with the TPPA and the grave concerns being covered in this submission and many others, lose control of our financial system, our health, environment and most important, control over the quality and safety of our food supply, how will you or your descendants defend legal cases brought against you in the future, in a yet to be constituted forum, for the detriment inflicted upon New Zealand and both its current and future citizens".

Editor's note:

This is a significant step for New Zealand, if it becomes a reality.

Do you have an opinion about the TPPA and its effects on New Zealand?

Is ratification of the TPPA a good or bad thing for New Zealand?

Comments from anywhere in the world are welcome. We would be interested to know what you think!