Wanting express our deep concern for the lack of democracy being practiced in New Zealand currently and also regarding the lack of awareness, by everyday Kiwis, of the potential consequences of the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) – “The corporate takeover dressed up as a trade deal”. In recent years the NZ government has been making a lot of decisions that I wouldn’t perceive as being in the best interest of New Zealanders, and even with public uproar and protest this hasn’t changed a thing. The New Zealand Democracy is under attack but yet no one seems to know, or be publicly exercising this information. New Zealanders need to be made aware so that they don’t throw away the rights their Grandparents fought to defend, and betray them with apathy. What everyone New Zealand NEEDS to know about the TPPA and the potential consequences of this agreement – - The TPPA is a ‘trade’ agreement between eleven Asian and Pacific-rim countries, including the United States. - The TPPA is being negotiated in secret and the only information we have is due to leaked documents. - Corporations could sue the New Zealand government, and any future NZ Government, if new laws and regulations introduced threaten their investments (such as a ban on GMO foods, anti fracking, cigarette labelling etc) and these law suits would be dealt with in offshore tribunals without the public knowing. - Medicine will become more expensive for Kiwis as big pharmaceutical corporations will have a lot more influence over New Zealand’s PHARMAC. - Copyright laws will be toughened and more harshly enforced, restricting internet freedom and access to information, costing libraries, schools, and businesses, and stifling innovation. - Parallel importing will be banned meaning New Zealanders will have to pay more for everyday items. - Foreign banks, insurance companies and money traders to be given more powers to challenge laws designed to prevent another financial crisis. - Will produce a foreign economic treaty that will take precedence over the Treaty of Waitangi. -Future New Zealand governments to have their hands tied — we need them to act in the interests of ordinary kiwis, not foreign investors and big corporations. -The TPPA may also potentially damage the future abilities of the biggest growing industry in New Zealand, IT. At the end of the day this ‘trade’ agreement looks to benefit the pockets of the large corporations in America while crippling the everyday Kiwis and imprisoning our Democracy. While some of these issues may not be such a great concern to everyday Kiwis a poll conducted in December 2012 showed 64% of New Zealanders thought trade agreements that allow corporations to sue governments, such as the TPPA, should be rejected. So why is this agreement still going ahead with negotiations? Why are the negotiations being held in OUR name being held in secret? While my major concern is the lack of democracy currently present in New Zealand I have great fears that if the TPPA goes ahead and is signed off in October 2013 that we will lose our sovereignty and follow in the sickly footsteps of America. Where really New Zealand should be heading towards a direction of banning GMO’s, banning oil drilling all together, foregoing the new potential rights of the GCSB, enabling better health care and schooling, and investing money into ensure New Zealand stays New Zealand. Together we should all be working towards a better future for everyone, not just the corporations and the 1%, but for the future generations of NEW ZEALAND. The argument that this is the best thing for our economy is a load of garbage; this is scare/fear tactics to hold control – nothing more. The $3b figure that John Key plucked out of the air is complete rubbish; there are many more viable and legitimate solutions to helping the NZ economy compared with signing this agreement, because if anything it will slaughter our ‘economy’. We have to stand up for our rights! greenpeace.org/new-zealand/en/take-action/Take-action-online/Say-no-to-the-TPPA/ itsourfuture.org.nz/kiwis-speak/
Posted on: Sat, 10 Aug 2013 23:49:28 +0000