National Day of Action against the TPPA on 8 December
The next TPPA negotiating round is taking place at Auckland’s Sky City Convention Centre (a favoured place for backroom deals!) from 3 to 12 December.
An exciting programme of events is planned in the leadup to and during the negotiations. These will be announced when they are confirmed.
For now, save Saturday 8 December as the national day of action against the TPPA. Several events are being organised in Auckland for that day. We hope you will all set up events in other centres around New Zealand, and let us know about it here!
In the weeks before and during the round the Bulletin will come out weekly. Also check the website: www.itsourfuture.org.nz
TPPA cartoon competition, $1500 in prizes
Entries are coming in to the TPPA cartoon competition sponsored by Scoop.co.nz, The Biz Dojo Co.Space, the Bruce Jesson Foundation, and the New Zealand Society of Authors. There are three prizes: $500 for Best Cartoon (judged by Finlay Macdonald); $500 People’s Choice Award (judged by online vote); and a $500 Biz Dojo Scholarship Student Award (judged by Biz Dojo).
Anyone can enter, as many times as they like. All entries must be original and 100% the product of the entrant. Foreign entrants are welcome, but not eligible for a prize. Entrants agree to release their cartoons for use under creative commons license, including on itsourfuture.org.nz and Scoop.co.nz as part of ongoing coverage of the TPPA.
The winners will be announced on 1 December and the cartoons will be on exhibition at the BizDojo Space in Karangahape Rd from 1 to 7 December.
Stakeholder “participation” at the December round
Because the TPPA is being negotiated in secret, with no possibility of public oversight, opportunities for public “participation” in the negotiating rounds is laughably scarce. The so-called “stakeholder programme” on Friday 7 December is the only chance to make your voice heard inside the venue. “Stakeholders” can opt to make a “short” presentation (@10 mins!) and attend a “stakeholder briefing” (where negotiators practice the diplomatic skill of revealing nothing). There may also be a reception where stakeholders and negotiators can mix. MFAT will announce registration details on its TPP Talk site.
Labour Party caucuses speak out against the TPPA
Two remits critical of the TPPA that were unanimously passed at the Labour Party’s Wellington Regional Convention will be debated at the Party’s national conference in Auckland on 16-18 November. The remit texts are available here. Now is a good time to urge Labour’s leaders, MPs and delegates to take a strong position against the TPPA at the conference. Labour MPs contact details can be found here.
NZ-US Council scores ‘own goal’ with laughable TPP Survey
The main lobbyists for the TPPA, the NZ-US Council, released a survey claiming that 57% of kiwis support the TPPA … but that only 14% could name it, and only 48% have heard of it. Jane Kelsey said the survey had an “air of desparation” and the methodology was so laughable it did not deserve a serious rebuttal. If kiwis knew what the TPPA meant they would be horrified at what our negotiators are signing away in our name.
John Key’s trip to Hollywood all about the TPPA
PM John Key’s trip to Hollywood had little to do with the ongoing Kim Dotcom saga. As TVNZ confirmed, the movie industry was more interested in advancing its demands in the TPPA negotiations. The movie and music industries are the two most powerful copyright lobbies in America, and they want the TPPA to secure global rules that will protect their power and profits into the 21st century. At the same time, the top US negotiators on intellectual property were in Wellington lobbying for their position. New Zealand negotiators have led the way in resisting US demands for radical extensions to intellectual property laws. Hollywood’s elite have been wining and dining our Prime Minister with the aim of breaking down that opposition. Make your views known at here and here.
NZ public supports plain packaging of tobacco
A survey of smokers and non-smokers by the ASPIRE2025 research group showed more than two-thirds of respondents supported plain packaging and that support was expected to grow. The TPPA poses a huge risk to the New Zealand government’s intention to follow Australia’s lead and introduce plain packaging of cigarettes. See the factsheet on TPPA, tobacco and alcohol here.
New U-Tube video
What is the TPPA and what does it mean for NZ – here!
Upcoming events
- Waiheke, 6.30pm 3 November, Jane Kelsey will speak on the TPPA at Artworks Theatre.
- Auckland, 4pm 5 November, Jane Kelsey will speak to a Department of Political Studies Seminar at Federation Room, Old Government House, University fo Auckland.
- Christchurch, 5.30pm 26 November, Lori Wallach and Jane Kelsey will speak at Knox Hall
News Stories
- TV3′s The Nation covered the TPPA, John Key’s visit to Hollywood, and NZ’s labour laws featuring Helen Kelly from the NZCTU, Jane Kelsey, and Steven Jacobi from the NZ-US Council lobby group.
- Gordon Campbell on John Key’s trip to Hollywood
- Great segment on HuffPost live on the TPPA featuring representatives of Electronic Freedom Foundation, Medicines Sans Frontieres, and Citizens’ Trade Campaign.
- Great interview with Lori Wallach from Public Citizen on everything that’s wrong with the TPPA
- Dom-Post editorial on prospects that the US election could derail the TPPA
Actions
- Write to PM John key and Trade Minister Groser opposing the TPPA. It’s simple to send a message using the template on the itsourfuture website.
- Sign the stopthetrap.net petition against the TPPA’s impact on the internet.
- Sign the Corporate Accountability International petition against the secrecy of the TPPA.
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