The European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) against the European Union and United States trade deal has gathered support across Europe and has been signed by people who believe it will threaten democracy, public services, the environment and allow big businesses to influence governments.
— What They Say (@_About_USA) October 7, 2015
What does today's #TPP mega-agreement mean for the world? https://t.co/gqyWldsWbJ #TTPA #TTIP #TISA pic.twitter.com/iJtdHkROoh
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) October 5, 2015
John Hilary, War on Want's executive director said:
"The three million signatures collected for this petition shows that the people of Europe are against these corporate driven trade deals."
"The people of Europe have spoken, the politicians must no longer turn their back on their constituents."
But Britain's Prime Minister supports the TTIP deal, suggesting it could add USD$16 billion to the UK's economy.
Meanwhile, Britain's Green Party leader, Natalie Bennett, has expressed fears that the deal allowing the streamlining of food standards across the EU and the US will expose consumers in the UK to chemically washed chicken and livestock treated with growth hormones from countries with different standards.
3.2 million people signed the #NoTTIP petition. Today we hand it in. Oh, and the horse has arrived! #TTIP pic.twitter.com/RZ2mB17UuD
— War on Want (@WarOnWant) October 7, 2015
And described as both "toxic and controversial" by Global Justice Now, protesters and politicians are concerned that companies will be able to wield too much power over governments, undermining the rule of law.
A breakdown of where the #NoTTIP petition got its amazing 3.2m names from. 8 hours to go… http://t.co/Z3vGIGZy3E pic.twitter.com/sizcv8IuUq
— Global Justice Now (@GlobalJusticeUK) October 6, 2015
ECI is calling for an end to what it calls the "secretive trade alliance" with the United States, which has just singed off the TPP deal with 11 other countries representing 40 percent of the global economy in Atlanta, of using the deal to further its goal for global domination. The US.
Supporters of the TPP say it will make trade easier between Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Vietnam, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Mexico, Malaysia and Peru.
The completion of #TPP must act as a warning for #NoTTIP campaigners says @natalieben: http://t.co/j1mHX2Dz9Y pic.twitter.com/0qCHLIuxYm
— Green Party (@TheGreenParty) October 6, 2015
But the campaign against TTIP is not just centered on the threats to democracy, public services, the environment and the influence of multinational corporations on governments — digital rights groups have issued a warning that TPP "will criminalize our online activities, censor the Web, and cost everyday users money."
"The 'disastrous' pro-corporate trade deal finalized Monday, could kill the Internet as we know it."
"Internet users around the world should be very concerned about this ultra-secret pact," said OpenMedia's digital rights specialist Meghan Sali.
"What we're talking about here is global Internet censorship. It will criminalize our online activities, censor the Web, and cost everyday users money. This deal would never pass with the whole world watching — that's why they've negotiated it in total secret."
Nick Dreardon, director of Global Justice Now says: "Three million people demanding an end to the TTIP negotiations show that the EU does not have the public mandate to continue this deal.
"Everything that we know about this secretive trade deal shows that it is very little about trade and very much about enshrining a massive corporate power grab."
