Bulletin #82
20 January 2016
TPPA signing Auckland, 4 February
The secrecy-obsessed New Zealand government finally admitted that the signing would take place in Auckland but still hasn’t confirmed the date (although Chile and Peru governments did) or a location, although it almost certainly won’t be at Sky City as previously rumoured. Apparently the delay in confirming a date is because some governments (possibly Canada, Japan, Malaysia) haven’t fulfilled their pre-signing procedures – neither has New Zealand. The lack of a democratic mandate isn’t holding our government back. Hopefully several TPPA nations may decide not to sign.
The signing is largely symbolic but governments will try to use it as an opportunity to talk up the TPPA in the media. It will be signed by Trade Ministers (Todd McClay has replaced Tim Groser – we don’t yet know whether Groser will be there). Whatever happens the campaign is not over! This is not the final step by any means. The TPPA still needs to be ratified in NZ and opposition is growing in the US. There is more campaigning coming up. See TPPA campaign overview, democracy vs TPPA blog.
Lori Wallach and Jane Kelsey: Don’t sign speaking tour 26-29 January
In the lead-up to the signing, leading US critic of the TPPA and the most knowledgeable person about what’s happening in Washington, Lori Wallach the Director of Public Citizen Global Trade Watch, will join TPPA expert Jane Kelsey for a short speakers’ tour. See It’s Our Future website for downloadable posters. Lori and Jane Kelsey will speak at:
· Auckland Town Hall on 26th January at 7pm – with a political panel including Andrew Little (Labour) tbc, Metiria Turei (Greens), Fletcher Tabuteau (NZ First) and Marama Fox (Maori Party).
· Wellington, St Andrews Centre on the Terrace on 27th at 7pm
· Christchurch Cardboard Cathedral on 28th at 7pm
· Dunedin at Burns Hall, Moray Place on 29th at 7pm
These events will be free, with a donation requested. Arrive early, because it’s first come, first in the door, and we are going to try to fill these venues!!
Funding the campaign
Our Give a Little page to help fund the TPPA campaign page is now live. Please itsourfuturenz. We acknowledge the generous support of individuals and organisations and will include a list of those in the next Bulletin. So please let them know that now’s a good time to donate!
Events coming up
A round up of events over the next few weeks follows. This isn’t all of them because many are still being planned. The list will be updated in the next Bulletin. Send details to Chantelle Campbell at itsourfuturenz.
Dunedin
29 January at 7pm: Don’t Sign Tour: Lori Wallach and Jane Kelsey at Burns Hall, Moray Place. Free event, donations please.
30 January at 12=2.30pm: Rally to declare the Octagon a TPP Free Zone with a range of different groups joining together in activities, speakers and music.
More info on events at TPPA Action Dunedin FB page.
Christchurch
20 January 12-1.30pm: Save City Care, Keep Our Assets Picket at City Council Building, Worcester Boulevard Entrance.
28 January at 7pm: Don’t sign tour at Christchurch cardboard cathedral.
30 January at 2pm: Reject the TPPA rally at Cathedral square.
4 February at 12.30pm: Declare ChCh TPP Free at Christchurch City Council, 53 Hereford St
More info on events at TPPA Christchurch FB page.
Wellington
19-28 January: There are a series of local meetings coming up:
· 19/1 Newtown
· 20/1 Johnsonville
· 21/1 Lower Hutt
· 23/1 Otaki
· 26/1 Wainuiomata
· 28/1 Upper Hutt
27 January at 7pm: Don’t sign tour – Lori Wallach and Jane Kelsey at St Andrews Centre, The Terrace. Free event, donations please.
30 January at 1pm: assemble at the Governor-General’s residence for a handover of the petition. Details to come.
4 February lunchtime: assemble at the Cenotaph outside Parliament with banners, cardboard heads of government Ministers and speeches. Details to come.
More info on Wellington actions at TPPA Wellington FB page.
New Plymouth
30 January at 1pm: Puke Ariki Landing, 1 Ariki St. TPPA picnic to launch a week of action with speakers and petitions.
Tauranga
See car protest below, and other actions will be at TPPA Tauranga FB page.
Raglan
1 Feb at 4pm: Raglan footbridge at Raglan beach, join the #TPPAfreeZoneChallenge.
Hamilton
23 January at 12-2pm: Rally at Base Shopping Centre, Te Rapa Rd.
Auckland
26 January at 7pm: Don’t sign tour at Auckland Town Hall. As well as our keynote speakers there will be a political panel with Andrew Little (Labour) tbc, Metiria Turei (Greens), Fletcher Tabuteau (NZ First) and Marama Fox (Maori Party).
31 January all day (tbc): There will be a Protestival all day in an Auckland park. This will be a peaceful, family friendly event with music, speeches (not too many), stalls, workshops, NVDA training and event planning. Details to be advised in the next Bulletin. All welcome.
3 February: We welcome visitors from outside Auckland and will hold a meeting to discuss plans for the events coming up. Time and venue to be advised.
3 February: There will be an Unwelcome to Auckland protest at Auckland airport for the Trade Ministers and their entourages arriving in Auckland, with banners, chants and a message that we don’t want them to sign the TPPA.
4 February at 12pm: Join the TPPA Don’t Sign march down Queen St. Lunchtime campaigners can then peel off and the rest of us will join others at our campaign base in nearby Victoria Park for music, speeches and campaign news.
4 February: We don’t know the venue for the meeting but there may be people who will want to go there to occupy the venue or block access. There may also be other civil disobedience happening around the signing. We request that any group who does so respects the principles of non-violence and does not damage the property of citizens. We have huge support from the public for the campaign and the media will be looking for photos and stories to discredit our movement.
We will try to organise billets for visitors in homes and on a marae. Please Email itsourfuturenz if you want accommodation.
Waitangi
There will be actions against the TPPA in Waitangi and it is clear that the government is not welcome at Waitangi if they sign.
Nationwide
30 January at 10pm: Check out the fantastic Cars against the TPPA protests that are happening in Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland, Palmerston North, Hamilton, Tauranga, Auckland and Whangarei.
Local Action
Take action in your community. Declare your community or workplace a TPPA Free Zone.
Call on Councils to take action through the TPPA Policy Solution based on Auckland and Wellington District Council resolutions.
‘Don’t sign’ Petition
The Don’t sign petition is up to 33,000 signatures after one week. Thanks to our friends at ActionStation for hosting. Spread it far and wide. We need to let the government (and the media) know that the is no democratic mandate to sign the TPPA. Let’s aim for 100,000 signatures by the time of signing.
Petition to the Governor General
The petition to the Governor General to exercise his powers to prevent the government from signing the TPPA is getting out there. Please volunteer to collect signatures. The petition has gained visibility and support from a Bryan Gould article showing the tight government control of public accountability mechanisms.
Research and Fact sheets
This is going to be a big week for our research information. The expert peer-reviewed research papers are being launched this week for the Environment, te Tiriti and Economics of the TPPA. There’s lots of good info in there so please visit the TPP Legal website. The latest information across all the issues in the final TPPA text is in the Key Issues paper.
Media Articles:
Updates in the next Bulletin. |
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