Deals of this kind are, quite simply, the wrong way to manage our international trade and investment. As we did with tariffs and quotas, we should unilaterally scrap any restrictions we judge to be not in our national interest, and leave it to others to do the same. Accepting bad policies as a way of encouraging other countries to improve theirs is not only a bad idea in theory; it is a proven failure in practice.

Originally shared by Dave Bath

A spokesperson for social services explained, “No 16 year-old should know the best way to exploit a workforce for their own personal gain.”

“He didn’t see them as actual people, but a means to an end in his endless drive to fill his pockets with cash.  This poor child didn’t even know he was being radicalised into a heartless corporate prick.”

http://newsthump.com/2015/08/22/teenager-removed-from-family-after-being-radicalised-by-tory-ideology/

Big Mal Turnbull sold us a Trojan. Henceforth he shall be known as Malware™.

Trade deals these days have little or nothing to do with actual trade. That’s because most of the reforms with regard to tariffs and opening up markets have already largely happened with previous trade negotiations. Recent trade deals are far more concerned with governance issues and extending intellectual property rights and limiting what roles governments can or can’t do.

This particular agreement, the TPP, is just one great big abdication of national sovereignty by governments in favour of unaccountable (and undemocratic by design) corporations. While the Australian government has negotiated to keep pharmaceutical companies from jacking up prices to American levels and has put in provisions specifically against tobacco companies suing them for plain paper packaging, the reality is that a huge part of what goes on inside countries today can now be challenged by private corporations.

Instead of these challenges being heard in legal courts in each country, they will now be heard by international trade bodies responsible to no one and operating with mandate that puts company rights above those of ordinary people.

Originally shared by Electronic Frontier Foundation

The battle to defeat the now-final TPP begins. We want your ideas for slogans to put on our protest signs!

Originally shared by Christopher Carr

Interesting new product on offer from several stores within walking distance of home. Gonna take a bit for the novelty to wear off: