Educating your community about the many environmental impacts of the TPP is essential to getting people involved in stopping the agreement. TPP educational events can be a great introduction to the TPP fight. Below you will find helpful information on how to educate your community.
1. Host an event for your community on the TPP: Hosting an event is a great way to spread the word about the environmental threats and effects of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement. Here are some simple steps to hosting a successful TPP community event:
A. Identify your audience
Identify an audience that you think would be interested in learning about the environmental implications of the TPP. In addition to collaborating with friends and neighbors, you can also work with existing social networks to set up your event. Some possibilities of potential audiences/venues include:
Your local Sierra Club chapter
Student organizations
Service groups
Your community center
Your workplace
Your local library
Having your friends, neighbors, and colleagues over for a potluck
B. Set up a time for your event
Call your place of choice and ask to speak to the person who handles outside speakers. Be ready to pitch why you think a presentation on the TPP is relevant to the members of this group/venue. Identify a date and a time that works for both you and the organization.
C. Prepare and practice your presentation
Some important TPP topics that you should consider mentioning in your talk include:
Background information on the TPP;
The lack of transparency in TPP negotiations;
Environmental implications of the TPP, including the possibility that the TPP will increase domestic fracking and give corporations more power to challenge U.S. environmental laws and policies; and
Concrete ways for your audience members to engage and get mobilized on the TPP—make sure to share this toolkit!
Make sure to practice your presentation before giving the final talk. Practicing your presentation for friends or family is also a great way to get over any public speaking nerves! When reviewing your presentation, try to anticipate questions that your audience might have and adapt your presentation accordingly.
D. Present on the TPP
On the day of the event, you should arrive at least 15 minutes early to set up the room and make sure everything is in order. Because one of your main goals is to educate your community on the TPP, it’s a good idea to bring handouts and TPP background materials, as well as fliers for other upcoming TPP events. You can either pass out these materials to people as they enter, or display them prominently on a table in the room. You should also print out a sign-up sheet for people who are interested in participating in future TPP rallies or events.
Deliver your presentation—ideally in 15 minutes or less—and take questions from the audience. After the presentation and the questions conclude, make sure you stick around and engage anyone who wants to talk about the TPP in greater detail.
E. Follow up
1. Contact and thank the venue/organization that hosted your event: Also, take the time to follow up with people who asked to be contacted.
2. Create or join a trade group/committee: Creating or joining a trade group is a great way to strategize with like-minded folks about the TPP.
3.Share resources:Share materials, resources, and information online to help spread awareness about dangerous trade agreements.
4. Host a table at a community event: Setting up a table at a local event is a fun and creative way to raise awareness about the TPP and TTIP in your community. Through effective "tabling," you can both distribute important information and network with other activists and social groups.
5. Use social media to share TPP posts: If you have a Facebook or Twitter account sharing posts on social media about the implications of the TPP, it is a good way to reach and educate large audiences. Social media posts are usually easily accessible which make them ideal for spreading the word about TPP announcements.