The environmental community has been gearing up for the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) next week, but while the world prepares to commit to a universal climate agreement at the Paris negotiations, twelve of its countries have negotiated a separate agreement with disastrous environmental implications--the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP.
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What is the TPP? (Trans-Pacific Partnership)
The TPP is a trade deal between the U.S. and eleven other Pacific Rim nations, finalized earlier this month after years of secret negotiation. This trade deal, which includes a controversial provision called Investor State Dispute Settlement that would greatly increase corporate power, has led to highly divided political opinion and increasing public outcry against the TPP. When the TPP’s full text was finally released on November 5, opponents’ worst fears were realized, and many said the deal was worse than they thought.
It’s no wonder, then, that as environmental actions, rallies, and demonstrations increase and take on a more international focus in the lead-up to the climate talks in Paris, responsible trade and anti-TPP sentiments are also on the rise. Sierra Club volunteers participated in six such events over just the past couple of months.
Photo Credit: Emma Friend
In Washington, D.C., the Moral Action on Climate gathered on the National Mall before Pope Francis’ address to a joint session of Congress during his September visit to the U.S., to celebrate the environmental focus of his encyclical Laudato si published earlier this year.
Photo Credit: Emma Friend
Speakers at the rally included environmental leaders such as Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune (pictured above), faith leaders, and musical performers. Sierra Club activists turned out to highlight how trade could lift up -- or, in most cases, undermine -- the climate action that Pope Francis said the world is responsible for delivering.
Photo Credit: Tapan Bhargava
Several weeks later came the People’s Climate Movement National Day of Action. Communities across the nation held events on October 14 to demand bold action from leaders on climate change at COP21 – as well as good jobs, justice, clean energy, and responsible trade policy.
More than 200 different actions took place nationwide, several of which emphasized trade and stopping the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Photo Credit: Mike Bivins
For example, more than 1,000 activists filled Seattle’s streets for a March for Climate Justice ending with speakers including notable environmentalist Naomi Klein who stressed the connection between bad trade policy and climate disruption (below).
Photo Credit: Puget Sound Sage
Prior to the march, the Sierra Club, Seattle 350, Washington Fair Trade Coalition, and several unions put on street theater against the Trans-Pacific Partnership with Monopoly characters at a mock press conference (below).
Photo Credit: Karen Moskowitz
Photo Credit: Karen Moskowitz
Meanwhile, in San Diego, a Sierra Club-led coalition hosted a live art event the Friday before the National Day of Action, in which community members collaborated on an art piece about climate, trade, and justice, illustrating everything from the increase of the dirty and dangerous practice of fracking to a trade document ripping trees out of the ground.
Photo Credit: Kali Gochmanosky
Then, on October 14, activists hand-delivered the art piece to the offices of Representatives Peters and Davis.
Photo Credit: Kali Gochmanosky
A Connecticut event took on an educational nature: labor and climate representatives led an information session with the local community to talk about the ways in which global trade undermines climate and labor justice.
Photo Credit: Jenny Bock
Washington DC’s action, which brought together labor, environmental, and social justice groups, focused on drawing connections between local impacted communities and the “climate culprits” headquartered in the nation’s capitol.
Photo Credit: Tapan Bhargava
The action’s 500 participants started with a die-in and street theater at American Petroleum Institute’s headquarters, calling out Big Oil’s involvement in the TPP and opposition to the Paris climate talks.
Photo Credit: Tapan Bhargava
Activists then took to the streets to march and divert rush hour traffic.
Photo Credit: Tapan Bhargava
At DC’s Freedom Plaza, the rally took on a more uplifting tone, and included musical performances that stressed TPP’s threats and speeches from communities facing the realities of climate disruption. The event got the attention of the media, including international press coverage!
Photo Credit: Emma Friend
While America was busy rallying for action on climate and drumming up opposition to the TPP, Europe was hosting its own anti-trade protest, against the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), another trade deal that the U.S. is negotiating with the European Union.
Photo Credit: Ben Beachy
On October 10, in the largest-ever demonstration against a trade deal, a quarter-million people crowded the streets of Berlin, Germany to protest the TTIP. The TTIP has been called the U.S.-EU version of the TPP. Similarities include a lack of transparency and inclusion of special powers for corporate investors.
Photo Credit: Ben Beachy
Sierra Club Responsible Trade Program Senior Policy Advisor Ben Beachy spoke to the massive crowd in Berlin, underscoring that many Americans join with European allies protesting any so-called trade deals that would advance the interests of fossil fuel corporations while degrading our common home. Check out Ben’s address at 39:22!
Photo Credit: Ben Beachy
The end of 2015 is an exciting time to be a climate activist promoting responsible trade. Demonstrations, rallies, and actions are continuing to grow in both quantity and scope as a drumroll toward the climate talks in Paris, where we will urge world leaders to come to a strong agreement on climate. Alongside bold action at COP21, stopping the TPP and other bad trade deals is critical to averting climate chaos. We know what we’re up against -- you can read the Sierra Club’s analysis of the TPP’s weak environment chapter here. And now the deal is one step closer to a vote from our Senators and Representatives. It’s critical that we build on this momentum and stop the TPP once and for all. You can join this movement by taking action here.