October 19, 2016
The video, created by Sierra Club Productions and narrated by Golden Globe-nominated actress Evangeline Lilly (Lost,Ant-Man, The Hobbit), features footage from recent climate victories -- including the Keystone XL pipeline rejection which has become the center of a $15 billion trade case against the U.S. thanks to rules in the North American Free Trade Agreement that would be expanded in the TPP. The new video, which encourages viewers to call on their member of Congress to oppose the TPP and features the hashtag #StopTPP throughout, is set to premiere at the Rock Against The TPP concert tour stop in San Diego this Saturday, July 30.
“It couldn’t be more clear that toxic trade deals like the TPP are putting the interests of corporations above all else,” actress Evangeline Lilly said. “At a time when we need to be protecting our climate, our environment, and our communities for the sake of our children and the generations to come, the TPP works to protect only one thing: the bottom lines of multinational corporations. That’s why I’m joining with millions of people working to stop the TPP in its tracks, and create a safer future for our families.”
The Sierra Club and other environmental groups have long fought trade deals that threaten climate progress, most recently sending Congress a letter signed by more than 450 organizations calling on Members to commit to vote against the TPP and to demand changes to TTIP, marking the largest display of opposition to the environmental impacts of toxic trade deals. Environmental groups also delivered more than half a million petitions denouncing the TPP for its environmental failings earlier this summer, a powerful moment featured in today’s new video.
“Tackling the climate crisis has never been more crucial, which is why it’s high time for Congress to say no to the toxic TPP that would expand the rights of the some of the world’s biggest polluters,” said Ilana Solomon, director of the Sierra Club’s Responsible Trade Program. “We’ve made huge strides in the last few years to push out polluters and protect our public lands, our water, our air, and our communities. We can’t risk having our hard-fought and hard-won victories pushed aside by those with deep pockets and big smokestacks thanks to toxic trade deals. The era of destructive trade is coming to an end, and we’ll need everyone to push that fight across the finish line by working to defeat the TPP once and for all.”
After premiering “Stop Toxic Trade Deals” Saturday in San Diego, the Sierra Club will feature this video at fair trade rallies and events across the country throughout the year to help ensure the TPP does not come before Congress. You can watch the video here.