“No one has the right to trade away our hard-fought legal protections for free speech and the right to health, and much less to do it behind closed doors,” said Suzanne Nossel, executive director for Amnesty International USA. Leaked TPP draft text neglects protections for fair use and standard judicial guarantees – such as the presumption of innocence - and includes copyright provisions that could compromise free speech on the internet and access to educational materials. Moreover, draft TPP provisions related to patents for pharmaceuticals risk stifling the development and production of generic medicines, by strengthening and deepening monopoly protections.
Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Agreement Must Uphold Core Principles of Human Rights. www.amnestyusa.org/...
Among recommendations to leaders of the US, Canada, and Mexico (with no mention of any assurances received) are:
* put human rights first in all national and public security laws, policies and practices.
* initiate comprehensive, independent, impartial, and transparent human rights impact assessments of both NAFTA and the TPP and address any detrimental impacts.
* adopt laws and policies to ensure companies that have caused or contributed to human rights abuses are held accountable.
Three Amigos Summit: Human rights must be at the core of the North American agenda. www.amnestyusa.org/...
The latest release of prisoners may merely be a publicity stunt by the Vietnamese government in order to gain leverage with TPP negotiations. There are still many other silenced voices in Viet Nam, including bloggers, political activists, labor activists and religious leaders. Just last month, 2 dissident bloggers were sentenced to prison for their criticism of the government.
How the Vietnamese Government is Using Its Political Prisoners to Gain Leverage blog.amnestyusa.org/...
PS, in support, Unfettered Corporatocracy in the 3rd World...
Thai government jails British lawyer for uncovering exploitation and modern slavery. www.walkfree.org/...
Free Trade Is Killing Colombian Labor Activists. Workers attempting to exercise their rights have suffered at least 1,466 threats and acts of violence since the trade deal went into effect in 2012. www.thenation.com/...