Globalization/Anti-globalization

TPP trade talks draw protests and sit-in, one activist dragged from building

On the 8th of December, TPP or Trans-Pacific Partnership trade talks opened in DC. As the talks began activsts outside staged a sit-in on the steps of the USTR or United States Trade Representatives office, the location of the meetings. Two attempts to deliver a letter demanding release of the proposed TPP text were rebuffed, with one activst dragged out of the building after the second attempt.

A few hours later, hundreds more protesters marched around the USTR building, including both labor and environmental activists.

Video of activists trying to deliver letter, being dragged out of USTR

Video-hundreds march around USTR against "secret" TPP trade talks and "fast track"

An activst is dragged out of USTR after the second attempt to peacefully deliver a letter

Light show and protest as TPP trade talks come to DC

On the 7th of December, protesters set up a banner and a light show outside the office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). They were there because negotiations for the TPP or Trans-Pacific Partnership are back in town. Protesters are demanding that the still-classified text of TPP drafts-kept secret even from members of Congress expected to vote on it-be released to the public

Wikileaks captures updated TPP "intellectual property" chapter, GMO's explicitly included

On the 16th of October, Wikileaks published the updated "Intellectual property" chapter of the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership or TPP, current as of May 16th, 2014 after the so-called Ho Chi Minh round of TPP negotiations. The 20th "secret" TPP meeting was held in Ho Chi Minh City.
Download the entire May 16th Intellectual Property chapter of the proposed TPP here

Protesters march around World Bank after Civil Society walkout

On the 11th of October, opponents of the World Bank's roles as a global loan shark to predatory governments and corporations rallied in Murrow Park and marched all the way around the Fall meetings. This came after civil society groups from Ethiopia walked out of a meeting with the World Bank due to their reversal on a promise to strengthen environmental protections.
Video of the march

Marching around the Fall meetings of the IMF and World Bank as the World Bank meets in their HQ

Rev Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping lead march on World Bank

On the 10th of October, Rev Billy and the Stop Shopping Choir led a funeral march on the Fall Meetings of the IMF and World Bank, The march went to a delegate entrance checkpoint to the World Bank, where a mock funeral for the Bank was staged as people from South Asia and Africa reminded those inside just how much damage the Bank's programs had done to their countries.

Video Highlights of World Vs Bank march and street theater

Rev Billy and the Stop Shopping Choir

Banks and Investors Challenge Predatory Funds Solutions Fall Short of Comprehensive Protection for Poor Countries

The International Capital Market Association (ICMA), a group of banks and investors, released a new debt framework this morning aimed at reducing the ability of predatory funds and holdout investors to undermine debt restructuring.

Banks and Investors Call for New Debt Relief Rules In Wake of Argentina Hedge Fund Case

The International Capital Market Association (ICMA), a group of banks and investors, will call Friday for reforms aimed at preventing repeats of the Argentina/NML Capital debt dispute. The ICMA's plan would reduce the ability of hold-out creditors to litigate and undermine debt restructuring, in part by using contract clauses to bind all bond-holders to debt restructuring that 75% of all holders agree on.

Banks and Investors Call for New Debt Rules In Wake of Argentina Hedge Fund Case

The International Capital Market Association (ICMA), a group of banks and investors, will call Friday for reforms aimed at preventing repeats of the Argentina/NML Capital debt dispute. The ICMA's plan would reduce the ability of hold-out creditors to litigate and undermine debt restructuring, in part by using contract clauses to bind all bond-holders to debt restructuring that 75% of all holders agree on.

Great Zine On Collective Housing Strategies and Tactics

Hey Folks! We have just finished writing a zine on living in an activist collective intentional community. It was written as a practical guide with tools and references to assist in achieving a more sustainable approach to strategies and tactics for reaching goals. We approach this work from the experience in our shared collective narrative in an effort to ground much of the theory in our practice.

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