TTIP Update - February 2016

François gave his apologies for not being able to attend the February meeting and therefore we didn't have an update on the TTIP campaign.

Actions:  

1. Francois to keep us up-to-date with TTIP

TTIP Campaign Update - October 2015

Francois went to the meeting of the Yorkshire and Humber on 12th September. Jude Kirton-Darling MEP seems to think that having a trade deal is good in principle but there are 4 red lines that must not be crossed. Unfortunately, they seem to be flexible redlines. The NHS must not be touched. The Investor-State Dispute Settlement ISDS (non-binding vote) has been toned down but is still there.

GMOs and chemically washed beef are already coming into the EU from the US unhindered as though they are so sure that it is a done deal. More information needs to go to MEPs so that they understand our concerns. The CBI is pushing for this deal. The petition against it reached 3 million signatures and has been handed in. There was a huge demonstration in Berlin with 250,000 people against TTIP. Can we do more lobbying in parliament? Can we put more pressure on MPs? Trish pointed out the some organisations only count the same worded petition as being from one person. If we sign a petition we need to customise the heading and the content so it will be counted as a unique letter.

Sheffield Friends of the Earth campaigning against TTIP.

Wellbeing Workshop

Is economic growth alone the route to a better life? Friends of the Earth think not – and work is under way to create an alternative.

Ask a group of people: “What are the key things which contribute to your wellbeing?” Money – or a livelihood – will be in there as an answer. But so will many other things, including education, health, green space, leisure time and community. By establishing the components of wellbeing, we can start to guide policies towards improving wellbeing – not just increasing GDP (Gross Domestic Product).

Friends of the Earth are working in partnership with the Network of Wellbeing (NOW) to develop local participative wellbeing workshops in communities around the country. The outcomes from these discussions will be used to campaign locally for action to improve wellbeing.

Hayley and John from Sheffield Friends of the Earth will be attending the Well Being workshop in London later in April. They will feedback to the group in May.

For more details see:

https://www.foe.co.uk/page/wellbeing-it-s-about-people-planet

https://www.foe.co.uk/sites/default/files/downloads/wellbeing.pdf

TTIP - Februray 2015 Update

Global Justice are very keen on this campaign and they have a workshop to help plan things. Francois will attend this.

There is a national No TTIP Day of Action on 18th April. We discussed if we could be involved in this.

A regional No TTIP Yorkshire and Humber group has been set up. Francois will go to their first meeting. We need to get TTIP leaflets and brochures from national FoE for our stalls. Beatrice will look into this.

TTIP - Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership

Francois has made a start on the TTIP leaflet and press release. The main focus is to be ‘why should we be worried about this?’

Francois has craeted this draft article:

Sheffield Friends of the Earth is taking part in a EU-wide campaign to oppose a trade deal that is being negotiated between the EU and the US. Negotiations on the deal have been conducted largely in secret. However, leaked information has alarmed many civil society organisations across Europe.

The SFoE campaign is part of a EU-wide series of protests that have been growing since 2014.
The planned deal is called Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). Its proponents claim that it will help develop the economies of the EU and the US.

Most of the benefits should come from removing differences in regulations between the two sides. Advocates of TTIP claim that harmonizing EU and US standards on everything from food labelling to the manufacture of technological goods will facilitate trade.

Opponents of TTIP are concerned that this will lower EU standards that currently protect consumers, workers, farm animals and the environment. For example, the deal could allow US companies to sell in the UK hormone-treated beef or chlorine-washed chicken. TTIP is also expected to grant private operators access to public sector contracts. This may result in privatization of the NHS.

There is also strong opposition to a part of the treaty that will allow foreign corporations to sue governments if they introduce regulations that affect their expected profits. Corporations will be able to bypass the national courts and go directly to international, investor-biased, tribunals, through a process called Investor-to-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS). For example, a company could sue for loss of profits if a future government attempts to increase the minimum wage, re-nationalise privatised public services or bans genetically modified foods, or if a local government bans fracking in their area.

EU-wide protests against TTIP took place on 11th October last year.  In the UK, the protests were supported by 47 civil society organisations including Friends of the Earth. A group of civil society organisations also attempted to set up a European Citizen’s Initiative (ECI) against TTIP, but this was rejected by the EU commission. They have now set up their own EU-wide petition. At the time of writing, it has obtained more than 1,266,000 signatures.

A public consultation set up by the EU Commission in the hope of attracting support for the deal attracted nearly 150,000 responses, of which 97% strongly opposed the ISDS clause. Nevertheless, the European Commission announced that it will continue with its reform agenda.

A protest involving Friends of the Earth Europe will take place on 3 and 4 February 2015 in Brussels.

TTIP: The secret EU-US trade deal

The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) is a secretive free-trade agreement being negotiated by the EU and United States right now. If fully realised, TTIP would weaken EU protection for people and the environment. It would also give foreign companies the power to sue governments in secret courts if they create policy that could damage a company’s ability to make a profit.

What does this mean? Pro-TTIP lobbyists say the trade deal will result in EU-wide growth, jobs and prosperity.

In reality it will:

• Lower EU and UK food, environmental and health standards 
• Allow foreign companies to sue governments in private international courts
• Undermine international efforts to combat climate change
• Not live up to the promised economic benefits. 

Friends of the Earth is

• Campaigning alongside other groups in the UK, and Europe, to stop TTIP
• Calling on UK MPs and MEPs to oppose TTIP
• Calling for increased transparency in trade negotiations. 

At Sheffield Friends of the Earth, we need to have a united front on this campaign and work is being done at a national level and with many other groups. It is doubtful that we can do much more at the moment so that we are not over stretched. We can distribute leaflets on our stalls.

To find out more see http://www.foe.co.uk/page/ttip-secret-eu-us-trade-deal 

Clean British Energy

There is to be a photo stunt in Sheffield on 13th October at 10am to promote the Green Economy.  Local green companies are to be invited to attend wearing hard hats.  The idea is to push for the Energy Bill to include measures to decarbonise the energy system by 2030 by promoting green jobs.  The ‘dash for gas’ will only bring higher bills, few jobs and most crucially catastrophic climate change.  Please try to keep the date free and join us in this simple vital action.  Contact Maureen med4u@hotmail.co.uk for more details.

Conference - An economy for people and the planet

The local groups' Conference was held between the 14-16 September – Everyone enjoyed the weekend and each attendee from our group has written a short piece on their favourite part:

An economy for people and the planet – How on Earth do we get there?

Lidy Nacpil (Freedom from Debt Coalition - Philippines/Jubilee South) was on the panel at this session, she also addressed the conference rally – Time to see things differently.

The panel were asked - What’s your big idea for how we can move to a fair and sustainable economy? What needs to change, and how will we change it? 

Lidy spoke passionately about the need to no longer wait for governments to change things. We need to change things ourselves and let governments follow. We need to build a global campaign for Climate Justice that includes people occupying the land, to stop developers moving in and wrecking it. Land should be commonly owned including its resources. People should use the land in a sustainable way that is democratically decided. 

There was a clear recognition and a constant theme running through conference that the current economic system would lead us to environmental disaster. People campaigning for a fairer, more equitable economic system and those looking to build a more sustainable future are in common cause.

Richard Souter

Film Screenings

The free screening of 'The Island President' was well attended by people who went to the Climate Caravan event. We received £62.22 in donations and for drinks. Alternative venues and funding are to be investigated for next year’s Green Film Festival and also holding stalls to publicise the event.

Maureen went to the screening of ‘97% Owned’ and found the most interesting statistic was that it would take £2 trillion to green the economy.  This seems a lot but £14 trillion was found in a year to bail out the banks.  We need the government to control the creation of money.  At the moment it is only responsible for 3% of all money in the economy, the rest is commercial bank money. For more details go to www.positivemoney.org.uk

SCACC Trade Union Meeting

Maureen represented Sheffield Friends of the Earth on Monday 17th May at the new Trade Union group meeting organised by the Sheffield Coalition Against Climate Change group.  The group has been formed to create pressure from local trade union groups on local and national government to create one million climate jobs. It is expected that Sheffield could see around 10,000  new jobs.

A further meeting was organised on Tuesday 29th June at St Matthew's Hall on Carver Street to formally launch the campaign.  Speakers included Martin Empson (Campaign against Climate Change TU Group) and Phil Turner (Right to Work campaign). For more info contact  www.cacctu.wordpress.com  or margaret@stone103.plus.com  

News in Brief April 2005

The Big Screen
Members of Sheffield Friends of the Earth and The Green Party were interviewed for a film called Get Over It. The film was produced by a local non-profit film company and explained how communities were devastated by the economic collapse in the 80s. It then went on to show how economic regeneration schemes such as Meadowhall and large supermarket developments can destroy jobs. For more details see www.MediaActivist.com

Just the job
Have you come across the argument that if the proposed incinerator/runway/supermarket you are campaigning against is built, it will create lots of jobs? Or have you ever needed to demonstrate that an alternative sustainable development can create jobs? Our New Economics activity is working on some web pages to provide you with the arguments and case studies on jobs you need to back up your campaign demands.

In order to make this a useful tool we need your help. If you have any examples of job claims by companies, Government or local authorities, if you've submitted any consultation responses on a campaign which have used job arguments, or you have other information relating to employment and developments, then do please email job_args_info@foe.co.uk.

E-Newsletter
Sheffield Friends of the Earth’s Newsletters can now be accessed from our web site in full colour. The web site also provides links to Change Your World, the newsletter for local campaigners.

Electric Car
Our use of roads accounts for nearly a quarter of all the carbon dioxide we in the UK pump into the atmosphere contributing to climate change.  Feelings of guilt led me to ask myself what journeys I need the car for.  Most were about town so an exhaust free electric car was an ideal choice.  I am now the proud owner of a Reva G-wiz  from GoinGreen.  This is both the greenest and the cheapest car on the road.  It costs about 1p per mile to run and is exempt from road tax.  Now I can drive around Sheffield and not feel guilty about the fumes coming from my exhaust or causing climate change.  My electricity comes from a renewable energy supplier.  If you need to use a car about town, electric is the Way-To-Go. See Page 1 for photos
Maureen Edwards

Recent Events:

• Shaun was interviewed for a film and explained how large supermarkets can destroy communities.
• Maureen joined other green groups to protest against Onyx for handing out environmental awards.
• The web site has been redesigned.
• We received a letter from David Blunkett about pesticides. 
• Sent three letters to the Sheffield Star regarding climate change.
• Organised a stall in Sheffield City Centre handing out energy saving light bulbs.
• Displayed an electric car on Fargate as part of drive to educate people about climate change.
• Several members attended the Make Poverty History meetings.
• Group members have been involved with ACT.
• Helped a student journalist with a climate change interview. 
• Protested at the G8 meeting in Derby.

New Economics - Jobs & The Environment

Friends of the Earth and the New Economics Foundation are looking at new ways of addressing economic issues. It is becoming increasingly clear that our current approach to economic development – trying to maximise growth ahead of everything else – is unsustainable and is not delivering what we want in terms of improved quality of life. We need to try to optimise growth, rather than maximise growth, and we need to ensure that growth is sustainable, does not damage the environment, and is targeted at the people who will benefit most – the poorest in society.

One specific issue is job creation. Jobs are often used as a catch-all argument to support developments, such as roads, supermarkets, or airports, that are environmentally damaging. But there are many questions that need to be asked about supposedly job-creating developments:

· What sort of jobs are being created? Are they low paid, short-term jobs?

· How many jobs will be lost in other local businesses? New supermarket developments typically force other local businesses to close, often resulting in  a net loss of jobs.

· Who controls the jobs? New developments are often owned by multinational corporations that have little interest in the well-being of local people.

· Friends of the Earth and the New Economics Foundation are looking for case studies of “job creating” developments that address these issues. Do you know of any local examples? If so, please let us know.

 

How green was the budget?

In the recent budget Friends of the Earth described it as the “first halting steps towards green economics”

The first principle of green economics is to shift the burden of tax from economics 'goods', such as jobs, onto 'bads' such as pollution, waste and inefficient use of energy. However, the Chancellor linked his welcome move to a business energy tax to a 12.5% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2010. This is a retreat from Labour's clear manifesto promise to cut CO2 emissions by 20% over 1990 levels by 2010.

The Budget contained a number of welcome moves including:

A Business Energy Tax: The Chancellor announced a business energy tax, on a “revenue neutral basis”, from the year 2001. Resources will be used in part to cut employers' National Insurance Contributions from 12.2% to 11.7%, which will create jobs. FOE welcomes the £50 million fund for companies to invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy, but believes that this should be targeted at small and medium enterprises.

Landfill Tax: The Chancellor announced increases in the standard rate of landfill tax by £1 a tonne a year, but has yet to extend the tax to cover incineration.

Ending company car tax breaks: The Chancellor announced the end of tax breaks for excessive mileage by 2002, and will vary the tax to encourage smaller, greener company cars. However, FOE has criticised the Chancellor for failing to reduce the total cost to the Exchequer of company car tax exemptions. He will also encourage green commuter schemes, and increase funding for rural buses from £100 million to £120 million.

Differential rates of Vehicle Excise Duty: The VED on small cars will be cut by £55, with cuts in duty on clean lorries and buses by up to £1000. FOE has criticised the Chancellor's failure to increase VED on large “gas guzzlers”.

There has been no progress on pesticide and fertiliser taxes, or a levy on aggregates. FOE also wants to see VAT harmonised between new build and redevelopment, to encourage brown field development.

FoE Joins The Rat Race

With less than one month before Christmas, a coalition of Sheffield FoE members and many students from Sheffield University Students’ Union were on hand to host 1998’s National No Shop Day stunt.

The stunt consisted of a large maze with the words “Work Harder”, “Earn More Money”, “Buy More Things” and “Keep Going” printed on each side. Several “rats” could be seen perpetually running around the maze in the pointless goal of trying to find happiness by working harder and buying more goods.

The idea of the maze was to reject the notion made by advertisers that to be happy you have to consume more. In reality, happiness is obtained by having good health, friends, a nice community and a clean environment in which to live.

The day of action should have also transformed Fargate into a living room, complete with lamp stand, television and sofa. This was going to visually highlight that we’re all being brain washed by advertisements on television. Unfortunately, due to delivery problems this action had to be cancelled.

On a more positive note, two musicians helped to attract the attention of the public by singing songs about Meadowhall’s environmental impact while playing the guitar and the violin.

Later that day a photographer from the Sheffield Star arrived to take photographs of the rat race maze. On Monday, an article covering nearly half a page appeared in the Star complete with a photograph of the maze. A few days later, the Sheffield Gazette covered a slightly cut down version of the article. With the combined readership of the two papers we may have informed thousands of people about the aims of No Shop Day.

Besides the expected media interest, an artist walking down Fargate decided to take snaps of the event to include in his exhibition of life in the city centre.

Sheffield Friends of the Earth would like to thank all the people involved on the day and everyone involved with its planning. In particular,  we would like to thank the university green group for making the event possible and for the building of the maze.

Jobs: April 1997 - August 1997

Jobs and the Environment
Below is some interesting research which shows how protecting the environment can create a stronger economy and provide more jobs. If this area interests you then Friends of the Earth’s Working Future? Jobs and the Environment book is well worth a purchase for £5.95. Phone FoE on 01582 482297

In urban areas, restricting car access and providing more pedestrianisation has increased the security of employment in the retail sector. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in an international survey found that only 2% of pedestrianisation schemes led to a fall in retail turnover. Some 49% of schemes recorded upward tends in turnover , most of around 25%. The OECD concluded that “pedestrianisation is an economic success”

A study in Los Angles shows that 85 cents of every local dollar spent on petrol leaves the regional economy, much of it leaving the country as well. In contrast, out of every dollar that buys a fare on public transport, an estimated 80 cents goes towards transport workers’ wages. The study found that the circulation of those 80 cents in the local economy generated more than $3.80 in goods and services in the region.

• Returnable beer & soft drink bottles could increase employment by 4,000.
• Raising paper recycling to Dutch level could create 4,500 new jobs.
• Recycling waste oils and solvents could create 4,000 jobs.

Ecological Tax Reform
Please write to your MP ( The House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA) and ask him/her to sign Early Day Motion 488 on Ecological Tax Reform. It says

“That this House believing in the importance of sustainable development, supports the principle of ecological tax reform, which means attempting to shift taxation from jobs to waste and pollution without increasing the overall tax burden, as one means of achieving it; and notes that, properly administered, this would strengthen environmental protection, create jobs and increase productivity and so benefit all sections of the community.”