Think Global – Alba Xtra
Scottish update, April 2015
Hello everyone,
Last weekend we held a fringe meeting on TTIP at the SNP spring conference in Glasgow. The meeting was completely packed and the audience of party members clearly very concerned about TTIP. Alyn Smith MEP, who spoke alongside Liz, the STUC, RIC and Eilidh Whiteford MP, had earlier put down a motion at the conference on TTIP, and is clearly looking for a strong steer from SNP party members for the position that the party should take on TTIP (and how he and Ian Hudghton MEP should vote in the European parliament when the final vote on TTIP comes – probably next year some time). At the moment, the SNP has many concerns about the impacts of TTIP, and in particular the ISDS and the impacts on public services (especially the NHS), but is not opposing the deal outright. The conference motion called for a substantive position on TTIP to be brought to the party’s autumn conference. So, there’s some work for us to do there.
The events and actions across Scotland on TTIP over the next couple of months will really help to make clear to the Scottish MEPs of all parties that Scottish people do not want to give corporations more powers through TTIP. You can also email your MEPs using the e-action on our website.
Earlier in the month, there was a giant banner drop in Edinburgh: you can see some of the great photos on the Global Justice Now Scotland facebook page. And we’ve had TTIP information events in Inverness, Aberdeen and Ullapool.
We hope to see some of you at the Scotland Against TTIP launch event on 11 April in Glasgow, and we are also looking forward to the TTIP actions planned across the country for the International Day of Action on Trade on 18 April.
Best wishes,
Jane and Liz
0131 243 2730
Calendar of events
11 April ‘Scotland says no to TTIP’ launch event, Glasgow
13 April Stop TTIP Edinburgh meeting, Beehive, Grassmarket
18 April International Day of Action on Trade
13 June Global Justice Now AGM, Glasgow
2-10 October Edinburgh World Justice Festival
What’s in the April edition?
TTIP
Edinburgh World Justice Festival
TTIP
Scotland Against TTIP
The Scotland-wide coalition is increasing its membership all the time, with more than 16 members including trade unions, anti-austerity organisations and NGOs, ourselves included. There is a facebook page: please ‘like’ it here
We hope you will be able to come to the launch event of the coalition on
Saturday 11 April from 11am – 1pm at the Renfield Centre, Bath Street in Glasgow.
It should be a great chance to meet up with other TTIP campaigners and hear from some knowledgeable speakers. Global Justice Glasgow will have a stall at the event.
If you are coming, please reserve your place: http://stopttip.eventbrite.co.uk
International Day of Action on Trade
Saturday 18 April is an International Day of Action against unjust, free trade agreements. We are encouraging supporters in Scotland to take action on this day – whether it is holding a stall, a hustings (with the general election being so close), a rally or a piece of street theatre. There’s a map on the No-TTIP website here: www.nottip.org.uk where you can add your action and also see what others are doing around the world (zoom in to Europe, then Scotland to find actions already happening here). Global Justice Glasgow is the first mark on the map for Scotland!
Scottish Parliament Inquiry
The European and External Relations Committee published its report on the TTIP inquiry at the end of March. Recommendations in the report include ensuring proper protection of public services, and excluding ISDS from the trade deal.
It is likely that there will be a debate on TTIP at the Scottish Parliament at some point over the next couple of months. The Committee also suggested they might do further evidence sessions on TTIP as further developments become apparent.
New Scottish TTIP materials
We’ve just produced a briefing about the impact TTIP might have on Scotland. You can download it from our website here or we are happy to print you some copies and post to you. We should also be getting a couple of banners by mid April. They’re both 4m x 1.2m. One says ‘No to TTIP, stop the corporate power grab’ and the other says ‘Scotland against TTIP’. If you’d like to borrow either of them for a local event, or have an idea of where one could be hung to get a great photo, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Next ‘Stop TTIP Edinburgh’ meeting
…will be at the Beehive Pub in the Grassmarket on 13 April from 7.30pm. Everyone welcome.
Edinburgh World Justice Festival
Make Poverty History ten years on
2015 marks ten years since the Make Poverty History march and events in Edinburgh when the G8 came to Gleneagles and a million people formed a white band around Edinburgh’s city centre. Edinburgh World Justice Festival is marking this anniversary with a special event in July. This is in addition to the week-long Festival in the autumn (2-11 October). Their ambitious plans means they need lots of volunteers to help organise the festival. Can you help? If you would like to be a volunteer, please email:
Liz from Global Justice Now will be speaking at an event on 22 April aimed specially at encouraging more volunteers to get involved in the Edinburgh World Justice Festival. So please do come along if you’re interested in finding out more. It’ll be at the City of Edinburgh Methodist Church hall on Nicholson Square. More details on the Global Justice Now website soon.