July 7, 2012, San Diego, California. -- 200-300 people banging pots and pans marched in and around downtown San Diego calling for a stop to secret Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations held in San Diego from July 2-10. The pots and pans march culminated a week which included protests against the TPP as well as the international People's Conference: A Better World Is Possible. Held in several locations throughout the community, the People's Conference successfully brought people together to both criticize the TPP and also learn about sustainable alternatives to the TPP. Photo by Nic Paget-Clarke.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations, lead by the United States, seek to create a super-treaty which would jeopardize the sovereignty of the nations involved by giving that power to large corporations like Wal-Mart, Monsanto, Goldman Sachs, Pfizer, Halliburton, Philip Morris, GE, GM, Apple. Currently 11 nations are involved in the process: U.S., New Zealand, Australia, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam, Mexico and Canada. Japan has shown interest. The economic power of this group is more than 40% larger than the 27- nation European Union.

The TPP will offshore millions of good-paying jobs to low-wage nations, undercutting working conditions globally and increasing unemployment. TPP will expand pharmaceutical monopoly protections and institute longer patents that will decrease access to affordable medications. TPP will limit food GMO labeling and allow the import of goods that do not meet US safe standards. TPP will institute SOPA, PIPA, and CISPA-like regulations and Internet measures which restrict our right to free speech. TPP will roll back Wall Street regulations, and prohibit bans on risky financial services. TPP will give multinational corporations and private investors the right to sue nations in private tribunals. These tribunals have the power to overturn environmental, labor, or any other laws that limit profit, awarding taxpayer funded damages. TPP will encourage the privatization of lands and natural resources in areas where indigenous people live.

The week of protests and People's Conference showed coordination among a broad spectrum of San Diego community groups and national organizations including Occupy San Diego, the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, the National Family Farm Coalition, the International Association of Machinists, the Sierra Club, the AFL-CIO, Occupy City Heights, OccupYrCorner, Women Occupy San Diego, San Diego Coalition for Peace and Justice, Global Trade Watch - Public Citizen, International Socialist Organization-San Diego, OSD Labor Solidarity Committee, Canvass for a Cause, In Motion Magazine, Occupy Santa Rosa, Bayan USA, International League of Peoples’ Struggle, Green Party of San Diego County, Occupy Los Angeles, Colectivo Zapatista, People for Social Sustainability, Activist San Diego, KNSJ-FM, KNSJ.org, Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

Also see:

• The Stop TPP web site.