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Greenpeace Leaks Big Part Of Secret TTIP Documents (bbc.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the you-be-the-judge dept.

An anonymous reader writes: The environmental group Greenpeace has obtained 248 pages of classified documents from the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) trade talks. The group warns EU standards on the environment and public health risk being undermined by compromises with the US, specifically that US corporations may erode Europe's consumer protections. The TTIP would "harmonize regulations across a huge range of business sectors, providing a boost to exporters on both sides of the Atlantic," writes the BBC. After the Greenpeace leak was published, EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstroem said in her blog, "I am simply not in the business of lowering standards." Meanwhile, Greenpeace EU director Jorgo Riss said, "These leaked documents confirm what we have been saying for a long time: TTIP would put corporations at the center of policy-making, to the detriment of environment and public health." You can be the judge for yourself. The leaked documents are available for download here.

4 of 136 comments (clear)

  1. Environmental damage is fungible by rmdingler · · Score: 4, Informative
    It's a tough ask really, when you consider that much of the West's industrial competitiveness is bartered away when the Europeans and Americans and Australians legislate high domestic standards for emissions and environmental minimums; and then, pretend those industries aren't poisoning the earth making shiny stuff at Chinese factories that follow less rigorous environmental guidelines.

    Greater effort toward universal compliance should be the objective.

    --
    Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know.

    Ernest Hemingway

    1. Re:Environmental damage is fungible by AmiMoJo · · Score: 2, Informative

      You seem to know nothing about EU rules on pollution and emissions. We require products made in China to meet all our standards for hazardous materials, and companies that outsource manufacturing to China have the pollution generated there counted towards their domestic liability. Stuff that is made by Chinese companies and imported is subject to tariffs if it creates excessive pollution in China.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
  2. Not saying there isn't a problem... by kuzb · · Score: 3, Informative

    ...but Greenpeace has been repeatedly shown to be a horrible organization of eco-terrorists who often don't understand the science behind the things they protest. It got so bad even some of the founders left and renounced all ties to the organization. Patrick Moore in particular left them when they decided it was a good idea to try to push a universal ban of chlorine in drinking water. Moore is also known to have done a complete 180 on nuclear power issues once he educated himself on the matter. He has spoken at length about how the organization has very little in the way of scientific direction.

    So, there very well may be a problem here - but I'd be entirely sceptical of anything Greenpeace has to say about it.

    --
    BeauHD. Worst editor since kdawson.
    1. Re: Not saying there isn't a problem... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      Using the violence and the threat of violence against the corporation is the standard greenpeace tactic.

      FTFY. I know corporation are people in the US, but still...

      By the way, never forget the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior by the French authority. So tell me again, who are the terrorists?