ISDS Action Group Press Release - August 14th Performance

This is an action we did to illuminate the dangers of the TPP and CHaFTA. Melissa Parke, Labor MP for Fremantle was there and chained and we walked the streets of Fremantle, up and down the world famous cappucino strip and out to King's Square. Thanks to all that came what a great day! The action represents the corporate slavery that would be enacted by signing the TPP and allowing CHaFTA through parliament with ISDS provisions allowing multi-national corporations to sue sovereign governments for laws that infringe on profits.

Let us stand together!

The following is the press release:

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A local activist group, the ISDS Action Group, has organised a performance protest in response to trade provisions that would dramatically increase corporate powers.

The provisions are part of closed negotiations being conducted by the Federal Government in relation to the TPP (Trans Pacific Partnership). An ISDS clause already features in the Australian Government's trade agreement with China (CHAFTA), signed by Andrew Robb without public consultation in June 2015, due to be processed through parliament.

The protest--a march--will take place from 12pm, Friday 14 August, departing from Culleys in Fremantle's High Street Mall and end at Shanghai Food Court via Market Street.

Participants can be chained to or walk beside a chariot that symbolises the ISDS and the trade deals to which the public are not party are questioned by the public to be made in the people's interests.

In a quirky twist, as well as awareness, the ISDS Action Group may also be in a position to break a world record--for the most people chained together in a protest performance.

For further reading stipulating the dangers ISDS and TPP represent for Australia:http://peter-whish-wilson.greensmps.org.au/campaigns/tpp

#freethetpp #stopthetpp #stoptpp #exposetpp #exposethetpp #isds #chafta #stopchafta #nafta #tpp #tppaustralia #whytpp #tppfremantle #performanceprotest #performanceart

A video of the action can be seen here:

The Fremantle Herald article 14-8-15 (Click to make larger)

Photos and videos by Michele Kwok unless otherwise stated

The flyer we developed for handing out at the protest - download a PDF here!

**Edit - More Photos from Marta Pascual (thanks Marta!)

"Good boy! Put your chains on!"