It's Your Pension They're After.

        We all know that in this society, big business comes first. Small businesses can fall by the wayside, but big business in trouble, they’ll see how they can get their grubby hands on taxpayers money, one way or another, to bail them out. It is usually a government subsidy, (taxpayers subsidy), or a tax break, some way in which we, the tax payers, can help keep the corporate beast alive. Now though they are sinking to an even lower level of duplicitous greed and depravity. It’s your pensions they are after. The government is considering giving Tata Steel the green light to cut people’s pensions, to save the shareholders money. Of course all the other big businesses will realise that this is a one-of arrangement, my arse. They will squeal “unfair”, they will claim that they need the same rules to make it a level playing field, and bob’s your uncle, open season on your pensions. Capitalism is ruthless, depraved, exploitative and favours the few, but they need our money to continue to screw us. It’s a crazy world, and we allow it to go on, when we could bring the whole thing crashing down. Workers of the world, take a months holiday, all at the same time.

This from 38 Degrees:

          The government’s trying to rush through new laws that could let big businesses put millions of our pensions at risk. [1] We've got 48 hours to stop them. In the rush to save a failing company, Tata Steel, the government’s planning to give them the power to cut staff pensions. Experts are warning it could open the floodgates for other companies to follow suit. It could put millions of pensions at risk. [2]
       But 38 Degrees members could stop them. The government’s consulting on their plans right now - but they’d probably prefer to keep them quiet. [3] If thousands of us sign a huge petition today, then deliver it on Wednesday we can force the plan out of the shadows.
       We’ve not got much time. The consultation closes in 48 hours so we’ve got to act fast. [4]

So please can you add your name right now?

SIGN THE PETITION

         Pensions are the safety net that let us sleep easy knowing that we’ve prepared for later life. Most of us spend years paying into them, but this new law could give big business bosses the power to go back on their promises and empty the pot.
       The government prides themselves on being good to pensioners. They know it’s a vote-winner. The last thing they want is a huge to-do over pensions that could anger a huge number of people they need on side. If tens of thousands of us sign a huge petition to stop the government rushing through these dangerous laws, it could make them back down to avoid the embarrassment.

 Please can you sign the petition now?

SIGN THE PETITION

Thanks for being involved,
Lorna, Rachel, Maddy and the 38 Degrees team
 NOTES:
[1] The Guardian: Tata Steel: warning that pensions restructure could set risky precedent: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/may/26/tata-steel-warning-that-pensions-restructure-could-set-risky-precedent
The Telegraph: Warning that Tata steel pension plan sets dangerous precedent: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/05/26/government-consults-on-legal-change-to-pension-rules-to-speed-ta/
[2] The BBC: Tata steel pension changes 'unique' to firm: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-36388178
[3] The consultation can be found below. It closes on 23rd June at 11:45pm.
Government.uk: British steel pension scheme: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/british-steel-pension-scheme
[4] See note 3.

Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk

TTIP Must Be Stopped.

       The corporate/financial Mafia hope to have TTIP all wrapped up and functioning by October. That's not a lot of time, we can't wait until then, and then start to complain when TTIP moves in and kicks us in the teeth. We have to continually keep pushing to get this take over by corporatism flushed down the tubes.  Sign the petition HERE:

This appeal from 38 Degrees:

       Big corporations are staging their biggest power grab yet - with TTIP, the dodgy EU-US trade deal. But this week, we have a chance to deal a blow to those trying to get the deal passed without a fuss.
      On Wednesday, MSPs will vote on whether to reject the worst parts of TTIP. They’ll be voting on the part of the deal that lets private companies like McDonald’s sue our government if they raise the minimum wage. [1] The vote won’t stop TTIP. But it’ll send a very clear message - that together we’ll stand against corporate power.
      We need our MSPs to be there, and to vote the right way. The vote’s on Wednesday so we don’t have much time. Can you email your MSP today? Click here:
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/msps-stop-TTIP
       It would be a nightmare scenario for corporations is every MSP turned up on Wednesday. They don’t want to have to defend their flagship trade deal. So together, let’s make sure every MSP is there. And let’s get as many as possible to listen to their constituents and vote the right way.
      It’s no surprise that public pressure against TTIP is growing across Scotland. This dodgy deal could make more NHS privatisation inevitable. And it could hand American corporations the power to sue our Scottish government if Holyrood passed laws they didn’t like. Plans to de-privatise our services would be scuppered. [2]
        The vote this Wednesday is a huge opportunity for us to raise the political stakes on this dodgy trade deal before next year's Holyrood election. The more of us who email our MSPs, the clearer the message: we won’t sit back while our democracy disappears into corporate hands.
      Please click here to tell your MSP to turn up on Wednesday and vote to on principle against TTIP:
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/msps-stop-TTIP

Thanks for being involved,
Jen, Nat, David and the 38 Degrees team
NOTES
[1] The report being discussed on Wednesday is the result of months of work by the parliament to find out whether TTIP really threatens our democracy - and the conclusions are stark.
     The report recommends that ISDS, the part of the deal that lets companies sue our government for ‘lost profits’, should be scrapped. It says that TTIP could harm our environment and food safety, and could allow runaway privatisation of our services. MSPs will be voting on whether they agree with this report.
You can read the full report here:
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/S4_EuropeanandExternalRelationsCommittee/Reports/eur-15-02w.pdf
Or find a handy summary by Global Justice Now here:
http://www.globaljustice.org.uk/news/2015/mar/17/our-response-holyroods-ttip-report
[2] Liz Murray: It’s more than just the NHS that’s at risk in Scotland from TTIP:
https://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/liz-murray/it%E2%80%99s-more-than-just-nhs-that%E2%80%99s-at-risk-in-scotland-from-ttip

 

 Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk

Anti-TTIP Global Day Of Action, Glasgow.

         Right now, our MP candidates are making all kinds of claims about how they’ll protect our NHS. But there’s a key issue our politicians are keeping quiet on - TTIP. It’s the US-EU trade agreement being drawn up in secret - it threatens many of the things we hold dear, from our democracy and environment, to the NHS. [1]

      So this Saturday 18th April, 38 Degrees members from across Glasgow will be gathering at the Buchanan Street steps to join a global day of action to stop TTIP. [2] It'll be a chance to hear from campaigners across the country and take part in exciting public stunts to shine a light on this dodgy deal.
      The more of us that join in, the bigger our impact will be - so can you come along on Saturday?
WHEN: Saturday 18th April, 11am
WHERE: Buchanan Street Steps, Glasgow

YES, I’LL JOIN IN
          The TTIP trade deal could open the doors to US medical companies buying NHS services, with one motive in mind - profit. And our NHS isn’t the only thing under threat: schools, social care and our treasured public services could also go under the knife. [3]
         Recently 38 Degrees members have been taking action in huge numbers to tell our candidates standing for election that they must take a firm stand against TTIP - collecting signatures, emailing and tweeting candidates, and holding street events. [4]

        On Saturday, let’s make sure MP candidates from every party see us out on the street mobilising people across Glasgow against TTIP. Together, we’ll spark hundreds more important conversations as the election draws near.
Saturday's event is being organised by a host of local groups across Glasgow and national groups who have been campaigning to stop TTIP. [5] Can you spare an hour or two on Saturday to join in? Everyone is welcome and it will be a great way to meet other 38 Degrees members who live near you.
Please click the link to let other 38 Degrees members know you’ll be there:
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/TTIP-Day-Glasgow-18th

Hope to see you on the streets!
Jen, Bex and the 38 Degrees team
PS: If you can’t make it on the day, can you take two minutes to support the fight against the dodgy TTIP trade deal by emailing your MP candidates? Just click the link here to get started:
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/ttip-scotland-petition
 

NOTES:
[1] The Independent: What is TTIP and six reasons why it should scare you:
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/what-is-ttip-and-six-reasons-why-the-answer-should-scare-you-9779688.html
[2] Global Justice Now: Global day of action against TTIP:
http://www.globaljustice.org.uk/events/ttip-day-action
[3] 38 Degrees blog: John Hilary, Executive Director at War on Want's analysis on TTIP:
http://blog.38degrees.org.uk/2015/02/27/ttip-leaked-text-analysis-by-john-hilary-war-on-want/
[4] 38 Degrees blog: Day of Action against TTIP in Scotland - come rain or shine!:
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/ttip-scot-DOA-update/
[5] Saturday's event is being supported by Global Justice Now, War on Want, and the local 38 Degrees group in Glasgow

Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk

Tomorrow's World, fashioned By TTIP.

       Are we taking TTIP serious enough? Where is the noise? This is no ordinary piece of crap legislation, this is cementing the foundations of corporatism, this trashes completely any illusion of democracy that any naive individual my have been clinging to, this gives corporations power over elected governments. It will mean that those sitting in boardrooms of powerful profit driven corporations will determine the shape our society will take. Anything that stands in the way of their ability to rape and plunder the planet to maximise their profits and power, will be swept away. Anything in the public sector that could be turned to a profit, will be privatised. The full spectrum, from health, education, to public spaces and what we eat, all will be decided on the basis of profit. It paints a picture of a "Tomorrow's World" that will be unbearable and unsustainable.

 Tomorrow’s World!

See the fat cat’s grinning smile

as Corporate Capitalism runs amok,

Chasing profit as it goes

firing millions of ordinary folk.

Raping and polluting land after land,

starting bloody wars.

Toxic waste, sweat shop wages

and oil covered sea shores.

Where have all the flowers gone

beneath this ozone free sky?

To join the birds, to join the fox

on yonder plutonium field to die.

Mercury fish, strontium lamb

trees that never show a leaf,

radio active beaches, toxic streams

good lean BSE-antibiotic beef.

In a world of epidemic, plague and famine

it’s bottled water and chemical food.

Of course, it’s all tested on rats and mice

so you know its got to be good.

Beneath a sky that’s always black,

hurricane winds and endless drought,

its oxygen masks for the toxic air,

corporate profit’s what its all about.

This is an appeal from 38 Degrees:

Thanks for signing the petition to your local MP candidates.

      The more of us who sign, the more likely we can push all these candidates to realise that they must stand up to TTIP. Can you share the petition with your friends and family too? Just click the links below to share:
Facebook: https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/stop-ttip-scotland-facebook
Twitter: https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/stop-ttip-scotland-twitter
Or you can forward using the email text below.
      38 Degrees members are coming together in town centres across Scotland on Saturday the 28th March to collect signatures on big local petitions, calling on our MP candidates to stop TTIP. Will you join in and set up an street event in your local area? Just click the link below to get started:
http://election.38degrees.org.uk/?tinfo_id=4

Thanks for being involved,
Jen, Bex, Maddy & the 38 Degrees team

Hi,
Have a look at this:
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/ttip-scotland-petition

    The text of the TTIP trade deal has been leaked, and it’s confirmed one of our biggest fears: our NHS in Scotland is at risk.
     And it’s not just the NHS. All our public services could be in the firing line from this dodgy trade deal - as well as food safety and environmental protections. We can stop TTIP, but we need to persuade our politicians to defend public services against big business.
    It’s now less than 60 days to the election. Hopeful new candidates are desperate to win votes - the perfect opportunity to push TTIP to the top of their agenda. To make that happen, every candidate from every party needs to know:  TTIP is a huge threat, and they must oppose it.
    With huge public petitions in every constituency, they won’t be able to ignore the issue. It just takes a couple of minutes. Will you sign the petition for your local area?
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/ttip-scotland-petition

Thanks,

Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk

The Usual Oxbridge Self-centred Hypocrisy.

 

      Just what you expect from an MP, two-faced, money grabbing, hypocrite, Stephen Dorrell, sitting as an MP in a tory government that says it will protect the NHS, while taking a job with a company that wants to plunder out a slice of the NHS for profit. No doubt he'll advise KMPG on how best to go about grabbing a chunk of the NHS, at the cheapest price, and what sections will be the most profitable to the company. He has the inside info and contacts, having been chair of the Health Select Committee for four years. Well, what do you expect from one of the Oxbridge Mafia. 

 This from 38 Degrees:

     Stephen Dorrell MP has just taken a job with KPMG, a private company that wants to bid on a £1 billion NHS contract. [1] But he's refusing to give up his parliamentary seat.
     Mr Dorrell has admitted his new job is “incompatible” with his role as an MP. But he's refusing to step down until May 2015. [2] How can that be ok? Who is his boss for the next 5 months - KPMG or his constituents?
     If thousands of us sign a petition to David Cameron to show our outrage, the weight of public opinion could force the PM to crack down. Please sign now:
http://secure.38degrees.org.uk/dorrell-conflict-of-interest
For four years, Stephen Dorrell MP was the chair of the powerful Health Select committee, helping open the NHS up to privatisation. His new job is with a private company bidding on the NHS.
       Here’s what Chris, one his constituents says:
“Public trust in politicians is currently at an all-time low. Dorrell's action in joining KPMG displays a cynical lack of integrity amongst MPs. This presents a serious conflict of interest and misuse of his privileged position, making him unfit to continue as an MP."
     From campaigning for a law to allow voters to sack rogue MPs, through to fighting to protect our NHS from private healthcare vultures, [3] 38 Degrees members have a history of challenging politicians who act against our democracy. Let’s show David Cameron we’re watching his every move.
    Can you sign the petition asking David Cameron to tell Stephen Dorrell he can't take a job in health privatisation whilst he's still an MP?
http://secure.38degrees.org.uk/dorrell-conflict-of-interest
Thanks for being involved,
Ali, Robin, David and the 38 Degrees team
NOTES:
[1] Daily Telegraph: Stephen Dorrell MP faces calls to resign over conflict of interest:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/conservative/11264425/Stephen-Dorrell-MP-faces-calls-to-resign-over-conflict-of-interest.html
[2] Mirror: £1 billion NHS sell-off scandal: Tory MP works for firm targeting huge health service deal:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/1billion-nhs-sell-off-scandal-tory-4724959
[3] 38 Degrees blog - Recall campaign and NHS privatisation vote:
http://blog.38degrees.org.uk/2014/10/23/recall-mp-debate/ http://blog.38degrees.org.uk/2014/11/20/save-our-nhs/

Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk

World Corporatism.

     TTIP, world corporatism takes control, unless we stop them. David Cameron, friend of big business, is their minder in Westminster.
This from 38 Degrees:

  American corporations suing our government? Exposing our NHS to competition from the US health industry? What’s your top reason for wanting to stop TTIP?
      38 Degrees members have forced this shadowy trade deal up the political agenda. [1] As a result, next week, I’ve been asked to go and explain our campaign to a powerful committee of MPs. I want to make sure I’m speaking for you.
     Please can you fill in a quick survey to tell me what to say? It will mean I can represent you properly. And my message to MPs will be so much more powerful if I can say it’s coming from thousands of us.
       The meeting is next week, so I need to start getting ready this weekend! Please can you fill in the survey as soon as you can? Thank you!
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/ttip-evidence
       I’m up in front of the committee of MPs which looks into the government’s Business Department - they’re in charge of TTIP. [2] It’s a chance to tell this influential group of MPs how bad TTIP is. I want to show them just how determined we are to stop big corporations hijacking our democracy.
So far our campaign has made the government nervous. But they’re still trying to press ahead. David Cameron's now saying he wants to put “rocket boosters” under TTIP to get the deal back on track. [3] This is a chance to show the government that no amount of "rocket boosting" TTIP is going to stop our campaign.
      The survey will only take a couple of minutes. I’d hugely appreciate it if you could fill it in now:
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/ttip-evidence
I'm looking forward to hearing what you think and I’ll let you know how I get on.
Thank you,
David
     PS: There's another sign that our campaign is starting to get noticed. The minister in charge of TTIP, Vince Cable, has said that he is willing to hear from 38 Degrees members directly about their concerns. The office team will keep you posted as soon as we have more details. In the meantime, please let me know what I should say to MPs next Tuesday: https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/ttip-evidence
       PPS: You may also be interested in a big meeting in London on 1 December with a group of MPs who are already against TTIP. It will be a chance to hear from them about how we can most effectively put pressure on other MPs. The office team will attend and report back, but if you’d like to attend yourself you can find more details and sign up here: https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/ttip-westminster
NOTES
[1] The Guardian: Politics live blog:
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/live/2014/nov/17/rochester-byelection-hustings-politics-live-blog
[2] BIS Select Committee:
http://www.parliament.uk/BIS
[3] The Guardian: Politics live blog:
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/live/2014/nov/17/rochester-byelection-hustings-politics-live-blog

Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk

  

Stop TTIP.

 

      I have often spouted that we are not governed by our so called "elected" government, but by the international financial Mafia. How ever, if this secretly negotiated deal, TTIP, goes through, it will without a shadow of doubt shatter any illusion of democracy that might still be held. The world will be one big corporate empire, our lords and masters will undoubtedly be international corporatism, capitalism will be king.

An Appeal from 39 Degrees:
      A deal that could permanently privatise our NHS is being negotiated in secret right now. It's called the Transatlantic Trade Investment Partnership, or TTIP for short, and this EU-US trade deal is one of the most dangerous ever written. [1] Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have the power to scupper it. But first they need to feel the pressure from the people they represent - us, the public. Can you add your name to a huge EU-wide petition and help convince them? Click here to sign:

SIGN THE PETITION

 
        Today, thousands of 38 Degrees members are out on the streets campaigning against TTIP and collecting signatures for this petition. The shady deal would allow big corporations to sue our government if they don't like our laws. Simply raising minimum wage could drag our government into a lawsuit that could cost taxpayers millions. [2] The same sort of deal is being negotiated with Canada called CETA. [3] Both of these massive deals have been negotiated behind closed doors. Now people across Europe are uniting to force them out into the open.
       If TTIP and CETA can be pushed to the top of the political agenda in the EU, then MEPs will be forced to say whether they support it or not. Your signature, along with hundreds of thousands of others from countries including Germany, France and Italy, can help move these dangerous deals into the spotlight.
     There are millions of 38 Degrees members in the UK alone, and there's millions more people across Europe who want to stop TTIP. Will you add your name? Please click the link to sign the petition: https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/ttip-eu
      Working across borders which usually divide us can have a really powerful impact. This pettion is organised by 240 organisations and signed by people from all 28 EU countries. We may all live in different places and speak different languages - but together, we all stand against TTIP, and that sends a strong message. [4]
Thanks for being involved,
Belinda, India, James and the 38 Degrees team 

NOTES:
[1] Independent: British sovereignty 'at risk' from EU-US trade deal: UK in danger of surrendering judicial independence to multinational corporations:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/british-sovereignty-at-risk-from-euus-trade-deal-uk-in-danger-of-surrendering-judicial-independence-to-multinational-corporations-warn-activists-9057318.html
[2] Touchstone: Special courts for foreign investors have no place in trade deals:
http://touchstoneblog.org.uk/2013/11/special-courts-for-foreign-investors-have-no-place-in-trade-deals/
[3] Short briefing on CETA, by Nick Dearden, Director of World Development Movement:
http://wdm.org.uk/trade/short-briefing-ceta
[4] Stop TTIP: Supporting organisations:
http://stop-ttip.org/supporting-organisations/

Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk