All

On the 5th of October, the negotiating parties to the TPP (Trans Pacific Partnership) announced they have signed the TPP trade deal. It has yet to be ratified by any nation. In the US, there is "fast-track" in Congress meaning no filibuster, little debate, and no Amendments. On the other hand, it cannot be voted on for 90 days, putting the vote into Presidental primary season. In Canada, the opposition NDP party has announced they will not be bound by the treaty if ratified prior to the election. All over the world, progressives are mobilizing for the fight to stop the TPP trade deal from ever going into effect.

On the 3ed of October, Wikileaks reported that there was an 80% chance that a TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership) deal would be announced at the end of TPP talks on Saturday, October 3. They linked to a NZ Herald article claiming "breaktrough on the TPP" and that dairy imports were the last major blocker. The NZ Herald also says if there is no deal, only one more attempt will be made, at the APEC negotiations in the Phillipines in November.

Update Oct 3 6:40PM: Australia is making a "goal line stand" refusing US demands to extend patents on biologic drugs! News Zealand Radio News is saying the US will have to eiher abandon it's demand for an 8 year patent extension on these high priced drugs, or not have a TPP deal within 24 hours.

Update Oct 3 6:40PM: Australia is making a "goal line stand" refusing US demands to extend patents on biologic drugs! News Zealand Radio News is saying the US will have to eiher abandon it's demand for an 8 year patent extension on these high priced drugs, or not have a TPP deal within 24 hours.

On the first of October, another round of TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership) trade talks began at the Westin hotel in Atlanta GA. In the morning, a dozen protesters entered the lobby chanting"Stop the TPP! No corporate greed." Security demanded they leave, several refused and were arrested. One of the arrestees was wearing a T-shirt reading ""I HAVE CANCER. I CAN'T WAIT 8 YEARS" referring to the "TPP Death Sentence," a US proposal to extend patents on biologic drugs such as some cancer treatments for 8 years.

On the 30th of September, about 20 people protested outside the Embassy of Saudi Arabia against both the airstrike that killed 38 people at a wedding party and the planned execution and postmortem crucifixion of 21 year old Ali al-Nimr. The Embassy was holding a massive party inside for Saudi National Day. As protesters began to talk to the partygoers, the Embassy turned the music up all the way in an effort to drown out protesters and block this interaction. Unable to arrest and behead protesters in the US, they were reduced to using music to fight protesters.