“Attack on democracy”: TransCanada suing U.S. gov’t is chilling sign of dystopian TPP era we live in

[Triana]

Imagine a dystopian world in which secretive and corrupt corporate courts circumvent the justice system and unaccountable private companies have more power than governments, holding democracy hostage.

Consumer advocacy and environmental organizations warn this is the path the world is taking.

Canadian fossil fuel corporation TransCanada announced this week it is suing the U.S. government, after the Obama administration rejected its proposed Keystone XL Pipeline on environmental grounds. The company claims the president exceeded the powers allotted to him in the Constitution, and, filing legal action under NAFTA, is demanding $15 billion in compensation.

Experts warned the Keystone Pipeline, which would have transported more than 800,000 barrels of crude oil to U.S. refineries per day, would accelerate climate change and almost inevitably lead to environmental disaster. Former NASA environmental scientist and now Columbia University professor James Hansen famously said that, if the pipeline were built and the vast oil reserves in Alberta, Canada’s tar sands were used, it would mean “game over for the climate.”

Consumer advocates have described the lawsuit as an “attack on our domestic, democratic government.” Environmental groups have characterized it as disastrous news for the climate.

The Washington Post cautioned the U.S. government might lose the case. . . .

THE REST:

http://www.salon.com/2016/01/08/attack_on_democracy_transcanada_suing_u_s_govt_is_chilling_sign_of_dystopian_tpp_era_we_live_in/


RELATED: (and the reason I'm posting this - THANK YOU to 'stuffmatters'): http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017319928#post5