Did you know there’s a system of secretive courts for the super-rich, where corporations can sue entire governments for hurting their bottom line?

It sounds like a conspiracy theory. But this system, called ISDS (Investor-State Dispute Settlement), is all too real.

Because of ISDS, fossil fuel companies have reaped billions in public money when environmental laws damaged their profits. Chemical giant Dow used it to threaten Quebec into weakening a ban on one of its toxic herbicides. And Philip Morris even used it to sue countries over cigarette health warning labels.

But the good news is, we can stop it. SumOfUs is joining forces with a pan-European coalition to convince the EU to end ISDS agreements and adopt a new set of rules to prevent multinationals from abusing human rights and the environment. We’re throwing down the gauntlet at the World Economic Forum. The more support we have, the more decision makers will pay attention.

Tell Europe to end ISDS and stop letting corporations trample our laws for profit.

In just hours, the World Economic Forum kicks off in Davos -- and it’s the perfect opportunity to show off what our people power can do. As leaders of the world’s most powerful corporations pat each other on the back, we’re going to spoil their party and tell them they can no longer get away with threatening governments into submission.

That’s why your support is needed more than ever. SumOfUs members like you have already been part of enormous people-powered campaigns across Europe against major trade deals like CETA -- highlighting the unfairness of ISDS. And all around the world, countries have been ripping up trade and investment deals that use ISDS to protect corporations.

But EU member states -- and the corporate lobbyists they’re in bed with -- keep trying to sneak ISDS into new trade agreements, concealed by pages of boring legalese they think will stop people from paying attention. With a massive show of public opposition during the World Economic Forum, we can prove them wrong and turn the tide.

Tell the EU to end ISDS and stop giving corporations special privileges!

The best news is, there’s already an amazing alternative to ISDS: a binding treaty that would hold big companies to account for their human rights and environmental abuses. It’s already being negotiated at the UN -- but the EU, which is very keen on ISDS, is refusing to back strong rules for corporations.

Our governments cannot deny justice to the vulnerable while defending a special system to protect the super-rich. We need to make sure that EU member states are not on the same side as Trump, Duterte and Bolsonaro when it comes to human rights. Over and over, we need to reinforce and celebrate our values of fairness, justice and putting people and our environment before profits.

SumOfUs members have already done so much of that. In Canada last year, thousands of members just like you came together to demand an end to ISDS -- and succeeded in getting it removed from the new version of NAFTA.

Now, hours before the corporate world’s most important yearly gathering kicks off, we’re asking you to come together again and tell these bullies their time is up. Will you sign this petition and reclaim power for the people?

Tell the EU to abolish ISDS and put people first!

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