DEMOCRACY campaigners will hold protests across the world today against the TTIP deregulation deal being negotiated in secret by the US and EU.

Dozens of demonstrations against the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) are planned in Britain alone, with a “day of dissent” kicking off in London’s Shepherd’s Bush Common at noon.

Speakers include War on Want executive director John Hilary and the protest will feature a “mass outreach” to members of the public and workshops for campaigners who wish to hone their skills.

In Cardiff, Cor Cochion (Cardiff Reds Choir) will leaflet and sing against TTIP outside Cardiff Central Market, the Hayes, between 11.45am and 2pm.

Musical director Wendy Lewis told the Star that she would be protesting because TTIP is “a threat to all our public services and could entrench the privatisation of the NHS.”

Keep Our NHS Public spokeswoman on TTIP Gay Lee said that exempting the NHS from the privatising deal, as suggested by Labour, would not be enough.

But she advised that “if we get health exempted then other exclusions become possible and like a Swiss cheese the whole treaty could crumble.”

Global Justice Glasgow will leaflet on Buchanan Street from 11am.

Other protests include a demo outside the Scottish National Gallery in Edinburgh, a “fun day of action” in Sheffield, a Friends of the Earth protest in Birmingham and many more.

Communist Party general secretary Robert Griffiths, who is contesting Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney at the general election, said that the treaty confirmed “the pro-big business and anti-democratic character of the EU as it seeks to enforce corporate power across the continent.”

• To find out about a protest near you visit www.globaltradeday.org