As the oil terminal debate makes front-page headlines, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP, is another issue that deserves our attention and action now. A sobering wake-up story published Jan. 7, “TransCanada to challenge Keystone rejection,” states that TransCanada has filed a lawsuit “alleging the U.S. breached its obligations under the North American Free Trade Agreement” by rejecting the Keystone XL pipeline. Citing NAFTA, the company will also seek $15 billion in damages.

The proposed TPP would even go beyond NAFTA, giving corporations the power to undercut local, state, and federal laws and regulations concerning our environment, health, safety and more (www.thealliancefordemocracy.org/pdf/TPPTTIPfactsheetcong.pdf).

This news is a chilling reminder that corporations — whether TransCanada or Tesoro and Savage — will fight very hard for what they want. And we must fight equally hard to oppose them.

The Obama administration and Congress need to hear a strong “no TPP” (www.regulations.gov or call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121).

And Gov. Jay Inslee needs to hear our opposition to the oil terminal (ts.efsec.wa.gov).

Together, we must speak up to protect our communities, our environment and our democratic rights.