Poison Pill persists unless removed by a conference committee. Though, I will note that how poison pill works is likely to change quite a bit in the not too distant near future.
I think there should be a way of trading with other people, like for example, You run low on hunger and dont have any food, you can ask your friends or clanmates to give you some. Be good to have.
They are a visual representation of the player's clout tier and party.