TRADE JUSTICE MOVEMENT PRESS RELEASE: 27 September 2004
More than 6,000 campaigners demonstrated outside the Labour Party Conference yesterday (26 September), putting pressure on Prime Minister Tony Blair to change the government’s unfair trade policies.
In what is likely to be the largest mass demonstration at the Brighton meeting this year, demonstrators called on the Labour government for trade justice.
Campaigners in colourful costume made themselves heard by banging pots and pans in a Latin American style protest as the suited Labour delegates looked on from the balconies of the conference centre.
More than 6,000 trade justice campaigners put pressure on Prime Minister Tony Blair to change the government’s unfair trade policies.
Campaigners from Edinburgh, London, York, Cardiff, and all over the UK joined guests from Bolivia, Ghana, South Africa, and India in a carnival atmosphere.
Their message was that the government must act now to change its policies on trade – policies that are keeping millions of people in developing countries trapped in poverty.
Campaigners want the government to stop supporting policies that force poor countries to open their markets whatever the cost. They chanted, “Free Trade is not Fair Trade.”
Trade Justice Movement Coordinator Glen Tarman said: “The rules governing world trade protect wealthy countries and hurt poor ones. We are sending a clear message to the government that this set-up is unacceptable to British voters.”
Andy Atkins, Tearfund’s Advocacy Director said, “Trade justice means the difference between a dignified life and a life of humiliation for millions of poor people in the developing world. Changing the trade rules in their favour will enable them to enjoy the fruits of their labour, something we often take for granted in this country.”
Campaigners listened to speakers before marching along the seafront to cast their “Vote for Trade Justice” ballots in giant boxes outside the conference centre, followed by a two-minute silence to remember the millions whose lives are destroyed by current trade rules.
Celebrities such as Casualty’s Kwame Kwei-Armah and Time Team’s Tony Robinson spoke at the event, while Bono sent a message. Neville Gabriel, South African trade campaigner, said at the rally: “World trade rules hurt the poor and help the rich. What we need to see is trade rules that allow us in the poorest nations to make a living.”
Voting for trade justice outside the Labour Party Conference, 2004.
Next year is crucial for the global fight against poverty with the next ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organisation in Hong Kong. The UK Government is in a unique position to take the lead in that fight. In July 2005 it is hosting the G8 meeting of the world's most powerful countries and takes over the presidency of the EU.
The Trade Justice Movement is a coalition of aid agencies, environment and human rights campaigns, fair trade organisations, trade unions and faith groups that represents nine million people in Britain.