News story

30th June 2003

South Gloucestershire weighs in for Trade Justice

Steve Webb is lobbied by local campaigners

Over fifty local campaigners lobbied Northavon MP Steve Webb on Saturday as part of the Trade Justice Movement’s 24 hour nationwide lobby. Mr Webb and over 500 other MPs across the country were asked to help change unfair world trade rules, so that they work to help the world’s poorest people. This proved to be the largest ever simultaneous lobby of MPs.

The South Gloucestershire Fairtrade Network arranged the special “Picnic in the Park” event in Kingsgate Park, Yate over lunchtime on Saturday. Supporters carried sets of scales symbolising the injustice of world trade and brought picnics of Fairtrade produce. Children had an “unfair” tug-of-war against Mr Webb to show him what it must feel like for people in the poorest countries, trying to compete under unfair world trade rules. The “Panache” steel band from Castle School in Thornbury added to the carnival atmosphere.

Steve Webb said "I am delighted that so many local people either wrote to me about trade justice or came along to the picnic. Part of my role is to get governments to listen to these concerns, but we also need local people playing their part at a local level. The South Gloucestershire Fairtrade Network is a tremendous initiative and I hope that everyone who cares about these issues will visit their web site or get on their mailing list to find out more".

Helen Harrison, Co-ordinator of the South Gloucestershire Fairtrade Network said: “Thousands of supporters of the Trade Justice Movement want to see their MPs doing something about wickedly unfair world trade rules which penalise the poorest countries. They are asking them to pass on their concerns to the government. It is great to see local people playing such a strong part in this vital movement for change.”

The Trade Justice Movement is a coalition of agencies, including Christian Aid, Oxfam, CAFOD, World Development Movement, Tearfund and over 40 member organisations including churches and other faith groups, who have hundreds of examples of the damage done by unfair trade in the world’s poorest countries.

Further details about Trade Justice can be found on the South Gloucestershire Fairtrade Network website: http://sgftn.webspace.fish.co.uk.
 

Photo: Christian Aid/Nigel Quarrell