Big week for trade justice
 With the World Trade Organisation meeting in Hong Kong, this week is a VERY big week for trade justice. It is a crucial meeting for the millions of people whose poverty is caused, or made worse, by unjust trade rules. And the fear is that the talks will not deliver substantial change. Only yesterday, Oxfam criticised the EU and the US for attempting to prevent developing countries from challenging rich countries’ farm subsidies. You can read the latest updates on Oxfam's stance here, and the BBC website has a great in-depth look at the trade talks too.
But there is still cause for optimism. As the world's eyes turned towards Hong Kong, the Big Noise petition to Make Trade Fair was presented to trade ministers and members of trade delegations all over the world. A whopping total of 17.8 MILLION people have signed the petition, including farmers, fisherfolk, city workers, community leaders and students.
 And on Monday, actor Gael Garcia Bernal, African singer Angelique Kidjo, and Chinese rockstar Anthony Wong handed the petition to Pascal Lamy, Director General of the WTO (see picture), asking him to do all he can to ensure the meeting changes the rules of world trade so that they work for the poor.
And we're still gathering support. The Generation Why team is off to Earl's Court tonight, to tell as many Coldplay fans as we can about fair trade and what's going on in Hong Kong. Have a look at our Coldplay blog for updates from the concerts - they promise to be some of the biggest and best of the year.
posted at 8:58 AM
| Permalink
0 comments
Comments:
GenerationWhy and Oxfam accept no responsibility for the content of comments in the Blog.
Post a Comment
|
|
