A candlelit walk for trade justice

Gareth Jones braves the cold in Dorset for a festive demonstration.

Candles of hope: candles lit the way for the trade justice walk. Elliot Inglis (12): an inspirational young activist

On a cold Sunday afternoon just before the World Trade Organisation meeting in Hong Kong, trade justice activists undertook a demonstration, with a somewhat festive feel, through the streets of Poole, Dorset.

A candlelit walk for trade justice: that's how Dorset's Make Poverty History group advertised the event. I felt slightly guilty for sharing my disappointment at them earlier in the year, when they cut short an event due to rain and traffic jams. You could say I was duty-bound to stop myself becoming a hypocrite!

I was only expecting a small group but it was great to see so many enthusiastic, passionate people from all generations. Stewards were on-hand to give out banners and flags, plastered with slogans like 'Trade Justice Now' and 'Trade Justice not Free Trade', to around 500 people. I grabbed the opportunity to hand out free Fairtrade chocolate to people in the streets. I felt like Santa Chocolate!

The crowds trickled through the tiny streets of historic Poole shouting 'What do we want? - trade justice. When do we want it? - Now!'

St. James' church hosted a concert at the end of the walk. Images of previous Make Poverty History events, and pictures of President Bush with accompanying slogans like 'World's #1 Terrorist', were projected onto the large screen at the front.

The crowd were treated to speeches from inspirational activists like Elliot Inglis, aged 12. Having won a Blue Peter Badge for his contribution to the Make Poverty History campaign, Elliot will speak to six million people on Christmas Day, when he goes out on national TV. He closed his speech with 'Our mission has not ended it has only just begun.'

The crowd joined together to record a shouted message to the World Trade Organisation. The message was repeated with passion: 'What do we want? - trade justice. When do we want it? – Now!'

It was really encouraging to see so many people embracing a message that more and more of us want to see become reality.