Green MEP does the Samba to put trade justice on Labour's conference agenda. 28th Sep 2004
"Debt relief is just the beginning"
Green MEP Caroline Lucas joined TV's Tony Robinson and 6,000 demonstrators in a 'samba' march along Brighton beach to put trade justice on the Labour conference agenda.
Trade Justice activists from across the UK congregated in the Sussex city to demand 'Fair Trade Now' - in the first of a daily barrage of protests planned during the week-long conference.
Dr Lucas, the Green Group of MEPs' delegate to the WTO and an Associate of the International Forum on Globalisation, said: "The relentless pursuit of profit at all costs means Western affluence is built on the shoulders of the 1.2 billion living on less than a dollar a day.
"This poverty is the responsibility of governments who have failed to make corporations accountable for their actions and the institutions which govern world trade for imposing unfair trade conditions on developing nations and dictating the terms on which global business can be done to benefit those trading nations that need help least: the US and the EU.
"It's not enough to switch coffee brands - we need to radically overhaul the WTO and World Bank, introduce new global trading rules based on goals of sustainable development and poverty reduction, protect the rights of governments to provide public services and protect infant industries and we need to make corporations democratically and legally accountable for their actions."
Dr Lucas told the rally that trade justice had never been more urgent - and called for radical reform of the rules and institutions governing world trade and an end to export subsidies.
The rally started at 1pm with thousands congregating at Madeira Drive, Brighton, before it set off on a samba procession to the conference venue, to cast symbolic 'votes for trade justice' in a 'ballot on the beach'. Altogether over 60,000 votes were cast. Two minutes silence, in solidarity with the 1.2 billion forced to live on less than a dollar a day, was followed by two minutes of noise in the form of a 'pots and pans' protest.
The days events concluded with a meeting organised by Christian Aid and Action Aid and addressed by Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown, at which he pledged to w millions of pounds of debt owed to the UK by some of the world's poorest nations.
"Of course we welcome this debt relief as a small step in the right direction, but it will be completely undermined unless the unjust trade rules which see wealth flow from the poorest nations to the richest are radically overhauled," said Dr Lucas.
Brighton and Hove Council is to mark the Trade Justice Movement campaign's rally in the City by considering a motion expressing support for the movement's principles and calling on local MPs and MEPs to do the same.
GREENS WERE RIGHT ALL ALONG
Air Wales decision supports Green Party view
Air Wales has pulled out of Swansea airport after over two years of sustained protest from Wales Green Party.
Martyn Shrewsbury, leader of Wales Green Party comments:
"The Green Party has consistently argued that this airport is a waste of money, yet the Welsh Assembly invested £600,000 in promoting it, and it has been backed by Swansea County Council - this money would have been better spent on creating sustainable jobs in Wales."
Economically unsustainable
Martyn Shrewsbury continues: "The Greens have consistently argued that this airport should be closed for economic and environmental reasons. We have asked Air Wales to open their books to the public. We are pleased that we have now been vindicated.
"The aviation industry pays no tax on its fuel. The motorist pays VAT on petrol, why shouldn't the air industry do the same?
"The Green Party is delighted that our sustained protest has paid off. We provided a copy of our report 'Aviation's Economic Downside' to both Swansea council and Assembly Member Andrew Davies, and it was ignored. Perhaps now they realize that they should have paid attention."
