CAMBRIDGE WORLD DEVELOPMENT GROUP
Cambridge WDM www.cambridgewdm.org.uk
MINUTES For 19 October 2005 at Aidan & Clare’s.
Thanks to them both for their Hospitality.
PRESENT: Aidan B(Chair), Clare B, Beth C, Raju R, Pat S, Sue W, Eva G, new member Tom H, Bernard S
APOLOGIES : Janet G, Ray G, Frank F, Fabiola B, Rachel N, Dorothy R, Sheila B, Martin H, Paul C
1. MINUTES FROM MEETING 21 Sept 2005 approved as a correct record.
Welcome to our new member Tom : good to have you aboard.
2. Matters Arising
a) Campaign Convention
Raju, Aidan & Clare to attend Campaign Convention on 27 Nov in University of London Union Marriot St. We could field a stall with our literature on it such as the Fairtrade Guide to Cambridge, our new campaign leaflet and the new WDM newsletter.
b) Fairtrade Guide to Cambridge Wrap Up
Fairtrade photo oppportunity on 5 October featured on Q103 Radio and City Council has asked us to apply for funding to do an update next year on the FT Guide. Sue to apply for a Sustainable City Grant for this.
c) David Howarth MP
Sue wrote again to David Howarth MP and his PA repeating questions already asked. No response yet. Also asked him and her to make arrangements to meet us at the Mass Lobby of Parliament on 2 November. Sue went to Ipswich on 12 Oct to speak to a meeting called by their City Council to make Ipswich a Fairtrade Town by relating how we helped to make Cambridge a Fairtrade Town. 50 people attended and it had been well worth while. We look forward to congratulating Ipswich on their new fairtrade status. Discussion followed about how we could help the Ipswich WDM group which was rather small and would welcome a boost. Agreed the best way was to ask them directly what they would like for instance help with setting up a website. Beth and HQ could do this plus their own resources through the church and city council. Aidan to contact Sue Young (wife of Bisop?)of Ipswich WDM who also spoke at the Fairtrade meeting to progress this. We could invite them to join in our events such as speaker meetings/the Water Talk ’06.
d) Campaign Leaflet
Sue to ask Jamie Clarke at WDM HQ to help us with DTP of the proposed new camapign leaflet by producing a template that cd be used by all WDM groups to make their own local version giving email and tel nos of local MPs and MEPs. Raju suggested asking a student at APU/ARU in media studies to help us.
2. Make Poverty History (MPH) Event 29 Oct on Christ’s Pieces
The MPH partnership is planning another MPH event on 29 October on Christ’s Pieces. Bernard reported on progress. Plans include a range of games with unfair rules to mimic Trade Rules, eg Tug of War, Volley ball, Loaded Dice. Campaign cards to sign giving opportunity to vote for Trade Justice. Need volunteers and Tom offered to help 1 – 2pm, Beth 2 – 3pm. Raju to get info from Sheila & other students may help.
3. Mass Lobby of Parliament 2 November
Aidan, Clare, Sue, Tom, Paul, Raju (and maybe later Beth, Bernard and Eva who have work commitments in the morning) are going to Mass Lobby of Westminster for Trade Justice on Wednesday 2 November.
Details about the day are on http://www.tjm.org.uk/lobby05/MassLobbypack.pdf We shall be in touch about travel arrangements but at present may go by train. Bus good too for getting directly to Westminster. Sue to cut and paste from WDM HQ a letter to the press about this mass Lobby and what it involves.
4. Mark Thomas Show Sunday 23 Oct
Aidan to try get in touch with comedian Mark Thomas via Google and ask him if we can leaflet his audience at the show at the Arts theatre 29 October.
5. Famine in Malawi
CWDM Member Mike Brady who was a VSO in Malawi has drawn attention to the desperate plight of people in Malawi facing famine. He has a blog at http://friendsinmalawi.blogspot.com/ for details.
Sue to try get media attention for the situation with help from Mike as CWDM did an exhibition on structural adjustment and its ill effects in Malawi 2 years ago for One World Week. This could focus on the UN’s idea for a Central Emergency Relief Fund with £1 billion to set up a sensible system for dealing with disasters and emergencies on the basis of need rather than emotional response to pictures of starving people.
6. Labour Behind the Label
We have been asked to support an ethical procurement campaign in Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to get local councils to purchase the ethical alternative where Fairtrade options are not available. Beth to direct this to UNISON at Cambridgeshire County and Cambridge City Councils.
7. Speaker meeting in Water Campaign ‘06
We have been asked to host a speaker meeting on the Dirty Aid Dirty Water campaign in early ’06 so agreed to say we were interested and need details. Aidan to respond to this request.
8. Letter to Gordon Brown
Sue handed round letters devised by WDM HQ to Gordon Brown congratulating him on new policy acknowledging that it is wrong to attach economic conditions to aid and that it is inconsistent then to tell poor countries they cannot benefit from UK debt relief unless they implement World Bank and IMF programmes containing exactly the same economic conditions the UK says should not be attached to aid. More copies with Sue if anyone wants to also write their own letter to the Chancellor.
9. AOB
a) Aidan to attend the Area Reps Forum in Edinburgh. He announced his intention to stand down as Regional Rep in Spring and invited offers to replace him. None forthcoming so proposed that the mighty Oxford WDM group be approached to help.
b) Sue to make a start on next CWDM newsletter and asks for contributions by email.
c) Black History Month (Oct) now has a full programme produced by the Cambridge Ethnic Community Forum.
10. Next meetings at 7.45pm - 16 Nov at Pat’s 6 Lexington Close
21 Dec at Beth’s 8 Railway Street Cherry Hinton