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BRIGHTON CHALLENGED TO CONSUME MORE CHOCOLATE
- launch of Trade Justice Movement in Brighton
Brighton shoppers will be challenged to start trading fairly by 2 Ghanaian cocoa growers, Comfort Kumeah & Mary Antwi
Nyamekye, who are coming to Brighton for the launch of the Brighton Trade Justice Movement at Brighthelm Centre in North Road on March 14th at 7.30pm.
The Trade Justice Movement is a coalition of the UK’s leading campaigners on global development. They are calling for fundamental change to the unjust rules and institutions governing world trade that prevent poor countries from lifting themselves out of poverty. Some 70% of world trade is controlled by multinational corporations and there is actually a flow of wealth from the poor countries to the rich ones. The poor lose £1.3 billion a day because of unjust trade rules - some 14 times the amount they receive in aid. Rich countries subsidise their agriculture & industry by $350 billion each year.
" I was horrified when I found out how world trade rules are loaded against poor people and the environment. I think the shopping basket could be a lethal weapon in the battle for trade justice if enough of us buy Fairtrade goods" said Sarah Berger from Brighton & Hove World Development Movement
(WDM).
Ash Gupta, a local WDM activist said "We block agricultural produce and textiles from poor countries yet we demand access to their liberalised markets. Where's the justice in that?"
The meeting will show how current global trade rules are unfair and will challenge individuals, institutions and government to translate words into action.
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Chaired by Simon Maxwell, Director of the think-tank Overseas Development Institute.
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Barry Coates, Director of WDM, will explain what the WTO does.
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A short video on global trade will be shown.
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The two Ghanaian cocoa growers will describe their work at the Kuapa Kokoo Fairtrade Co-operative, and there will be time for discussion & questions.
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The Trade Justice Movement in Brighton will be launched with an opportunity to celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight by sampling Fairtrade chocolate - Divine chocolate, Dubble Bars and chocolate cake.
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NOTES
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Spokespeople are available for interview
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Photo-opportunity: The Ghanaian cocoa growers will launch the Trade Justice Movement in Brighton by cutting Fairtrade chocolate cake. A group shot of people eating Fairtrade chocolate cakes and bars will also be set up.
7.15 pm & 9.30 pm.
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The meeting is organised by the World Development Movement, Brighton & Hove group, supported by The Day Chocolate Company, Fairtrade Foundation,
CAFOD, Christian Aid, FOE, Oxfam, Traidcraft, People & Planet, Unison and War on Want.
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The poorest 49 countries make up 10% of the world's population but account for only 0.4% of world trade.
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At the WTO meeting in Seattle in November 1999, developing countries rebelled at the hypocrisy of rich nations pushing for more 'free trade' agreements whilst maintaining high import taxes on agriculture and textiles - products which poor countries are keen to export. The then Secretary of State for Trade & Industry, Stephen Byers, acknowledged that there 'had to be fundamental & radical change in the
WTO' , but two years on nothing has changed.
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The Trade Justice Movement believes world trade rules are loaded against poor people and the environment. It calls for:
· An independent review of the current trade rules on the poor & the environment
· A new approach to trade, that focuses on the UN target of halving world poverty by 2015 & preventing the unsustainable use of natural resources
· New and binding international rules that restore governments' ability to protect vulnerable communities and ecosystems from the harmful effects of business activities
· Genuinely democratic trade negotiations that ensure rich & poor countries really do have an equal say in trade negotiations
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The Trade Justice Movement is a new grouping of over 30 UK organisations including Action Aid,
CAFOD, Christian Aid, Friends of the Earth, Fairtrade Foundation, Oxfam & Save the Children, &
WDM. Details from: www.tradejusticemovement.org.uk
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The World Development Movement works to tackle the root causes of poverty. Through its groundbreaking campaigns it wins positive change for the world's poorest people. WDM has over 12,000 members and 120 active local groups. Contact:
www.wdm.org.uk . For details of the Brighton & Hove group contact 01273 324942 or email
sarah@berger12.fsnet.co.uk or visit www.not4profit.org.uk
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The Fairtrade Foundation provides an independent guarantee of a better deal for third world producers.
www.fairtrade.org.uk . Fairtrade Fortnight is from March 4 - 17th. Fairtrade stalls stocking free samples of Fairtrade goods are being held outside supermarkets in Brighton during the fortnight.
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The Kuapa Kokoo cocoa co-operative in Ghana grows Fairtrade cocoa for the
Day Chocolate Company's chocolate bars Divine and
Dubble. For media enquiries contact Kate Wills on 020 7378 6550 / 07989445885 or
kate@divinechocolate.com
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The average Briton spends £50 a year on chocolate
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The average cocoa farmer earns less than £50 a year & has never tasted chocolate.
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