Archived press release

Thousands to attend mass lobby for trade justice

3 April 2002

Advance Notice

Thousands of people [1] will come to Westminster on Wednesday 19th June 2002 for a'Mass Lobby' organised by the Trade Justice Movement [2].

They will form a queue outside the Houses of Parliament from 2.30 pm, with a 'massmoment' at 3.30. The queue will be ordered by region, demarcated by coloured flags,with those having travelled the furthest at the front. MPs will be asked to come outsideto meet their constituents.

The Lobby will send a clear message that British voters want the rules on internationaltrade rewritten. Three upcoming events: the G8 Summit, the EU Heads of Governmentmeeting and the UN World Summit on Sustainable Development, all provideopportunities for negotiation of trade issues.

Chris Holt, Trade Justice Movement Coordinator, said:
"This is going to be big. Thousands of people are already making plans to come to London for the Mass Lobby. People are sick of the way world trade is run to benefit rich countries and their multinationals, at the expense of the poor and the planet. The Trade Justice Movement is the big cause of this decade."

Format of the day will be as follows:
09.30 Press conference: a chance to interview key speakers
13.00 Rallies at a number of Westminster locations
14.30 Participants form queue to meet their MPs
15.30 'Mass Moment' Photo Opportunity - details to be released nearer the time
15.30-20.30 Lobbying continues. Seminars and events around Westminster

Photo opportunities include: Giant queue with coloured flags; participants willreflect the diverse membership of the TJM, from students to members of Women'sInstitutes; many will be dressed up and accompanied by creative props.

Notes for Editors:

[1]Early indications suggest that around 10,000 people will attend.
[2]The Trade Justice Movement is a new grouping of organisations who call for fundamental change to the unjust rules and institutions governing international trade, so that trade is made to work for all. Members include: Banana Link, CAFOD, Christian Aid, The Fairtrade Foundation, Friends of the Earth, Intermediate Technology Development Group, National Federation of Women's Institutes, Oxfam, People & Planet, Save the Children, Tearfund, Traidcraft, the Women's Environmental Network and the World Development Movement.

www.tradejusticemovement.org.uk c/o Suite 204, 16 Baldwin's Gardens, London EC1N 7RJ

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust