Trade Justice

The Trade Justice Movement is a fast growing group of organisations including aid agencies, environment and human rights campaigns, fairtrade organisations, faith and consumer groups. It was formed at the end of 2000 as a means for people from a wide range of British society to campaign together to make trade fair and the summer of 2002 saw thousands of campaigners converging on Westminster to lobby more than half the UK's MPs.

Concerned with the harmful impact of current international trade rules on the poorest people in the world, on the environment and on democracy, the Trade Justice Movement calls for fundamental change of the unjust rules and institutions governing international trade, so that trade is made to work for all.

The Greater Manchester Trade Justice Movement got off to a great start in October 2001 with a day conference on trade justice. Since then campaigners have been out and about, notably during the Commonwealth Games, and other local events have focussed on the coffee trade, the Common Agriculture Policy and the link between Fairtrade and Trade Justice.

Scale up for Trade Justice

The members of the TJM believe world trade rules need to change. And this year we have a chance to change it. The Jubilee 2000 movement showed the world that by acting together, we can bring about change. By working together on trade - through the Trade Justice Movement - we hope to have a much bigger impact than we could ever have if we worked in isolation.

September sees the next big meeting of the World Trade Organisation, due to take place in Mexico. Important decisions about international trade are on the agenda. The future of our environment and the lives of many of the world's poorest people are held in the balance. It's vital that the agreements made in Mexico swing the balance in favour of the poorest people and the environment.

So this year, we're taking the campaign to where MPs hear it most - in their own constituencies. Starting at 12 noon on Friday 27 June the aim is to lobby every one of the UK's 659 MPs over a 24 hour period. In Manchester this marathon of lobbying will culminate in a celebration at 12 noon on Saturday 28 June in St Ann's Square with music, speakers and street theatre.

Polly Taylor, Christian Aid (0161 273 3647)

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