Radiohead, Rob Newman, and 10,000 others lobby for trade justice

Largest ever lobby of Parliament on global trade, 19 June 2002

Rock band Radiohead, TV comedian Rob Newman and many other big names are joining more than 10,000 people from across the UK today at the largest ever mass lobby of parliament. They will line up to meet their MPs, forming a giant queue which is expected to stretch down Millbank, over Lambeth Bridge and along the south bank of the Thames.

They are coming to meet their MPs and press for greater justice in global trade. The Lobby will send a clear message that British voters want the rules on international trade rewritten to favour the world's poorest communities and safeguard the environment.

The lobby is organised by the Trade Justice Movement (TJM), a new grouping of 50 charities, aid agencies and campaigning groups calling for fundamental changes in the rules and institutions governing international trade.

Thom Yorke of Radiohead said: "A bunch of lunatic economic zealots waving stupid little flags with Free Trade written on it roaming the earth demanding the right to extort and exploit the poorest and weakest, demanding to buy the water and sell it back to them undrinkable and unaffordable, demanding to flood them with cheap imports, telling them they can maybe join our club if they do what we tell them but only if they're prepared to watch their children dying and keep taking the strong medicine and charge them extra if they wanna try selling us anything. That's what this is about as far as I'm concerned."

Chris Holt, TJM Coordinator, said: "The Government talks confidently about how free and fair trade will combat poverty, but free trade isn't always fair - sometimes it pitches the weakest and most vulnerable against the strongest and most powerful. Under pressure from big business the Government is currently supporting rampant trade liberalisation, regardless of the effects on the world's poorest people and the environment. This lobby will signal that thousands of people in the UK think this is immoral - and want to see fundamental change."

The focal point of the lobby will take place at 15.30, when a 'Mexican Wave' of noise will pass along the queue of people waiting to meet their MPs. This will signal the beginning of the lobby, which will see MPs being taken in rickshaws to meet their constituents in the queue

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

Early indications suggest that more than 10,000 people will attend.

Trade Justice Movement members include: Action Aid, ACTSA, ADRA-UK, African Initiatives, Babymilk Action, British Association of Fairtrade Shops, Banana Link, CAFOD, Campaign Against the Arms Trade, Care International UK, Carlisle One World Centre, Christian Aid, Consumers International, Credo Arts Centre, Devon Trade Justice Network, The Fairtrade Foundation, Find Your Feet, Friends of the Earth, Intermediate Technology Development Group, International Federation for Alternative Trade, Methodist Relief and Development Fund, National Federation of Women's Institutes, Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign, Oxfam, Peace Child International, People & Planet, Peru Support Group, Reading International Solidarity Centre, Re-generation, Save the Children, SCIAF, SPEAK, Tearfund, Tools for Self Reliance, Traidcraft, Trinity and All Saints Chaplaincy, United Reformed Church, VSO, War on Want, WOMANKIND, Women's Environmental Network, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, and the World Development Movement.

Format of the day will be as follows:
13:30  Rallies at Westminster Central Hall and the Emmanuel Centre, Marsham Street, Westminster, with Rob Newman, Vandana Shiva, Martin Khor, speakers from developing countries, and directors of TJM member organisations.  For full programme see TJM website.
14:30  Participants form giant queue to meet their MPs
15:30  'Mass Moment' photo opportunity - Mexican wave of noise stretching from the House of Commons St Stephen's Entrance along both sides of the River Thames
15:30 Lobbying continues (until 20.30).  Debates, music and events at Westminster Central Hall and the Emmanuel Centre, Marsham Street, Westminster.
20.30 Finale event, at Westminster Central Hall

4. Photo opportunities include:
The queue, organised by region and constituency and demarcated by coloured flags, is expected to stretch down Millbank, over Lambeth Bridge and along Albert Embankment.
MPs ferried by a fleet of rickshaws to meet their constituents in the queue.
A Lobby-counter, like a cricket scoreboard, will stand on a high platform in Victoria Gardens, Millbank, with a flashing light and a horn that parps every time another MP is lobbied.
Carnival costumes, giant mosquito puppets and a chinese-style 'GATS dragon' gobbling public services.

For further information contact:
Sarah Finch Trade Justice Movement
Patrick Nicholson CAFOD
Andrew Pendleton Christian Aid
Neil Verlander Friends of the Earth
Julia Tilford Oxfam
Dave Timms World Development Movement
Full programme on tradejusticemovement.org.uk
Suite 204, 16 Baldwin's Gardens, London EC1N 7RJ

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