Press Release 
13 April 2005

Thousands to rally for justice in world trade 
Celebrities join campaigners and public for all-night carnival of music, art and protest

Thousands of people are expected to take part in Wake Up to Trade Justice - an all-night event in London this Friday - to call for trade justice not free trade. 

Spanning Westminster and Whitehall, the multi-venue event, organised by the Trade Justice Movement, takes in music, comedy, drama and inspirational speakers, and is the only mass protest during the election period.

Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke and solo artistes Ronan Keating and Beverley Knight will be among the big names joining with trade justice campaigners to demand an end to the injustice in world trade that keeps millions in poverty. 

Highlights of the night will include

• A star-studded gathering at Westminster Abbey, with public figures and celebrities from stage, screen and the music world.

• A 'Human White Band' around Parliament Square to represent the symbol of Make Poverty History, the massive anti-poverty campaign calling for trade justice with the Trade Justice Movement. 

• The biggest ever candle-lit vigil on world poverty, in Whitehall, with a minute's silence at midnight to mark the millions of lives being destroyed worldwide by unfair trade laws.

• Entertainment through the night with a club night at Leicester Square's Marquee Club, (featuring Nitin Sawhney and DJ Bobby Friction), Trade justice cinemas at the Odeon Panton Street, Vue West End and Methodist Central Hall showing free films, and a comedy night with Robert Newman headlining.

• All-night cafes and a fleet of free rickshaws linking the venues.
  

Glen Tarman, Trade Justice Movement coordinator, said: 

"It's going to be a very special night. We're urging everyone who cares about world poverty and the environment to come and join us - whether at Westminster Abbey at ten o'clock, at midnight in Whitehall for the vigil, or right through the whole night. 

"Politicians will only act when we demonstrate that the British public have had enough of the way global trade is run in our name to benefit rich countries and hurt poor ones. With their election campaigns currently focussing on domestic issues, this is a wake-up call to the political leaders of all parties. Words are never enough. They must all now act urgently to end the injustice in trade that is devastating millions of lives and destroying our planet."

Wake Up to Trade Justice is part of the Global Week of Action on trade, which sees events and protests in over 80 countries worldwide, as well as across the UK: 

ENDS

For further information:
Sarah Finch, Trade Justice Movement 
 

 

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