Global week of action on trade: 10-16 April 2005

Martin Gordon, Christian Aid
on behalf of the Global Week of Action

January 2005

The main aims of the week is to challenge the free trade myth and to put forward our alternatives, to strengthen the already existing trade campaigns and to show the strength of the global movement, campaigning in solidarity.

Hundreds of organisations who are campaigning against bilateral treaties and agreements are already involved in ways that strengthen their existing campaigns. EPAs, FTAA, CAFTA etc will feature heavily in some of the campaigns during the week.

More information can be found on www.april2005.org. The site is constantly updated.


Global Week of Action on Trade - What has already been planned?

Overview - materials and website
 Events already planned in 40-60 countries. More info on www.april2005.org after the WSF
 150+ organisations have endorsed the call to action.
 40+ national contacts from 6 continents
 20,000+ of visits to the Global Week of Action website.
 50,000+ Action Guides, Worship Guides and postcards printed in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German and Bengali.

Americas
 Well attended seminar at the Americas Social Forum in July 2004.
 Hemispheric Social Alliance, Continental Campaign against ALCA, Jubilee South and Latin America Council of Churches (CLAI) all involved and planning events in up to 20 Latin American countries
 Cultural and educational events planned in Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica, and Peru
 US / Canada - Farmers tour, concerts, letter writing campaign with students.

Africa
 Seminar at the Africa Social Forum in December and the Southern Africa ecumenical consultation in November 2004, led to commitment to organise actions and events in about 15 African countries
 Zambia - 1 million signature petition on cotton underway
 Mozambique - focus on cotton
 Senegal - Week of cultural events with focus on agriculture and services
 Ghana - Chickens being sent to Parliament to highlight poultry issues as a result of IMF / WB conditions
 Kenya - farmers hearings.
 Activities planned in Mali, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone

Asia
 India - rallies are planned in every state (25+), alongside a nation-wide signature campaign.
Bangladesh - massive rally and nation-wide vote for trade justice.
 Sri Lanka - Bethan
 GWA national consultations planned in Philippines and Thailand.

Europe
 Significant promotion at the European Social Forum in October 2004
 UK - Major programme of local activities across the nation with an all night event, ‘Wake Up to Trade Justice’, on 15/16 April in central London
 Norway - a mass lobby of parliament planned for Friday 15.
 Denmark - a unfair football match, concert and public debate
 Germany - church services planned for Sunday 10, and events through the week cumulating in a giant protest towards the trade minister on Saturday 16
 Italy - events in every city during the week, finishing with a rally in Rome on Saturday 16
 Irish TJM - Grain march
 Brussels - group of NGOs is organising a funeral procession to the DG Trade on Thursday 14
 Geneva - WTO events planned inc press conference
 Events are also being planned in Sweden, Finland, - Belgium and the Netherlands.

Global
 Media pages planned on www.april2005.org to show events as they happen before and during the week.

source : Global Week of Action on Trade

Printed from: https://www.bilaterals.org/./?global-week-of-action-on-trade-10