To mark May Day , a small group of nonviolent, creative activists calling themselves WAFFLE? (Why are Auditing Firms Forming Lobbying Enterprises?) targeted three of the ‘Big Five’ auditing firms represented in London – Accenture,(formerly part of Arthur Anderson), KPMG, and PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC)

As part of the May Day Monopoly theme, the activists from 11 to 2pm, dressed as over-sized game cards played the game in and around the corporations lobbies. Community request cards were presented to representatives of the companies concerned explaining what these firms had been singled out for:

1. their backdoor involvement with other large corporations well known for their abuse of environmental, social and human rights issues eg Shell, BP, Balfour Beatty
2. use of privileged access to the UK Government in order to influence legislation
3. their central role through secretive lobby groups in the international push for corporate globalisation
4. misleading the general public, financial community and government officials by claiming to be ‘independent’ advisors and consultants.

More detailed information on all of these points can be obtained from  corporatewaffle@hotmail.com

The protests managed to take place peacefully and non-violently despite continued harrassment by police throughout the day.