People gathered in the park next to the Imperial War museum on a beautiful sunny day. Volunteer stewards and private security stewards were briefed by police on security issues re terrorism and procedures for evacuating areas of london while last minute touches were made to the carnival floats.

The amount of colour and vibrancy was impressive, many people dressing in line with the themes of their respective NGO's (the event had mostly been promoted to members of the NGOs involved). Organisers were a bit pissed off with SWP folk handing out leaflets (they'd set up stalls either side of the park), mostly anti-war flyers, as participating groups had agreed not to flood the event with anti-war info in an effort to keep the message of the event as clear and simple as possible. Minor excitement was provided by an electrical fire on one of the floats.

Moving off several floats had sound systems and there was a small samba type band and other groups of African and Caribbean drummers providing energy. The parade was made up of sections each well themed to make the overall march really colourful and impressive, and there were lots and lots of small children and grandparents. Each section took on handing out leaflets and flyers to onlookers and were well recieved by locals and tourists alike.

CAFOD had a converted milk float with a large 'Wheel of Fortune' (90% rich, 10% poor) with a banner reading 'Who's Spinning? Who's Winning?' and focussed on trade rules and food security.

Christian Aid's pirate ship at the rear of the march represented the plundering of the poor by trade rules.

Fairtrade folk handed out free smaples (even to the police - chocolate a favourite) and were also promoting Fair Trade Week (4-17th March 2002) while Friends of the Earth formed a 'green bloc' with a 'forest' of green flags symbolising sustainability, equity and security.

Oxfam had cycle rickshaws and concentrated on poor countries lack of access to expensive medicine (esp in relation to HIV/AIDS, maleria and tuberculosis) and had a whole group of people dressed in white doctors coats with props giving out spoof pill bottles.

People and Planet had a hand pulled bright orange 'fat cat' complete with techno sound system, Save the Children had a great children's choir, Tradecraft a giant earth balloon pulled by rickshaw, World Development Movement concentrated on GATS and there were a whole host of other NGO's and other theatrical street stuff including a large WTO snake monster (attacking poor countries), FT reading stiltwalking capitalists, jugglers and a myriad of home made props, banners and signs.

The march made its way over westminster bridge, past parliament and downing street and ended at trafalger square, where a minutes silance for all the victims of the currect 'war' was held. There were also speaches, with the trade justice speaker reminding the crowd that they are just the UK's Trade Justice Movement, and that there are similar movements across the world:

Naomi Klein, author of 'No Logo', went through the 'a few years ago these unaccountable organisationes used to meet almost unheard of' history, then went on the highlight the ongoing criminalisation of the anti-globalisation movement before pointing out how the US is now realigning the trade issue with the current 'war', saying that free trade is required for security and peace. She finished by saying that the WTO meeting in Qatar (the only place willing to host the next meeting) has provided a great opportunity for the movement to localise struggles.

Ed Sweeney, UNIFI Gen Sec and Chair of TUC International Development Group, praised the demonstration and said the TUC were very happy to provide support as the WTO has been putting the needs of business before everything else and that now the time has come to share with the poor. He pointed out that with all the technological advances we have, the goal of sustainability is not beyond us, but that it just requires the political will - something currently missing. Reflecting on the trade unions history of international solidarity he called for a similar level of solidarity between groups across the world campaigning for fairer trade and said that the time for such a movement has come.

Sergio Cobo, of Fomento (Mexican grassroots org), pointed out that in the west people often accuse the anti-globalisation movement of being made up of white middle class folk, but that this was just not true. He went on to tell stories from his home in Mexico about the negative effect of the NAFTA trade treaty and said that communities there had been resisting and protesting. With regard to the forthcoming WTO meeting in Qatar he said we are not against globalisation, just against this sort of globalisation - which he called global colonialisation, going on to say the most important goal is to change the WTO trade rules.

At around 4pm after the speaches, there was an opportunity for the crowd to 'take action', by unfurling a massive 15m square banner over their heads (reading 'Make World Trade Work For The Whole World') and pose for a photograph which would be presented to Patricia Hewitt, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, in a forthcoming meeting. It was also reported that the Trade Justice postcard campaign in advance of the next WTO meeting had seen the uk gov recieve over 30,000 postcards!


Full list of participating NGOs:

ActionAid , Baby Milk Action , Banana Link , CAFOD, Christian Aid, The Fairtrade Foundation, Friends of the Earth, Intermediate Technology Development Group, National Federation of Women's Institutes, Oxfam, People & Planet, Save the Children, SCIAF, SPEAK, Tearfund, Traidcraft, War on Want, Women's Environmental Network and World Development Movement.

Trade Justice Movement website at:  http://www.tradejusticemovement.org


TRADE JUSTICE PRESS RELEASE
Wednesday 31st October 2001
MASS PARADE CALLS FOR TRADE JUSTICE

Speaking before the Parade, Marlene Barrett, spokesperson for the Trade Justice Movement, said: “World trade is governed by rich countries who protect their own interests at the expense of the world’s poor. We hope the Trade Justice Parade sends a clear message to Britain’s Trade Minister Patricia Hewitt that British people want to see a trade system that benefits the whole world. Fairer and greener trade rules can help make the world a safer place.”

Naomi Klein said:
“The challenge for social justice movements is to connect economic inequality with the security concerns that now grip us all - insisting that justice and equality are the most sustainable strategies against violence and fundamentalism.”

Sergio Cobo said:
“People who live in rich countries count for only 20 per cent of the world's population, yet they get most of the fruits from globalisation. The world's poor, who count for 80 per cent, receive nothing. Is this really the type of globalisation we want? Let's globalise the struggle; let's globalise hope. We want to make trade work for all.”

Ed Sweeney said:
“The WTO cannot carry on business as usual without undermining fundamental human rights. This Procession and the Global Unions Day of Action on the 9th give expression to the widely held view that international trade must benefit all and not just a few. The Doha meeting presents governments with an opportunity to demonstrate the will to construct an international trading system that puts people first, an opportunity not to be squandered.”

(very little newspaper coverage, a small para in sunday observer, ch4 saturday news covered it though - it seemed to get more coverage in advance of the event - here's a few links anyway)

Ch 4 News:
New era for world trade?
Broadcast: November 3, 2001
Thousands of protestors gathered in central London today to call for fairer international trade rules. They were hoping to influence the government as it prepares to take part in the next meeting of the World Trade Organisation, due to begin next week in Doha - capital of the middle eastern state of Qatar....
 http://www.channel4.co.uk/news/home/20011103/Story04.htm
Video at:  http://www.channel4.co.uk/news/home/20011103/4thom.ram

Irish Times (from AFP):
03-11-01, 20:05
Thousands of protesters staged a demonstration in London this afternoon to call for fairer trade practices ahead of next week's World Trade Organisation conference in Doha, Qatar. The protest, organised by the Trade Justice Movement, ended in Trafalgar Square in the centre of the capital. Police, estimated 2,000 peaceful protesters took part, while organisers said the figure was 7,000.
 http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2001/1103/breaking45.htm

BBC:
Saturday, 3 November, 2001, 06:14 GMT
Protest calls for fairer trade
Thousands of protesters are expected to gather in central London on Saturday to call for new regulations governing global trade...
 http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/england/newsid_1635000/1635683.stm

Also see related article from BBC 'a new approach comes as the protest movement is rethinking its reliance on mass demonstrations':

Friday, 2 November, 2001, 18:43 GMT
Trade protestors change tack
Trade campaigners have adopted a new approach to the global trade talks due to start in Doha, Qatar next week...
 http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/business/newsid_1634000/1634401.stm

Great account of what took place on Sunday. The trade justice parade really did have a carnival atmosphere and was fun for all ages. I took my 1 year old and he thought it was fantastic. So much to see and respond to.

He had his eye on the large Traidcraft balloon and Friends of the Earth flags but was content to wave the more manageable Christian Aid flags. He loved the music and the excitement of everyone in Trafalgar Square. He even clapped in all the right places at the speeches. All in all a wonderful day with the only downside being the coach trip!

I found it quite amusing that policeman surrounded the entrance of the single MacDonalds on the route. They obviously didn't believe that it would be a peaceful protest. I just hope that its serious message is not ignored just because it was without violence.

Hmm...looks like a pretty cool and colourful event.
Shame about the fuckin dead-end reformist politics
of pro-capitalist, personality disordered,
state-sponsored puppets like Klien et al.

after sep 11 capitalism is going to become more nasty which means the fight against it is going to be more nasty. at this point you can see the start of the softies in the anti-cap movement who are not in for the long haul. when the milk is chern up it split the curn from the way. (sorry about the spelling)