In response to their request for the County Council's support for a series of events in Oxford to promote the campaign, Councillor Keith Mitchell, Leader of the Council, told them that they "might find consistent support in the Letters column of the Guardian." He alleged: "Opponents of the World Trade Organisation have secured an unenviable reputation for wholly unacceptable levels of violence during [World Trade Organisation] events.

In these circumstances, I think I can assure you that, while a few of [the Conservative] Group members might feel some sympathy for a small number of your objectives, they would collectively be opposed to just about everything you represent."

The coalition, consisting entirely of groups committed to non-violence, has received a number of letters of support from County Councillors taking a very different view from Cllr. Mitchell. Dona Velluti, spokesperson for the Oxford Trade Justice Coalition, said:

"We are disappointed by Cllr. Mitchell's ill-informed comments. In a world in which a child dies unnecessarily somewhere in the world every 2.4 seconds, we urgently need reform of the international institutions which govern the way the world is run. Our campaign seeks to stimulate debate on issues of widespread public concern: improving democratic representation in international bodies, regulating the conduct of multinational businesses, protecting the environment, and upholding human rights."

Forthcoming events organised by the Coalition include a series of public talks throughout September, and on 13th September there will be a march from Manzil way, culminating in a rally and street festival on Broad Street.

** Ends **

For further info – contact:
Julieanne Porter, 01865 772 737, email:  jporter@aebbas.freeserve.co.uk or
Sarah Joseph, 01865 557 501, email:  Sarahjjj@aol.com


Notes for editors

The Oxford Trade Justice Coalition includes: Oxfam, Friends of the Earth, Christian Concern for One World, Oxford Quakers, the Campaign to Close Campsfield, Brazil Solidarity, Peru Support, the Fairtrade Coalition, the Oxford World Development Movement Group, the West Papua Rights Campaign, Globalise Resistance, Oxfordshire Green Party, Amicus-MSF (Oxford General & Publishing Branch) and the Trades Council.