PILLOW FIGHT FOR TRADE JUSTICE IN LONDON'S FINANCIAL CENTRE

Pyjama-wearing activists converged outside the Bank of England to stage a pillow fight on Tuesday evening. They encouraged rush-hour commuters to Wake Up to Trade Justice and pressure Tony Blair to end unfair trade rules that cause poverty in developing countries.

"I thought it was great fun and highlighted a really important issue," said a Jenny Stephens, a London artist who participated.

Oxfam campaigner Paola Pagliarin says, "It's a scandal that the unfair trade system robs developing countries of $1.3 billion a day - 14 times what they receive in aid. By holding a pillow fight in the heart of the City I hope we have inspired the public to take action on this crucial issue."

The event is part of the Global Week of Action on trade justice ahead of a G8 meeting in Scotland this year. G8 Leaders have promised that poverty will be at the top of the agenda of the July meeting but campaigners are worried
that the world's richest nations will not do enough to reform trade rules that penalise the world's poorest people.

The Week of Action in the UK will culminate in an all night vigil attended by thousands of people outside Downing Street on Friday 15 April.

Notes to editors:

1. As far as the organisers are aware, this is the first time a pillow fight
has been used as a form of political protest.

2. The Global Week of Action will be the biggest mobilisation yet on trade,
with events in every continent including all of the G8 countries. For more
information see www.april2005.org

Photographs by Lionel Harding