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NEWSLETTER April 2009 Website:
www.wtj.org.uk GO
TO THE MEETING ON 22 APRIL IN PENSBY TO HEAR CHRIS MULHEARN SPEAKING
ABOUT THE OUTCOME OF THE G20 SUMMIT!!!!!!!!!!!! SEE PAGE 4 . Our march and the G20 meeting on 2 April It was a great turn out from all over the UK and even further afield for the Put People First March for Jobs, Justice, Climate. The police estimated thirty-five thousand of us marched peacefully through London on 28 March. That’s a strong, clear signal, calling for a radical break with the failures of the unfettered free market. Committee members John Eardley, Jack Heery and Jill Loach (accompanied by her husband, Graham) added the voice of Wirral Trade Justice to the clamour for justice for the developing world. Did we do any good? Well, we certainly didn’t do any harm! You have no doubt all
been reading about the agreements reached in London on 2 April. Whether
we’ve fully understood the significance of the what the world’s
leaders said and did is another matter.
Some comments have been very positive, others less so, but there
seems to be a general consensus that the problems of the developing
world were properly addressed and that commitments were made which would
have been inconceivable just a few years ago.
Here are a few quotes and you’ll be able to look at the issues
in more depth if you go to the websites: ‘Today’s crucial G20 talks have promised a huge rescue package for
the global economy, but the promise must be kept. The G20 have agreed an
unprecedented boost for poor countries. If they follow through on these
promises, the money they have agreed today will go a long way towards
helping these countries weather the effects of the economic storms that
are daily battering the poorest people in the world.
The money must be linked to reforms of the IMF and the World
Bank. The G20 have
announced that they will accelerate reforms of the bank and the IMF.
This is more important now than it has ever been, since the
announcements today effectively put these institutions in charge of a
huge global fiscal stimulus. These promises must be kept and poor
countries must be given an equal say in the institutions that now hold
the world’s chequebook.’ ActionAid ‘There
is one rule for the rich and one for the poor. With this G20 package
rich countries are able to use the money to stimulate their economy in
the way in which they see fit. This
is still not the case for poor countries.
Their money is still linked to good governance as stipulated by
the World Bank and IMF. If market fundamentalism is dead why aren’t the G20 dancing
on its grave? Where is their commitment to breaking with the old ties in
order to build a better system that puts the poorest first? Regulation
of the shadow banking system is welcomed. But looking at it through the
lens of a poor country it is unclear as to whether the proposals will
really empower them to halt the financial flows out of their countries.
Democratic discussion on the future of the international architecture
has been dealt another blow. There is no mention of the forthcoming UN
Conference in May, on the global and financial economic crisis and its
impact on development.’ CAFOD ‘G20
leaders including Gordon Brown deserve credit for putting tax havens
firmly on the international agenda and boosting resources for developing
countries. Tax-dodging
costs developing countries at least $160 billion a year – far more
than they receive in aid – and so tackling the crisis has the
potential to unlock massive beneifts for the poor. Christian Aid also cautiously welcomes the G20’s decision
dramatically to increase IMF funds available to developing countries.’
Christian Aid Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) are formal bilateral trade agreements which are being made between the European Union (EU) and 76 African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries. EPAs are filling the vacuum left when the World Trade Organisation (WTO) talks (the Doha Round or Development Round) collapsed last in July 2008. Many fear that these negotiations will lead to the ACP countries being bullied into accepting conditions which will not be to their advantage. We discussed the whole question at the AGM and decided to pass this resolution and send it to local MPs and MEPs: “To all Wirral MPs and MEPs “ECONOMIC
PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS This
Annual General Meeting of Wirral Trade Justice: 1. notes
with dismay the failure of the recent attempt to resurrect the Doha
Round, as a result of the refusal of wealthy nations to make reasonable
concessions on market access and other issues; 2. fears
that the imposition of bilateral
agreements on weaker economies will leave those poor countries even
worse off in consequence; 3. demands
that the UK government takes a leading role in persuading its European
and US partners to adopt softer policies both unilaterally and in the
World Trade Organisation; 4. calls on all Wirral MPs and MEPs to demonstrate their commitment to fairness and justice in international trade relations by publicly questioning the imposition of Economic Partnership Agreements and seeking assurances from relevant ministers and commissioners that such agreements will be concluded only with the informed and full-hearted consent of the partner countries.” I should be grateful to hear from you that you can concur
with the thrust of this resolution and that you will do all in your
power to further the cause of trade justice in international trade
rules.” To date we have had very positive letters from Angela Eagle,
Ben Chapman and Frank Field and particularly from Arlene McCarthy, our
MEP, who has indicated that much of what we are asking for is supported
by a large proportion of all MEPs .
They will wield considerable influence when final decisions are
being made. There is
certainly cause to hope that the worst forecasts will not be realised.
Why not write to Arlene or your MP to follow up this
correspondence and keep the pressure on? It seems a long time ago since the AGM last October, which
was well-attended with about 40 members present After the formal business, when the accounts were adopted and
your committee was re-elected, we showed the documentary film “The
Great African Scandal”. This
suggests that we are all (and
that means YOU!) part of the exploitation of the African
continent. Alasdair Roxborough,
of Christian Aid, led an interesting discussion afterwards.
Alasdair has visited Christian Aid partners in the former Soviet
state of Tajikistan. Our membership stands at around 250 paid-up members, plus a number of parishes and other organisations who have taken corporate membership for £5. Why not get your J&P Group to become a member or your parish or your club or any group that you belong to? We will gladly send a speaker to talk about the objective of Wirral Trade Justice and to try to spread the message. One of our members has recently signed up her trade union colleagues and this is obviously a fruitful source of new recruits. When we talk to the media or to MPs or councillors about what we do, the size of our paid-up membership list means that we can often punch above our weight. Have you asked other members of your family yet? It’s a good conversational point to raise the plight of poor countries especially when you're enjoying a satisfying meal. Aunts and uncles, nephews and nieces, cousins and grand-children may want to join us when they learn what we do and what the issues are. Our new brochure will be available at the meeting on 22 April and you can get as many as you need to continue spreading the word.
Visit our website: www.wtj.org WHAT
HAPPENED AT THE G20? WTJ has organised a meeting to learn whether the decisions of the G20 summit on 2 April will do anything to eliminate trading practices which are unfair to developing nations. SPEAKER:
DR CHRIS MULHEARN "CAN
THE DEVELOPING WORLD SURVIVE THE CREDIT CRUNCH?" ST
MICHAEL'S HALL, GILLS LANE, PENSBY, CH61 1AF WEDNESDAY
22 APRIL 2009 7.30pm >>>>>>>FAIRTRADE
STALL<<<<<<< For
information ring Jack Heery 648 1930 or email jackheery@phonecoop.coop Printed and published by Jack Heery, 10 Marlfield Lane, Wirral, CH61 1AJ. |
