Global Justice Manchester

Events

Laters!

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As you probably know, we are “resting” the group pending the growth of new shoots. (“Putting to sleep” sounds too veterinary / sinister.) Stephen aspires to move to Sheffield in the new year for family reasons and our ethos has been that collective ways of working were preferable.

However this does NOT mean Global Justice need cease to be a strategically important voice in the Greater Manchester. We encourage you not only to take actions as an individual but to claim them as GJ actions, strategically introducing people to the organisation that provides not only important levers for change but high quality research which is listened to and sought by parliamentary committees, national and international media, and the like.

We also encourage you to actively seek partners and to support others with kindred concerns and ethos. We’ve gained far greater impact through this, both in terms of bods on the street and authority in argument. Thanks to our comrades pictured herein. Collaboration works.

And we encourage you to (re)form as an organic Manchester group as having that local identity opens doors and gives opportunities to speak. As an individual you can’t claim an audience with any MP other than your constituency’s; as a Manchester group you can, claiming (with some justification if you’ve spoken with people in the area) to give voice to local concerns.

This may seem a little intimidating at first, but you can gain experience with others and support from GJN.

So, at the risk of boring or being felt to boast here are some pics. of our activities over the last 16 or so years showing the sort of thing you can do to get an image for a post and arrest attention. You may recognise yourself, friends or local scenes and politicians herein.

As Wellington’s motto has it: Virtutis Fortuna Comes- Fortune favours the bold!

And as the young say: “(Siya) laters!

If you are interested in helping out on Global Justice Now campaigns in Manchester, even if only occasionally, please let Guy Taylor at the GJN office know: guy.taylor@globaljustice.org.uk

P.S. Does anyone know the whereabouts of the massive white rip-stop nylon Climate Change Kills banner (now with WDM logo cut off) in its blue mail sack?

This is the big one

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It is now widely recognised that we are experiencing a Global heating emergency (94% of the UK population now back a carbon tax). It is less well recognised in countries like our own that the effects of climate change will be unequally distributed and that those who have done the least to cause the crisis will often be those who suffer most. On Saturday November 6th, people from across the world will be demanding that politicians and corporate bosses deliver climate justice. Many will be going to Glasgow to make their presence felt at the COP26 meeting. Others will be protesting wherever they are. Manchester is one of the local hubs for co-ordinated demonstrations across the UK.

 

COP26 will convene in Glasgow from 1st – 12th November. It is here that world leaders will decide global climate policy and hence the future of the human race. We must abandon the hydrocarbon economy on which our civilisation is based and substitute cleaner and more equitable energy sources. Currently international commitments are still below those necessary to avert climate breakdown. Meanwhile, the UK Government, host to the conference, is making much of its green credentials. But at the same time, it is pursuing policies such as the promotion of fossil fuel projects and gigantic cuts to overseas aid, which will undermine efforts for a safe transition.

 

Please turn out in St Peters Square on November 6th to show your concern

Assemble and march 12.00

Rally 3.00pm

September Programme

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If you want to join us in any of these actions, please email us at globaljusticemanchester@fastmail.fm

Wednesday 15th September we will be delivering public letters to Banks in Spinningfields, calling for the cancellation of debts owed by countries hit by the covid pandemic. Some of the poorest countries have been worst hit, and debts have mounted as the global economy has been on hold. These countries will need all the resources they can muster to tackle the climate crisis.

Email globaljusticemanchester@fastmail.fm if you want to campaign on debt cancellation

Saturday 18th September we will be taking part in the Day of Action: Corporate Courts vs. the Climate. In the morning, there will be brief photo opportunities outside several corporate law firms, and a stall in St. Anne’s Square. There might also be pickets at Shell petrol stations. We are demanding that the UK withdraw from the Energy Charter Treaty, remove corporate courts from the current Canada deal, and abandon moves to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

At 5.30pm Global Justice Now are holding a webinar Corporate courts – communities fight back . Speakers from Bolivia, Italy, and Argentina will relate how people across the Globe are resisting the ISDS corporate court system, to defend their environment and communities.

Find out more about our campaign against corporate courts from globaljusticemanchester@fastmail.fm

Friday 24th September from 12.00-14.00, we will be supporting the youth strikers in St Peter’s Square, as they rally to save the planet.

Sunday 3rd October we will be joining the Climate Justice bloc at the Conservative Party Conference demo.

Email globaljusticemanchester@fastmail.fm to find out more, or join in

Who are COVAX, Gavi and Cepi?

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To judge from some press releases, the vaccine needs of the world’s poor are being met by COVAX, Gavi and Cepi, but behind swish websites who are they?

The World Health Organisation’s COVAX program “working for global equitable access” trumpets “With a fast-moving pandemic, no one is safe, unless everyone is safe”.

However it is perhaps telling that the WEF last September described it thus:

  • COVAX aims to ensure all countries have access to a safe, effective vaccine.
  • Richer countries gain access to a portfolio of potential vaccines, avoiding the risk of
    backing any one candidate.
  • Lower income countries get financial support and equal access to a vaccine once
    available. (My italics!)

Hmmmm….. Charity, not equality!

Co-led by Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the WHO, the scheme is a partnership with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and UNICEF.

CEPI describes itself as another “…global partnership between public, private, philanthropic, and civil society organisations”. It was launched at the World Economic Forum in Davos four years ago and attracted funds for research from governments and trusts. Established in the wake of the Ebola epidemic where there had been competition for access to vaccine, CEPI originally demanded affordable pricing of vaccines, transparency and sharing of data from all those who had benefitted from its funds.

However, under pressure from pharmaceutical corporations (primarily Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer, but with unnamed parties threatening non-cooperation), these policies were ditched in 2018 bringing protest from Médecins Sans Frontières.

Gavi, (officially “Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance”, originally the “Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization”) was established in 2000. It is co-chaired by Bill Gates, and claims to have already helped vaccinate 822m children in the world’s poorest countries against other diseases. It asserts: “…Gavi pools country demand, guarantees long-term, predictable funding and brings down prices”.

Laudable, but a decade ago it was likewise criticised by MSF for failing to push down prices and favouring new drugs rather than simpler health approaches. We thus see self-acknowledged public-private partnerships, supporting the political-economic status quo, with a high degree of effective control over access to pharmaceuticals by poor people and perhaps promoting a dependency modus operandi.

This may be unfair. It must be acknowledged that the Gates Foundation has funded the survival of many thousands of children. But it appears not to have supported a revolution or challenge to neo-colonial “pharmocracy”.

Gates’ humanitarian vision is impressive and has been communicated to millions; but it’s technological rather than political. Give this a couple of minutes and see if you agree.

I wonder what would happen were Melinda to wake up Bill one night and say: “Hey, Honey, I’ve been thinking about Microsoft’s mission statement- ‘empower every person and every organisation on the planet to achieve more’; let’s!”

— Stephen Pennells

Learn more about vaccine availability