Global Justice Manchester

Online Public Meeting Tuesday 19th May @ 6.30pm

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We are organising an on online webinar to explore the effects of COVID-19 on global poverty, with a particular emphasis on international debt. Speakers will include:

Eva Wilkinson (Jubilee Debt Campaign) will talk about the pre-existing Debt Crisis, how the emergency has been exacerbated, the initial NGO challenge to G20 and International Financial Institutions’ responses, and future threats relating to debt.

Dotty Guerrero (Global Justice Now) will examine broader economic issues threatening a sustainable future that are often overlooked by our media.

Greater Manchester has links with communities around the world and a long history of challenging economic injustice; what can we do in Manchester and wherever we are now?

The pandemic is hitting the poorest hardest and threatens to increase inequalities. As the initial shock of the pandemic passes fundamental decisions are being taken which have long-term implications with scant regard for justice and democratic accountability.

As secret trade talks get underway again what sort of economy is proposed for the UK, and how will it hit people here and in the Global South?

If you want to attend, email us

globaljusticenow@fastmail.com

and we’ll send you a link to the meeting

An Introduction to Climate Justice- An interesting evening locked in

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Global Justice Now is making the best of the lockdown to educate activists in issues that otherwise might be dealt with by speakers or briefings. This is being achieved by Zoom “webinars” under the umbrella “Coronavirus, capitalism and inequality” which are free.

They started a couple of weeks ago with speakers (including one calling in from lock-down in India) in lieu of the 50th. anniversary conference and it attracted a couple of hundred. This meant it was impracticable to do much more than be talked at by the virtual “panel”- though we could submit questions to the coordinating chair and post comments or direct messages to other members of the audience through the typed “chat” facility.

On Weds. 15th Apr. they took it in a different direction with a session as an introduction to Climate Justice. I signed up, expecting something akin to my former experience and instead found that I was the oldest person there (perhaps by 25-30 years!), and that the majority of the 15 or so participants (at least one calling from abroad) were BAME and female.

In fact it turned out that although Sam Lund-Harket was participating, it wasn’t his show and the event was put on by the London Global Justice Youth Network facilitated by the Youth Activism team.

They used a wider range of facilities than previously, repeatedly directing people to move to organised virtual “breakout rooms” to discuss topics, and undertake activities including watching video together. The facilitators could electronically bring people back so there was less time lost moving chairs than would be the case in an incarnate event, and they were also able to share screens so at one stage we were asked to write onto a Venn Diagram.

It was an interesting event- not just because of the technical wizardry and brisk pace, but also because of the ability to bring different activities to play.

However technical problems, as so often, have to be born with. Although you can record, chat, pass notes et al, you and all participants are at the mercy of bandwidth congestion, technical breakdown, people forgetting to mute themselves, poor audibility and feedback, and different levels of confidence and competence with the software. I don’t regard myself as dim, though neither am I a “techie”, when asked to write on the Venn diagram I couldn’t find the tools and my machine ground ever slower. So I gave up at one point, logged out and back in and it picked up again. By the end it wasn’t worth trying to communicate.

More interesting questions hit me: why are we leaving “Climate Justice” to the Youth Network – especially with the COP, deferred perhaps, but ever more urgent.

Secondly, why was there nothing said about networking with other campaigning bodies (beyond a brief mention of XR)? Perhaps all the participants (who identified themselves as “activists”) weren’t involved in the “I Count” campaign and working with others to achieve the tightening of the Climate Act 2008.

Thirdly and relatedly, there was no mention of the work of other NGOs who have a strong record of campaigning in this area and putting bodies at lobbies and cards in MPs pigeon holes. I’m thinking particularly of Cafod, Christian Aid, Tearfund and Islamic Relief. Is this a reflection on the secularism of many young people, and the aging of many people of faith?

And fourthly, although lots of the conventional “wisdoms of the woke” relating to capitalism and colonialism were rehearsed (now we know where those stickers came from!), we didn’t move on to consider the real threat from the trade deals being hatched up on the quiet and out of view as you read this…. but that’s something for another week!

Next Thursday at 13.00 BST they are running another webinar in the series: ”Women on the front line of the crisis”. As a bloke of a certain age I’ve signed up for enlightenment – why not join us? To pre-book, so you get sent the link and can join, visit https://www.globaljustice.org.uk/events/webinar-women-front-line-crisis

Stephen

“Faces of Protest Climate Strike” by barbarakoester is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

APR

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Getting the threat of TrumpinYourTrolley out to those not in our networks

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As the government steams full ahead to achieve the trade situation it wants there seem to have been daily headlines saying one thing and another- often conflicting and yet perhaps all part of a “great game” to distract protesting activists away from profound issues, allowing them to feel satisfied with peripheral items, sacrificed for the greater gain.

One distraction may be the squabble over “Chlorinated chicken”- the washing of slaughtered poultry in weak solutions of the chemical used widely in swimming pools. (Peracitic acid is also being used as an antimicrobial wash.)

Daily it seems there are clear and indignant protestations from members of the government that there will be no weakening of food and animal welfare standards and certainly no chlorine washed chicken; yet, as if in a ping-pong game, senior figures in the US continue to insist on its acceptance, not only in the UK, but across Europe.

Although there are perhaps more far-reaching and reliable issues we can challenge, food is an emotive issue and for many people the implications for animal welfare are also extremely important. This should make them sit up and pay attention to messages about things they are not usually interested in. So it makes sense to still exploit silly images of chicken suits, placards and props.

However we should also make sure we explain that the issue is far wider by pointing to other consumer issues that people may relate to more such as cosmetics, petro-chemical uses, mining degradation of the environment, air and water standards.

And let’s not forget issues such as Genetically Modified / Engineered foods (and keep an eye and ear open for related euphemisms such as “Synthetic Biology”, used on Radio 4 on the 8th Feb) and the wholesale harvesting and export of data – both metadata on our internet use when we click on a “Yes” at a new website, and also the confidential medical data the NHS holds on us and our families. This, it is reported, is exported to the US where it can be sold to commercial interests in Big Pharma to develop treatments that will be sold back to the NHS in a developing era/market of bespoke designer medicines and interventions. (Of course this focus will also take efforts away from developing responses to then needs of the poor.)

But in the meantime, we have been using the “Trump Selection” materials to draw attention to the #TrumpinYourTrolley website and action card. In recent weeks boxes (containing the card) have been left in trolleys outside supermarkets.

Wishing to spread Tesco’s corporate cheer a few boxes were donated to a car-park tree where they could attract the attention of admirers.

Occasionally boxes have been left on the shelf where there is a space amongst similar lines (boxed/ bubble wrapped Chicken portions and packets of easy-cook rice or vegetables for children). These have been photographed and shared through twitter, trying to point out the incongruity of the spoof line with what is currently on offer- the target isn’t the supermarkets.

Last week we went out again, this time moving up-market to Morrisons in Chorlton. This had virtually no staff restocking shelves (in contrast to some high turnover/ low volume convenience stores it the city centre) and we experienced no challenges from security staff as we transferred boxes from a carrier to basket and thence to shelves and chiller cabinet. One only needs a couple of boxes, and as elsewhere the shelf-labels provided proved unusable with the fittings in the shop

This is an easy action to take and you don’t have to be James Bond! If you feel unconfident, photos can also be staged in public spaces using props and situations that are provided.

Examples used and tweeted include the Gandhi statue and graffiti- people can be drawn to these by use of hash-tags, but of course they don’t have the immediate tie in of a card to send with its explanation.

If you fancy doing your own bit of campaigning in your local area and supermarkets, contact offleyroad@globaljustice.org.uk and they will send what you need or contact globaljusticemanchester@fastmail.com and we’ll come to do it with you. As the weather improves why not join together for a market stall promoting the new line to the public- perhaps at Levy Market? Why not find a supermarket trolley, get a Trump Mask, red tie and blue suit and stage a photo with him in the trolley dispensing “goodies”?

Global Justice Manchester at Stockport Fair Trade Fair

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We had our stall out again this month, campaigning to alert people to the dangers of a post-Brexit trade deal with the US and enjoying the sounds of a steel band and a community choir.

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Manchester Community Choir performing at Stockport Fair Trade Fair

Obituary, Brian Hepworth 1950 – 2019

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Brian Hepworth was a member of our local group “South Manchester WDM” having joined us by signing up in 2014 on the 191122_Brian Hepworth TTIP outside UnicornYahoo group we used then. He came at the suggestion of a friend (Tom Skinner) and was initially apologetic for his age (then 64) as he was older than most activists he knew.

Age however never stopped his enthusiasm, nor jaded with cynicism his passion to put things right in the world.

Brian had a bumpy life. He carried the emotional scars of being separated from his family and this was doubly poignant as his childhood had been blighted by the removal of his mother. He found solace in a developed circle of friends around the world, some of whom he had met through churches, some through causes, some through the internet. (Talking with him in his last fortnight one was “paused” when his mobile brought someone calling from SE Asia to his flat on the Chester Road in Stretford. The call developed into his helping them rather than being a passive recipient of pity.)

Brian had come to Christian faith when in Bristol and this orientated the way he looked at the world and led him to be outward looking when he could easily have retreated into himself. However he wasn’t content with staying in a cosy huddle and this led to his involvement with many secular organisations and causes where he saw injustice being tackled. Some (like GJN) tackle worldwide issues, others more local such as those campaigning on homelessness or fracking.

He also had traveled widely on limited budgets and brought his memories of real experiences to support the campaigning that many of us do informed only by the proxy of NGO briefings or Guardian articles.

Living alone and on limited means he used PCs in the public library and a non-smartphone but informed himself by buying phrasebooks and atlases. Sometimes one might feel his ideas were strange- in his last weeks much of his flat was lined with aluminum foil to protect him from new generation mobile phone radiation. However he was no fool; despite having dropped out of university and worked much of his life as a bus-driver, he confidently engaged and built a reciprocally respectful relationship with his MP, Kate Green.

On the 24th. May 2019 he emailed telling of the ending of his chemotherapy. He was resigned to death and concluded:

“… I am still hopeful and comforted in the Lord. Thank you all for prayers and concerns. The Lord is good and praise Him! 

Brian”

His last substantial campaigning initiative was a race against time as he appreciated his days were numbered. Having worked as a bus driver for years and dying of lung cancer he felt a special burden to expose the damage caused by the particular emissions from idling buses at stops and depots. Having spoken with drivers and got nowhere with writing to TfGM, he tried to write to Andy Burnham. Defeated by his weakness stopping him concentrating at the computer, he agreed to recording a video message which we did and sent to the GM Mayor’s office.

There were delays and in desperation Brian gave permission the story to be shared with the M.E.N. which we did and resulted in publicity made all the more affecting by it’s appearing (with his family’s blessing) a week after he had died. This report can be seen here.

There are many lessons here for others who want to change the world for the better: build a civil and listening relationship with your political representatives, use your life experiences and contacts to inform your opinions and arguments, give more than you take, bring original insights to causes, do not be afraid of being outside the party line, and persist when you don’t get your message through.

It was a joy to see his last days comforted by the reconciliation and love shown by those he had been apart from for years.

Brian died at the end of July having known of his serious cancer for 18 months. His funeral, across the road from his flat, at St. Matthew’s Stretford (where he was a regular), brought to an end a life helping others. He leaves a former partner, daughter, granddaughter and friends around the world of many faiths and none.

Stephen Pennels

Save our NHS, StopISDS, stopping “Trade with Trump”, Climate Emergency and Brexit- all in the mix.

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I find it all too easy to get confused at the moment with so much stuff going on- and that’s not counting the domestic concerns like harvesting the apples or getting the paddy that was our lawn cut for the last time.

But perhaps that’s because a lot of these concerns are inter-related and one thing leads to another.

So when local GJN member Pia Feig, also a member of Keep our NHS Public, was putting together a public meeting with People’s Assembly’s “alternative Fringe” during the Conservative Party Conference she thought Global Justice might contribute. This led to Heidi Chow, being invited and speaking. Heidi was ideal as GJN’s senior campaigns manager and leading on the Pharmaceuticals campaign.

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We tweeted Heidi challenging other parties to follow Labour’s lead.

Her talk followed the news of Labour adopting a radical stance with respect to medicines and was entitled “Trading with Trump, what a trade deal will mean for the NHS and Trump”. It followed several activist NHS workers talking about their problems and campaigning where they work and developed people’s understanding of where things appear to be heading.

Heidi had already blogged on the threat to the NHS from American trade aspirations several months ago; she went further in Manchester, updating on the winds blowing to and fro with statements, push-back and denial (perhaps camouflaging under-the-table reformulation of ideas to be brought out later).

She pointed out the converging interests of a post-Brexit Brexiteer government eager to prove it can deliver a trade deal with the US and pressure on Trump to deliver “America First” trade deals as he comes up for reelection next year. Informal trade talks have been already going ahead and she believed it could be ready for signing as early as next July.

As trade deals normally take years one may feel this is likely to be a bit dynamic- simple horse-trading with quid pro quos rather than more careful considerations. The current loss of the Trade Bill with it’s pro-Trade Democracy amendments means the Government can strike and then bring a trade deal to Parliament for a take-it-or-leave-it decision as it has been accused of doing in respect to a “no deal Brexit”. This is in marked contrast to the existing EU system where the European Parliament is intimately involved in setting a mandate and continued scrutiny before voting. The Queen’s Speech contained nothing to dispel such fears.

A changed government (if Labour) might sink such schemes, but should a Tory Brexit happen, Heidi expected a UK-US trade deal very soon.

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Heidi explaining the threat of a Trump trade deal

She pointed out that traditional trade deals’ concerns over tariffs have been replaced by more extensive coverage of topics like “Intellectual property”, environmental regulation and access to public services and giving rights to foreign investors.

She went on to speak of the “negative listing” approach by which everything was up for trade (some might say “grabs”) that wasn’t specifically excluded. In the case of services for the NHS this ranges from portering, cleaning, and maintenance to clinical and testing- perhaps difficult for inexperienced non-hospital experienced trade negotiators to consider without leaving mistakes and loopholes. (Even sophisticated and experienced US negotiators had made about 1000 mistakes on such an exercise!)

The threat of US medicine prices hitting the NHS was no surprise to those of us who have been engaged in the GJN pharmaceuticals campaign. She saw Trump’s blaming the NHS for high medicines’ prices in the US as ridiculous when NICE here is having to ration medicines because of prices. The US explicitly wants high American prices to apply in the UK, thereby threatening the NHS’s work.

Beyond these immediate and more widely known threats she moved on to spell out the implication of corporate courts ( generically know as “Investor State Dispute Settlement”- ISDS). Although the US, already bitten by their rejection in the TTIP scheme, is not pushing these, our government hasn’t excluded them. This is despite their opening the door for massive drains on public healthcare funds, should claims be tabled objecting to healthcare-motivated policy decisions.

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Caroline Bedale of Keep our NHS Public showing a three-way link of NHS, Climate and Trade

But beyond these and more invisible is the threat posed by US corporate take-over of massive NHS data bases which could be transferred to the US and there mined to develop applications that can be sold back to the NHS providing it with diagnostics- not privatisation as usually understood, but nevertheless appropriation of NHS assets which will then be resold, ripping-off the NHS using its own resources; a more sophisticated 21st. century way corporate control can encroach on our NHS!

She said the US objected to any rules restricting cross-border data movement and wanted not only to take our data out of the UK, but then to keep their source code and algorithms.

When she had met Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary John Ashworth he hadn’t appreciate the probable implications of a trade deal with Trump- how much do most back-benchers unless we educate them?

Thanks are due to Heidi for an enlightening and inspiring talk- taking further even those who thought they were boned up on the subject. The only negative was that although those present were the sort of people who can be expected to go out and take the message to their communities and workplaces, we were a minute proportion of the Greater Manchester population who are at risk of these menaces.

The insidious influences of corporate lobbyists are constantly at work gently diffusing their world-view and norms into our society and decision makers’ thinking. To counter this we need to speak out now, whether it’s in relation to the NHS, other public services, the environment and dealing with the Climate Emergency, workers’ rights and conditions, food and chemical standards, animal rights or any one of any number of issues.

We need to speak loudly, clearly and repeatedly. Let’s do it!

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We took the message out to the site of Peterloo to generate publicity pictures, generated interest from passers by and were noticed and photographed by tourists.