Members of Oxford WDM joined their colleagues in Reading on a Barclays action.
Barclays Capital’s role in food speculation is driving up global food prices and leaving millions facing hunger and malnutrition. Barclays is the UK’s biggest player in food speculation and helps other financial players bet on hunger too.
On 28th May, Oxford members joined activists in Reading at an action at the Reading branch on Barclays. Members passed on information about the campaign to the branch manager, and handed out cards to customers explaining what the action was about. 
We also spoke to people on the street…
Food speculation pushes up prices of staple foods, such as rise, maize and wheat. The has an catastrophic impact for the world’s poor, who spend most of their income on food. This leads to:
- Increased hunger as food becomes unaffordable.
- Malnutrition as less dairy, meat, fruit and vegetables are eaten in order to afford staple food.
- Increased burden on women to earn more money by taking up risky employment such as sex workers or domestic workers.
- Households using up savings, going into debt or selling assets to pay for food.
- Families being unable to afford healthcare and education as more of their income is needed to buy basic food.
Join us in taking action. Email the Treasury now asking it to support strong and effective regulation to stop food speculation.
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