A packed audience celebrated the launch of Global Justice Reading on 6th March. The Mayor of Reading, Cllr Tony Jones said he was very pleased to come and support the group as they are working on such fundamental and far-reaching issues that effect people in the UK as well as across the world.
Guy Taylor, trade campaigner from Global Justice Now said, “Everyone should know that the EU and America are negotiating the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) in secret, a deal that would give American companies the right to sue the UK government if it makes a law which stops them making profits. This could mean that we will get chlorine-washed chicken and hormone fed-beaf in our shops like they do in America; it could mean that instead of companies having to prove that their products are safe before they can sell them, as is the case in the UK at present, they could sell them to us ‘until they are proved to be dangerous’, as is the case in America.” Guy said over one million people have already signed the e-petition to stop TTIP but the aim now is to get 2 million signatures.
Helen Palmer said, ‘It is one of the best meetings I have been to. Guy was a brilliant speaker and there were some very thought provoking questions from the floor.’
The launch was concluded with a celebratory reception of Fair Trade cakes, wine and juices.
