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Alan Mawer: World Social Forum in Montreal, Quaker Meeting House, Reading from 7.30pm – 9.30pm on Tuesday 31st January 2017. The goal of the WSF 2016, 9-14 August 2016. was to gather tens of thousands of people from groups in civil society, organizations and social movements who want to build a sustainable and inclusive world, where every person and every people has its place and can make its voice heard. The festival of events and activities was the topic of Alan’s talk. It reminded us that the issues we deal with are international.

Jackie, Carol, Chris and John campaigned outside Waitrose in Caversham, Reading, on Sunday 13th November on blocking CETA. We had some considerable support from members of the public, some of whom thought it had been stopped by the Wolloonians in Belgium. It is not over yet. CETA still has to pass the hurdles of the EU Parliament, and national Parliaments. It is worth continuing to campaign against the unbridled face of corporatism, and its progress to subvert democracy through the litigation in secret courts.

The Complex Causes of Poverty

30th November: Mariana Swann, a member of our group, who recently published an autobiographical novel, ‘Pachamama – Mother Earth, the story of three generations of a Bolivian Family’ spoke to us about growing up in Bolivia. She told us about some of her research into world history that has affected her beloved country and its people. She discussed why, when Bolivia is blessed with such an abundance of natural mineral wealth, it is still such a poor country. Mariana’s talk was followed by an interesting time of questions and discussion.

 

Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs)

On Wednesday 26^th October, 45 people became increasingly dismayed and angry by the talk ‘How Companies Sue States’ given by Claire Provost, investigative journalist

In 2009 a multinational mining company sued the Salvadoran Government, not just for the money that it had spent prospecting but also for money it said it might receive in profits if the operation was successful! At one point, the total ISDS claim was over $300m.

The company eventually lost the case, but that didn’t mean that El Salvador had won. Even though the company was eventually ordered to pay $8million dollars towards the country’s legal costs, El Salvador had spent $12 million, as well as time and trouble, fighting the case. Claire said, “In these types of cases there no winners, only losers.”

 

 

Global Justice Reading had a stall at Reading Town Meal in Forbury Gardens, Reading on 1st October 2016. . Our Lucky Dip proved to be a great attaraction for families who joined in by answering some simple questions about CETA. It was a lovely day with the expected rain there only at the start and end. It was a very positive event. Thanks for those helpers who worked so hard all day.

What is Reading Town Meal?

The biggest “picnic in the park” that Reading has ever seen will return to Forbury Gardens on Saturday 1 October and you are invited to this fantastic celebration of local sustainable food.

 

‘Brexit and UK trade – where next?’

On Wednesday 7th September, over twenty people came to hear Mark Dearn, War on Want’s Senior Trade campaigner, talk to the Global Justice Reading group on ‘Brexit and UK trade – where next?’

Mark said, “CETA is a ‘new generation’ trade deal similar to the controversial Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). Much like TTIP, CETA seeks to eradicate social, health and environmental protections which may harm corporate profits, lock-in the privatisation of public services and introduce an ‘corporate court’ system so corporations can sue governments for lost profits. Our recent report on Food and CETA shows we cannot let our food safety rules, or the livelihoods of European farmers, be traded away for the sake of Canadian agribusiness profits. It is critical that the European Parliament stops this deal, which is opposed by more than 3.4 million people across Europe.

Neither Reading residents and businesses, nor their environment, will benefit from these toxic trade deals. And Brexit does not mean we are not at risk, as this deal, if agreed, will still apply in the UK for 20 years even when we leave the EU.

If we value parliamentary sovereignty, our legal system, public services or democratically made rules to protect society and the environment, we should tell our MEPs and MPs that they must stop this toxic trade deal, before it’s too late. Our message to leaders who oppose TTIP: if your opposition to this deal is genuine, then listen to your electorates, your trade unions and civil society groups, and oppose CETA too.” We will have a chance at Reading Town Meal, 1st October