We had a stall at this attractive festival on the banks of the River Kennet in Reading, when the narrow boats parade in all their finery. We had fun playing Global Justice’s new Corporate Monopoly game which quickly shows players that, although it is easy for the corporates to concentrate more and more of the world’s resources into the hands of the few, it is possible for the community to fight back.
At our May meeting Matt talked about how the UK is using aid money to support the privatisation of energy in Nigeria and how the model has failed, causing price rises, loss of jobs, black-outs and dependency on fossil fuels. He pointed out alternatives. Hamburg is remunicipalising energy! Costa Rica has had a lot of success in adopting renewable energy. Nearly all their people have access to affordable electricity now.
Saturday 25th April, We shared a stall with the Reading Food Growing Network. They organised a seed swop while we engaged people in a discussion around the politics of seeds, including the link between corporate control of seeds and debt. In the picture the farmer shows the seeds saved from the previous harvest while the corporate rep. encourages her to take the hybrid seeds that come with pages of terms and conditions including using expensive pesticides and fertilisers.
Saturday 18 April 2015 was a Global Day of Action against TTIP. We organised an information stall at a Reading Diversity Event and Deputy Mayor of Reading, Councillor Sarah Hacker was interested to hear about the campaign.
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.
On 29 January we watched this film, @ADGmovie
