Our Carbon Capital stall was popular at Earley Green Fair. People were shocked to hear how much UK finance is invested in ‘dirty’ energy projects around the world and to hear about the detrimental effect these projects have had on the local people and their environment.
Contact Jackie Oversby on 
0118 987 3623 or jackieoversby@yahoo.co.uk
RISC Foyer, 35-39 London St Reading RG1 4PS.
On 15th June we held a stall at Reading Waterfest. It went very well despite the cold, wet, windy weather. Passers-by were intrigued by our offer of oil and coal snacks and were happy to stay and chat about the issues raised by the Carbon Capital campaign. 
We collected 70 requests to Vince Cable to force banks and financial institutions to reveal the true climate impact of their investments in fossil fuel energy projects around the world.
Our next stall will be on Saturday 3rd August at Earley Green Fair, Maiden Erleigh Nature Reserve.
Contact Jackie Oversby on 0118 987 3623 or jackieoversby@yahoo.co.uk
RISC Foyer, 35-39 London St Reading RG1 4PS.
WDM is looking for new members to tackle the root causes of poverty and to campaign for global equality and economic justice. For more information check http://www.wdm.org.uk or call Bente on 0118 958 6692
On 5th June Hannah Griffiths, WDM’s head of policy & campaigns gave an interesting and informative talk about WDM’s latest campaign, ‘Carbon Capital – how the city bankrolls climate change’.
Banks, pension funds and other financial institutions are funding fossil fuel projects that are destroying people’s lives and pushing the planet to the brink of catastrophe. The talk was followed by an interesting discussion. Many people signed cards asking Vince Cable to force institutions to reveal the true climate impact of their investments in fossil fuel energy projects around the world.
WDM Reading group set up a ‘Bankers Anonymous’ stall at Woodley Precinct on Sunday 14th April, to highlight the bank’s addiction to gambling on food prices. Financial speculation by banks and hedge funds is driving food prices up, sending the cost of basic foods spiraling beyond the reach of millions of the world’s poorest people.
In February Barclays announced a withdrawal from speculating on food following public outcry over its effect on hunger. The World Development Movement is calling for tough controls on speculation. The local campaigners asked passers-by to take part in a ‘five step programme to help bankers kick their addiction, with steps including signing a postcard to local MPs asking them to urge George Osborne to act to control speculation. European finance ministers including George Osborne are due to vote in the coming months on draft regulation to curb food speculation. But the UK government has so far failed to back tough controls.
WDM Reading group held a stall on Monday 12th November at Reading College asking students to call on the government to stop prioritising on private sector interests when it comes to development aid for the world’s poorest.
Group Co-ordinator Jackie Oversby said “We had an excellent response to our WDM stall at Reading College on 12th November. Over 90 students and staff members signed cards to the Rt Hon Sir Malcolm Bruce MP. The students were adamant that the needs of the world’s poorest people should be prioritised when spending UK aid money, not the needs of UK businesses.”
Contact Jackie Oversby on 0118 987 3623 or jackieoversby@yahoo.co.uk
RISC Foyer, 35-39 London St Reading RG1 4PS.
WDM is looking for new members to tackle the root causes of poverty and to campaign for global equality and economic justice. For more information check http://www.wdm.org.uk or call Bente on 0118 958 6692
