This was particularly important in Reading this year as Alok Sharma, MP for Reading West, was appointed Minister for COP 26, the 26th United Nations Climate Conference.
This was an excellent training session. You can find the slides at https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1mJ8eCjfFP and the full recording at: 2FrCbLM9EUwHoTeLBo-Qhv?usp=sharing
Time to curb the power and influence of transnational corporations?
7.30pm Wednesday 27 January
Our speakers on Wednesday 27 January, Heidi Chow and Gemma Freedman, gave us hope that this is possible! Heidi talked about the UN Nations’ efforts to bring about a ‘Binding UN treaty on Transnational Corporations and Human Rights. You can read Dorothy Guerrero’s blog on the negotiation at https://www.globaljustice.org.uk/blog/2020/aug/28/glass-still-half-full-second-revised-draft-negotiation-text-un-treaty-transnational .
You can read the final statement of the Global Campaign on the 6th Session of the negotiations at: https://www.stopcorporateimpunity.org/despite-covid-19-limitations-civil-society-drives-momentum-for-the-historic-un-treaty-on-transnational-corporations-and-human-rights/
Gemma told us that the European Commission is also ready to consider a new law to hold businesses accountable for their impact on people and planet. It is holding a consultation NOW – BEFORE 8thFEBRUARY. We need as many people as possible to take part in the consultation. European trade unions have made it really quick and easy to participate in the consultation by clicking here. You can simply add your name without exploring further but if you prefer, you can find guidance on completing the consultation here.
How can we change the trade deals that are fuelling climate breakdown?
11.30am – 12.30pm Saturday 14 November
on zoom as part of Reading Climate Festival
The US-UK trade deal isn’t just a threat to our food standards and public services, it’s also a threat to our world. The whole model of corporate globalisation that drives international trade today is a major cause of climate breakdown. It is vital that we take action on trade rules if we are to have any hope of tackling the climate crisis.
Jackie Oversby gave a short talk covering the following subjects:
How do trade rules override climate treaties?
How can trade deals block climate action?
How can we change them?
Have we any chance of succeeding?
This event was part of Reading Climate Festival 9 – 15 November. More details are at http://www.readingculturelive.co.uk/…/reading-climate…/
We distributed leaflets outside Reading train station. We were campaigning with people across the country and also in the US, to say that whoever wins the US election, the proposed US-UK trade deal must be stopped.
Jackie Oversby said, ‘The deal would weaken the standards that protect the things we value, erode the services that take care of us, and damage the planet. All to entrench corporate power while doing next to nothing to help the real economy. This isn’t the kind of society and economy that people in the UK or the US want – nor do our allies around the world who are fighting similar deals.’
Bente Madiera said, “We are not against trading with America – we already do that – but this proposed deal would kickstart a process that could reshape our society into a corporate marketplace.’ 
As coronavirus rips around the world, the race is on to find a vaccine for Covid-19. Following huge public investment in biomedical research and development, we hear that good progress is being made. But who will profit?
When a vaccine is developed, will it reach anyone who needs it, or just anyone who can afford it? If it is just for people who can afford it, will that threaten the world’s ability to stop the spread of this pandemic? What could make the system fair?
We had a panel of two expert and insightful speakers:
Heidi Chow, leader of Global Justice Now’s pharmaceutical campaign
Izzy from Just Treatment
‘For the last two Saturdays some of us have been giving out leaflets to explain to people why the US trade deal must be stopped – first at Reading Farmers’ market and second outside a Waitrose store. The leaflets were well received and some people even read them while they were queuing!’
