Global Justice Now Reading

Carbon Capital

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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.

Banks Addiction to Gambling on Food Prices

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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.

 

Transforming Our Food System

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‘Transforming our food system’ is the subject of our meeting on Monday 25th February at 7.30pm.

The world produces enough food for everyone, yet a  billion people are malnourished. Global food production is increasingly dominated by big corporations, while small-scale producers struggle to make a living. Though Fairtrade can help, we need bigger solutions to tackle this global food crisis.
Come and hear about the growing global movement for ‘food sovereignty’, a framework for just and sustainable food production that people around the world are already starting to build. James O’Nions, campaigner at WDM will lead our discussion.

WDM Stall to urge big business to stop cashing in on aid

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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

Students call for UK government to rethink Aid budget

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On Monday 12 November, members of Reading World Development Movement (WDM) will be asking students at Reading College what they think of UK aid backing tax breaks for sweatshops in Bangladesh.

Jackie Oversby, group co-ordinator said, ‘When done properly , overseas development aid can make a wonderful difference to some of the poorest people in the world. However I am very worried about a new trend in development giving which is prioritising private-sector interests. For example, I can’t understand why £14 million of UK aid is being spent in backing sweatshops in Bangladesh. It is helping the Bangladesh government to set up special economic zones where unskilled workers will be paid on average of about £1 a day and will be banned from joining trade unions, and where the multinational companies who employ them, won’t pay taxes for 10 years. Our aid money should help the poorest people in poor countries, not big business.  I want our government to think again about how they use our Aid budget.’

WDM is calling for a full parliamentary investigation and a wider debate around the efficacy of concentration on private sector development at the expense of public sector solutions.

 

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

WDM Gambling on Food campaign

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WDM Reading Group is planning to hold a stall at the RISC centre in Reading on Monday 15th October from 7.30 – 8.30pm about the ‘Stop Betting on Hunger ‘campaign.  Bankers gambling on food in financial markets have forced prices up and brought hunger and poverty to families around the world. WDM is fighting for tough new rules to protect the poor.

Contact Jackie Oversby on  0118 987 3623 or jackieoversby@yahoo.co.uk

RISC Foyer, 35-39 London St Reading RG1 4PS.