Global Justice Now Reading

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.

 

 

 

 

Gambling on Food Futures

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With Christine Haigh WDM food campaigner

Big investment banks like Barclays, are betting on the price of staple foods, like wheat, maize and soya.  This is causing food prices to rise and making people go hungry. Large corporations like Unilever, GlaxoSmith Kline and Syngenta are also involved.   Find out what WDM is doing both at EU and UK level.
Wednesday 17 october 7.30pm RISC 35-39 London St,  Reading RG1 4PS  WA
free but donations welcome
Contact: Bente; o118 958 6692  or bente@risc.org.uk

Upcoming meetings and activities

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Reading WDM’s meetings are held on the third Monday of the month at RISC at 7.30pm.  The date of our next meeting Monday 25th February.

We will be showing the film ‘Growing Change’ which charts the growth of food sovereignty in Venezuela. This shows how it is possible to make positive change towards food sovereignty.   This fits in well with our campaign against gambling on food, especially during this period of crop failures which are also increasing the cost of food staples.
This date will be the 10th anniversary of the “Stop EPA’s campaign” – the unfair  trade negotiations between the EU and 76 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries – which if fully implemented will cause  further poverty.  WDM and other organisations have campaigned hard against the signing of these agreements – which were supposed to be completed in 2007 – so campaigning does do some good!  We look forward to see you at the meeting.

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We have decided to take up WDM’s food speculation campaign.

For more information about their food speculation campaign you can follow the link : http://tiny.cc/0aj8gw

Food Speculation “Casino” Stall in Broad Street

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Members of Reading WDM group accompanied by casino character, ‘Lady Luck’ and a banker who couldn’t see past the dollar signs over his eyes, came to Broad Street on Saturday.  Shoppers were invited to roll a dice to gamble for sweets and think about the way that bankers are gambling on the prices of staple foods like wheat and maize.  Most of them signed cards urging the Treasury to support action that would curb the banks from speculating on food prices.
Jackie Oversby said, ‘Food is a basic human right. We need strict rules to prevent banks like Barclays pushing its price beyond the reach of millions of people.’
For more information about WDM’s food speculation campaign visit http://www.wdm.org.uk/food-speculation