Marching to Put People First

Published March 29, 2009 @ 01:47AM PT

Young World Vision supporters from Luton and Milton Keynes Photo: PA

While you're egging on world leaders going to the G20 summit through an online campaign, dozens of groups worldwide are taking it to the street s to encourage these leaders to take a fresh approach to global trade by putting people first.

The 'Put People First' coalition is comprised of trade unions, environmentalists, faith groups, developmental charities and several other organizations who are demanding that the leaders at the upcoming G20 summit find a 'fair and sustainable route out of the recession' that is an alternative to the unregulated free market system that has ultimately led to the current crisis.

Fair Trade groups such as Divine, Traidcraft, Cafedirect and the Fairtrade Foundation marched alongside the Put People First coalition on March 28th in favor of trade justice and in the name of the 450 million small farmers across the planet who are feeling the devastating effects of the climate, economic and food crises plaguing the developing world. Small farmers have been hit hard by the crises, but it must be pointed out that small farmers also hold the key to tackling these crises if only world leaders would listen and lend their support. The Fairtrade Foundation's Barbara Crowther points out,

The current crisis poses many new threats to the livelihoods of the poorest people on the planet. But they also offer an unprecedented opportunity for world leaders to develop a fresh approach to the global trading system, prioritising justice and equity, including social and environmental standards, and build new trade relationships, fit to deal with the current financial, food and climate crises we now face. A new approach to global trade must put poor people and the planet first, strengthening local and regional supply chains, and ensuring cooperation in fairer global trade at an international level.

Protests are said to continue leading to the G20 summit that is coming up on April 2nd. The people will not back down until voices are heard and (fair) trade is made a top issue of concern during the meeting. For those who want to stay in the know about the G20 summit, there is the G20Voice project, which is comprised of 50 of the world's most influencial bloggers who will be following the summit closely and lending their thoughts.

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Comments (6)

Wonderful, thank you for letting us know about this. Posted this to facebook and will look for group there.Also will send copy of this blog to the WhiteHouse site... and I hope you have posted there too.

Posted by Lee Dorsey on 03/29/2009 @ 08:03AM PT
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Thanks Zarah for this coverage of this mass demonstration which took place yesterday in London right before next weekend's G20 summit in London.

This massive protest included MANY progressive organizations centering around the issues of fair trade & increased development assistance to the world's poorest countries, international environmental quality and many other concerns.

Here is a picture stream from yesterday's events:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/7969802.stm

And thanks Lee for posting this in Facebook.

All the Best, debbie :)
www.one.org

Posted by Debbie Kreuser on 03/29/2009 @ 10:20AM PT
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Thanks for posting this Zarah. Its great to see global fair trade product, producer, retailer associations like the Fair Trade Federation bringing in a fair policy analysis.

Here in the U.S. fair traders are watching eagerly to see if President Obama makes good on his promises to push for substantial reforms in the multilateral trading system. Some worrysome comments have emerged from some around him, including US Trade Representative Ron Kirk, that they will push to conclude the Doha round of the WTO negotiations.

Reckless pursuit of Doha conclusion means more of the same failed trade policies that have hurt workers, the environment, and done nothing to spur the sustainable development that the world is yearning for.

Eyes will indeed be on Presdient Obama as he states the full official policy of the White House and tlays out his vision for global economic recovery so the world can see. Let's hope its sounds a lot like Barbara Crowther's quote!

Posted by James Ploeser on 03/29/2009 @ 07:17PM PT
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Was a fabulous day, with the wind filling the flags - and good hearty fair trade stuff filling the speeches. I tell you, the people who turned out on Saturday were calling for a solution, and while their was much talk of justice and jobs, it was Fair Trade that kept topping the agenda. If we are to find a solution to poverty, climate change and economic crisis, the values of fair trade will be at the heart of it. Transparency, accountaility and Fairness seem like a great place to start. World Fair Trade Day falls on 09 May 09. Make the most of it. Register an event at http://www.worldfairtradeday09.org/ Be the solution.

Posted by robin smith on 03/30/2009 @ 01:46AM PT
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It was an amazing event! Eulogio Rusoke from the Mabale Growers Tea Factory in Uganda took part in Saturday's rally, representing Cafédirect and all of our grower partners. It's amazing to see such a ground swell of activity around these issues and so many different people getting involved.

Posted by Helen Bode on 03/30/2009 @ 08:05AM PT
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Eulogio Rusoke was amazing. It was he who said "We DON'T NEED AID, we NEED Fair Trade". He and Mark Thomas stole the show with their belief and conviction (or anger and hunger as Willington Wamamaye might say). There are 40 producers in the UK for Cafédirect's AGM this week, it's so good they were here to witness passionate consumers in action. This is where change happens, in the hearts and minds of all of us.

Posted by robin smith on 03/30/2009 @ 10:53AM PT
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Author

Zarah is the Operations Manager for the Global Exchange Fair Trade Online Store, a project of the international human rights organization, Global Exchange. Alongside her work with marginalized communities from all over the world to get their products into the international market, Zarah serves to educate and inform the public about a more just and sustainable trading system.