24 November 2005

A banquet with a difference inspires action for Make Trade Fair

On 24 November 100 people attended a 'Hunger Banquet' at Warwick University to learn more about Make Trade Fair and find out how to get involved.

David Taylor, Trade Justice Coordinator, University of Warwick People & Planet explains:

"Our aim was to inspire people to get involved in the Make Trade Fair campaign, and in the fight for social justice more generally.

"Food was allocated to diners randomly, to highlight the injustices of the current world trading system. Ten percent of the people attending got a gourmet meal, silver service, and (Fairtrade) wine. Thirty per cent were served a standard curry. Sixty per cent got a bowl of rice, which they sat on the floor to eat.

"During the event, Oxfam's Ruth Thompson gave a talk about the double standards of US & EU subsidies on rice growers in the global South. I talked about the need for campaigners to recognise that the fight against poverty is a marathon, not a sprint, and one which will continue beyond 2005 as part of the largest ever mass social movement against poverty. Live drummers played throughout the night and everyone had a phenomenal time."

The event was the culmination of a year's Make Trade Fair campaigning at Warwick University. Including the people who signed up to the Big Noise that night, the students have collected a grand total of 2,500 Big Noise signatures.

The global Big Noise Petition will be presented to ministers this December at the WTO Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong.