Global Call – November 2006

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Economic Justice Forum

Don't forget to book a place at the second Economic Justice Forum on Monday!

There will be a "speed campaigning" to update everyone on the priorities and demands of the trade, debt, aid and HIV/AIDS campaigns. There will also be a briefing on climate change, and how it affects campaigning for economic justice.

Come along to think about what our priorities up to 2010 will be, and what scenarios will provide the context for campaigning on economic justice in 2020.

Over 23 million people Stood Up Against Poverty worldwide in GCAP's recent Global Month of Action. Will the UK support the Global Call to Action Against Poverty in 2007? What are our priorities during the German presidency of the EU and G8, and at the halfway point of the MDGs?

Join us to make practical plans for collective economic justice campaigning in 2007.

Check out the agenda and book a place with Romina Vegro at BOND.

Debt and Aid Update

The Global Month of Action started off with a success: after campaigning by Christian Aid, World Development Movement and Jubilee Debt Campaign for the UK to withhold funding from the World Bank and IMF until they stopped imposing harmful conditions on aid and debt cancellation, Hilary Benn announced that he was withholding £50m from the World Bank until he saw evidence of progress on conditions.

From February 2007, northern country donors will be re-negotiating their contributions to the World Bank, which will be a key opportunity for debt and aid campaigners to secure further reform by the Bank on its use of harmful economic policy conditions and ensuring greater voice and participation of developing countries witin the Bank's decision-making mechanisms. As a major contributor to the World Bank, the UK plays a significant role in this replenishment process.

Campaigners have been lobbying their MPs through the Month of Action to put pressure on Hilary Benn to go further, while a group of debt campaigners took the message to the man himself in mid-October at a meeting in Portcullis House. UK Aid Network members will be pressing the UK government to secure further reform by the Bank on key issues over the coming year.

The Global Month of Action was rounded off by a very significant announcement from the Norwegian government that it is cancelling, without conditions, $80 million of debts incurred by five countries as a result of its own bad lending in the past. The debts were contracted by Ecuador, Egypt, Jamaica, Peru and Sierra Leone during the 1970s via loans designed to support the Norwegian shipbuilding industry. Many of the ships were useless or had to be rebuilt. It is the first time that a northern creditor has accepted responsibility for bad lending, and poses a challenge for other campaigns and governments around the world to look into the legitimacy of past lending, and make sure money is lent responsibly in the future.

Trade Justice - movement towards corporate responsibility

One of the six main calls of the MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY manifesto was that the UK Government "make laws that stop big business profiting at the expense of people and the environment". Campaigning on this call over the last year has focused on the Companies Bill due for royal assent this month.

Last month, in response to campaign pressure, the Government announced changes to the Companies Bill that could improve the accountability of UK companies . For example, UK directors will be required to look beyond profits to consider environmental and community impacts. The Government has also undertaken to review voluntary reporting within two years, including consulting NGOs, to see if they should impose a mandatory approach. Campaigning also resulted in the Government introducing supplier issues into the list of factors on which quoted companies will have to report.

The Trade Justice Movement has welcomed these new moves, although much more is needed to ensure people and the environment are protected from corporate abuses. A full response to the final outcome will be made available to campaigners after the Bill has gone through the Lords.

Glen Tarman, Coordinator of the Trade Justice Movement, said: "People power and public pressure have already made a massive difference. Congratulations to all the activists that supported this stage of our campaign. Our campaigning to ensure that British businesses are responsible and accountable, no matter where in the world they trade, will continue until we have all the rules in place to right corporate wrongs and make poverty history."

HIV/AIDS Update

Shared Planet is the biggest student conference in Europe on world poverty, human rights and the environment. Hundreds of students come together every year to listen to rousing speakers, participate in interactive skills and issues workshops, take action and have fun!

This year's conference, taking place in central London this weekend on 3 - 5 November 2006, will include the launch of People & Planet's new Treat AIDS Now campaign.

Global Month of Action

So far, we know that 136,000 actions were taken in the UK during the Global Month of Action, including Stand Up World Record actions, postcards and emails and attendance at events.

Guinness counted 60,452 people in the UK for the Stand Up Against Poverty World Record Attempt on 15-16 October, though another 10,000 took part but did not get their results in time to be counted.

A global evaluation of the Month of Action is currently underway.

World Social Forum

The Global Economic Justice Networks are hosting a pre-meeting for UK people who are going to the World Social Forum in Nairobi in January.

The meeting will be at BOND at 3.00pm - 5.30pm on 11 January 2007. Book a place with Romina Vegro.

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