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The week of 14-21 October 2007 will be a Trade Week of Action. This is an opportunity for YMCAs, churches and other groups all over the world to speak out and call for trade justice.
“Challenge 21,” the YMCA’s statement of mission, challenges YMCAs to “work in solidarity with the poor.” The World Alliance invites all YMCAs to join their voices to the Week of Action.
The 14-21 October has been chosen for a week of campaigns because it includes key events such as World Food Day on 16 October and International Day for the Eradication of Poverty and a Stand Up Against Poverty Day on 17 October.
A global campaign
People will be taking action on the trade issues that matter for their own communities and regions. But whether the campaigns are focusing on farmer’s rights, trade justice for women, or lobbying the World Bank, community groups will be acting in solidarity with millions of others around the globe.
Free resource guide
The Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance has developed a free resource guide, available in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese, to support groups to take action during this week. The guide explores the links between trade, agriculture, food and human rights and includes stories, action ideas, Biblical reflections and tips for campaigning. There is also a liturgy for a service during the Week.
You can download below in pdf format this guide.
To order free hard copies of the resource guide visit :
Trade Week of Action
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| Service held at Saint-Pierre Cathedral, Geneva, |
WTO General Council Meeting
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) is trying to conclude its latest round of negotiations on global trade. From 27th -29th July, trade negotiators from around the world gathered in Geneva. Few of the benefits that the WTO claims it can deliver have reached poor people. In acknowledgement of this, the current round of talks have been called the "development round" and the WTO said they would put the interests of developing countries first. Unfortunately it is not working out that way.
Now is therefore a crucial time for the faith community and wider civil society to speak out for the interests of people living in poverty. The outcome of the negotiations should be trade justice for all people, not more for the rich and powerful.
As one small step in this direction, the faith community in Geneva gathered during the WTO meeting, in solidarity with all those around the world who are impacted by the global trading, and in prayer for justice in trade. A service was held on 28th July at Saint-Pierre Cathedral, Geneva, organised by international ecumenical organisations, including the World Alliance of YMCAs. Also, throughout that week a series of workshops and seminars on trade and the WTO were held at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva to encourage a pro-active response to this urgent issue.
20 July 2005
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2006 marks the fifth year that the YMCA of Greater Montreal, Canada, has hosted a Fair Trade Fair during the month of December to promote thoughtful, responsible shopping during the Christmas season.
This Fair was initiated by the YMCA's International Programs as a means to educate the public at a time that is marked by consumerism, often “thoughtless", and certainly influenced by advertising hype to "Buy! Buy! Buy!" Shoppers are neither encouraged to think about "needs" rather than "wants", nor about the impact their purchases may have on those who produce the products. Many products are produced in "sweatshop" conditions, where workers are exploited. Producers are often paid next to nothing, yet the selling price is inflated. Who benefits from that difference?
The YMCA's Fair Trade Fair offers a place for merchants who are engaged in Fair Trade, or who are local producers of items that are socially and environmentally responsible, to display and sell their goods. At the same time, the merchants are encouraged to inform shoppers about Fair Trade practices and responsible consumerism.
This Fair has become more successful each year. The number of merchants has increased, and there is now an exciting variety of goods offered from near and far. It has become a shopping "destination" for more and more Montrealers.
This year, the Downtown YMCA and its International Committee have
assumed responsibility for organizing the event. That team includes YMCA staff, volunteers and youth leaders. In addition to organizing the event, they have produced a flyer to distribute on "Violence is not Fun and Games", to encourage responsible and peaceful gift choices for children and youth.
This way, the YMCA of Greater Montreal hopes many more people will celebrate the holiday season with a focus on peace and justice.
YMCA Greater Montreal
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In 2006 young people from the YMCA of Ecuador carried out a boycott at the event “Negotiating with the Negotiators.” This non violent action initiated the resistance process against the signing of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA). As young people, we considered that there were harmful impositions to our country’s sovereignty. For example, the elites decided to use the US Dollar as our currency and to sign an agreement with the US to use Manta as their military Base, even though these decisions affected all Ecuadoreans and opposed democratic principles.
We carried out the activities through a youth network that includes the YMCA. We do not try to represent all young people because we recognise that in our generation there are many different expressions, cultures, identities and visions in relation to the social and political reality of our country. We considered that this event, organised by the government, should have included reflection, analysis and debate from all points of view. In relation to the FTA, we demanded a broad, open and transparent debate and insisted on the call for a referendum on the issue.
Belén Cárdenas, National Youth Coordinator
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Global Week of Action for Trade Justice
The Global Week of Action for trade justice was marked by civil society organisations around the world from 10 - 16 April. For example, In London, campaigners stayed up all night for trade justice. There were mass rallies and marches in almost every Indian state capital as well as in Bangladesh, the Philippines, Honduras, Mexico, Brazil, the Netherlands, Norway, Kenya and Nigeria. Ecuador YMCA was actively involved in the campaign by celebrating a "Pambamesa against the Free Trade Agreement" between Ecuador and the USA.
"The pambamesa is a collective lunch that our indigenous population organises during special celebrations, where each member brings something for the rest. The pambamesa held at the Ecuador YMCA included only Ecuadorian products, mainly based on corn, as well as goods from the Coast. Belén Cárdenas, volunteer of the YMCA Quito Branch, who organised the pambamesa, expressed that it seeks to protest against the transnational companies that want us to import corn and other products. Such imports would affect millions of Ecuadorian peasants.
These activities were carried out within the framework of the Ecuador Decides Campaign, in which YMCA Ecuador participates, which seeks to gather one million signatures to demand the government to call a referendum whereby the population can decide if the FTA should be signed or not."
YMCA Ecuador
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Ecuador YMCA's Petition for Trade Justice
On October 1st 2004, Ecuador YMCA, along with many other organisations, started collecting 700,000 signatures in each province in Ecuador so that our Government would call for a Referendum on whether to sign the Free Trade Agreement with the USA. This is a very important battle for us, as it is in many Latin American countries, since signing these agreements would only increase poverty, unemployment and cut further access to health and education.
It was most urgent for us to try to stop the signing of the Free Trade Agreement since our Government planned to sign it in February 2005. On Thursday 16th September we held a press conference to call for a referendum. This is just one of many ways that civil society organisations are working together to campaign for trade justice in Ecuador.
We believe in the necessity of regional integration that will benefit all our countries and towns. Economic, political and cultural unity of America is the only way we will be able to participate on the world stage.
For more information about Ecuador's trade justice campaign email info(at)acjecuador.org
Position Paper on the Free Trade Agreement (Spanish) - (http://www.acjecuador.org/tlc.html#acuerdo)
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YMCA YOUNG PEOPLE MADE HISTORY IN EDINBURGH
Y Care International, the international development and relief agency of the YMCA movement in the UK and Ireland, has been a member of Make Poverty History since the coalition was launched in January. The Make Poverty History coalition is a unique UK alliance of charities, trade unions, campaigning groups, faith communities, and celebrities who have come together to tackle global poverty in 2005 and who believe the key moment for change is now.
Y Care International has been working to encourage young people from the YMCA to get involved in the campaign to end global poverty and engage in the issues behind the campaign's fashionable white band symbol.
In July, when Gleneagles was hosting the G8 summit, it joined forces with YMCA Scotland to help young people from YMCAs across the UK make history when almost 400 of them came together for the main Make Poverty History rally in Edinburgh on 2nd July. This was the largest single group of young people brought to Edinburgh by any organisation.
Already on the day before the rally, over 300 young people from YMCAs across the UK headed to Livingston Football Club for Y Care International and YMCA Scotland's 'Livingston, Edinburgh and Beyond' event. The day was a fantastic success, and gave young people the opportunity to learn more about the issues behind Make Poverty History and gain the skills and confidence to take action in the future.
Edinburgh
On 2 July a phenomenal 225,000 people gathered in The Meadows in Edinburgh for the Make Poverty History rally. The hundreds of young people who attended with Y Care International stood together with others from all walks of life to demand that G8 leaders make poverty history when they meet in Gleneagles this week.
Their participation was very visible: a sea of young people wearing Y Care International's white 'Make Poverty History for Young People Everywhere' T-shirts.
At midday the Y Care International group joined thousands of others to march round the city to demand that G8 leaders deliver trade justice, drop the debt and give more and better aid.
At 3pm almost a quarter of a million people came together for the big moment of the day: a minute's silence, followed by a minute's mass noise. In the afternoon the group enjoyed the beautiful weather as the carnival atmosphere continued at The Meadows.
Peter Crory, National Secretary of YMCA Scotland, said: "We ended up with hundreds of YMCA young people absolutely exhausted but with the glow of deep satisfaction from a most rewarding experience. When it's so easy for each of us to avoid action and claim that the problems of poverty are too distant, this weekend showed the passion in so many young people to campaign for a fairer and more just world."
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United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
Established in 1964 as a permanent intergovernmental body, UNCTAD is the principal organ of the United Nations General Assembly dealing with trade, investment and development issues.
http://www.unctad.org/index.htm
Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance
The Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance (EAA) is a broad ecumenical network for international cooperation in advocacy on global trade and HIV and AIDS. More than 85 churches and church-related organizations have joined the Alliance by committing themselves to "speak out with one voice against injustice. The World Alliance of YMCA is a member of EAA.
http://www.e-alliance.ch/
Christian Aid
An agency of the churches in the UK and Ireland, Christian Aid works wherever the need is greatest, regardless of religion. It works through local organisations that understand local needs, as well as giving help on the ground through 16 overseas offices.
http://www.christian-aid.org.uk/
Trade Justice Movement
The Trade Justice Movement is a fast growing group of organisations including trade unions, aid agencies, environment and human rights campaigns, fairtrade organisations, faith and consumer groups.
Together, they are campaigning for trade justice - not free trade - with the rules weighted to benefit poor people and the environment.
http://www.tjm.org.uk/
Attac (French, English, Spanish)
Attac is an international movement for democratic control of financial markets and their institutions. They favour political action against neo-liberal politics and their consequences.
http://Attac.org/
Global Trade Watch
Global Trade Watch (GTW) was created in 1993 to promote government and corporate accountability in an area on which few public interest groups were focused: the international commercial agreements shaping the current version of globalisation. GTW works on an array of globalisation issues, including health and safety, environmental protection, economic justice, and democratic, accountable governance.
www.citizen.org/trade
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