The Trade Justice Movement (TJM) announced a massive Trade Justice campaign to be held in late September in Britain yesterday. Thousands of campaigners from over 50 TJM member organisations are expected to join the event which is the biggest ever in 2004. Among them included the most important faith groups, human right groups and aid agencies in the UK. For example, Church of England, Baptist Union, Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD), Tearfund, World Vision, ChristianAid, and Greenpeace, among others represent a total of 9 million members.

The campaign named “Vote for Trade Justice” will be launched on Sunday 26th September which is the date of Labour Party’s Annual Conference in Brighton. On the beautiful beach outside the conference, the campaigners aim to make their voice against unfair trade rules heard by the nation.

The campaigners have high expectation from this campaign as the UK government will be hosting the G8 meeting of the world’s most powerful countries and holding the presidency of the EU in 2005. The success of the campaign can be greatly contributed in eradicating world poverty.

The highlight of the initiative is “Ballot on the Beach”. People across the UK and beyond will be asked to cast votes for Trade Justice. Voting cards and online votes will be used. The vote will run until 2005.

It is a vote for rules that ensure governments, particularly in poor countries, can choose the best solutions to end poverty and protect the environment;
an end to export subsidies that damage the livelihoods of poor people around the world, and
laws that stop big business profiting at the expense of people and the environment

A carnival with pots, pans, whistles and drums for a Latin American style protest will also be held on the occasion. Several Christian worships for trade justice will be held at different churches at different time on that day as well.

TJM Coordinator Glen Tarman commented, “Unjust trade rules keep millions of people in poverty around the world and harm our environment. The Labour government could play a key role in changing this...Labour must heed our message and abandon trade policies that harm both people and planet. Without a change of direction they will continue to lose respect across the UK electorate.”

TJM is known to be a fast growing and powerful voice for Trade Justice. Last June, Trade Justice campaigners lobbied more than 500 MPs in their constituencies in the UK's biggest nationwide lobby marathon. In 2001, it hosted a parade for Trade Justice at the WTO ministerial meeting and attracted 9,000 supporters. The campaign this year is expected to have important impact.