A Tsunami a week
The president of the World Bank James D. Wolfensohn,being interviewed on Newsnight, talked about the current trade laws being the equivalent of a Tsunami a week in terms of their human cost in “developing” countries. Several weeks on, the full horror and cost of the tragedy in Asia is still unfolding. The ripples are being felt across the world. The response of the public has been astonishing with billions of pounds being donated to help the relief effort. And yet like all news stories this will soon fade from peoples memories.
For the forgotten millions still living in abject poverty, unable to make a livelihood for themselves because of unjust trade laws or crippling national debt, there is no wave of public conscientiousness. No mass sense of horror leading to determination and charitability. Just the other day a study from the University of Sussex reported that the UN goal to halve world poverty by the year 2015 is way off track. One reason suggested: the lack of will of people living in the “developed” world.
Now, like never before, is a chance to strike while the iron is hot. With the world’s gaze fixed on Asia and the public conscience stirred, issues of world trade, debt and extreme poverty are to be high on the agenda at the G8 Summit hosted by Britain later this year. These issues are only beginning to get the attention from media and politicians that they deserve. The Tsunami has shown that the public care. The collective will of public and politicians could mean a real chance to make poverty history. The type of extreme poverty that exists where thousands of children die each week from starvation while we live in a world of food mountains.
Economists may argue about how we get there, but the least we can do is make it our goal. The trade justice movement needs to be more than a bunch of activists who are “into that kind of thing.” This is the big issue of our day - an issue that forces us to confront our humanity and realize that it is both fragile and precious. The Tsunami has forced us to do that.
So what can we do to try to keep the momentum going? Simply get involved in the campaign. Let your MP know this is something you care about, something that would affect your vote. Join or start a social justice group. Be creative.
SPEAK a social justice group are unveiling their world record-breaking big dress on the 21st February outside parliament. This is to highlight issues of unfair trade and is made up of thousands of smaller squares from all over the country as part of a nationwide petition.
No one should play down the horror and human cost of the Tsunami disaster or, indeed, trivialize it. But the reality is this horror is a daily occurrence in some parts of the world. Be encouraged that you can be part of something that can help to prevent the equivalent of a Tsunami a week. |