What we did in 2009 - Thank you!
26 January 2010
Thank you for making 2009 a successful year in the campaign for global justice. Across the UK, you helped us get more people involved in the battle for a fairer world, so check out what we did in 2009 and email me if you want to get involved in 2010.
We kicked off the year with two inspiring events: we attended the World Social Forum in Brazil, and held 6 Billion Ways in the UK. Both these exciting spaces united people from around the world who are striving for a global system that prioritises the needs of ordinary people over profit and greed.
In the spring we took to the streets of London with thousands of campaigners, trade unionists and supporters to demand that our government Put People First in its response to the financial crisis. We then took our dead canary (wharf) to the G20 protests at the Bank of England on 1 April to take a stand against the "back to business" approach of the rich countries in propping up the failed economic system.
In the summer we took our supermarket trolley back on the festival circuit; special thanks to the thousands at Wychwood, Glastonbury and Womad who signed our petition to stop sweatshop exploitation by UK supermarkets and high street shops. We also held our summer Palestine reception and book launch with Ben White where we reported back from our trip to Palestine and the work of our partners on the ground in fighting the illegal Occupation.
In the autumn, we had a lot to campaign about! We protested against the G20's desire to let money rule the world, demanded that supermarkets play fair and demonstrated to stop the involvement of private armies in warfare. We also held a protest outside the Israeli embassy to demand that anti-Wall activists from our partner organisation in Palestine, Stop the Wall, be released from their detention without charge. On 13 January Jamal Juma' and Mohammad Othman were finally set free.
We also continued to demand an end to garment workers' exploitation by launching Love Fashion Hate Sweatshops at London Fashion Week. Thanks to all the schools, universities, trades unions and everyone around the UK who supported the campaign, especially delegates to the TUC, Coventry University Ethical Fashion Society and Stafford University Student Union, which each provided hundreds of pictures for our mosaic, which we handed in to Downing Street in December along with thousands of signatures. The campaign gained support as people danced at Swaparamas, ate cakes at Christmas fêtes and got involved at many more events which you organised.
These are just some things you helped us achieve in the fight against global poverty and injustice in 2009. We already have an exciting conference on supermarket power planned for February and several inspirational speakers from the South coming over in the spring. So do email me to get involved or to order free materials, reports, stickers, badges etc, and book War on Want speakers for your events in the months to come.
Let's make sure that throughout the new year we continue to resist global greed and oppression.
Nadia Idle
Activism & Outreach Officer
War on Want
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