Page 6 - link magazine

The Link Magazine • September 2006 o- your s classifieds
How the unfairness of world trade is like
Swindon Supermarine v the superstars of Chelsea
The collapse of world trade talks in Geneva in July has been largely ignored in the media dominated by the tragedy of Lebanon and
the Middle East. Although the hope of giving poor people a better deal appears to be dead, development campaigners say this is a good
thing. David Nash, a member of the World Development Movement (WDM), from Taw Hill, explains.
At the G8 summit in 2005 (the let alone compete. The result of their own economies;
focus of the Make Poverty His- liberalisation means that the un- • workers are entitled to a living
tory campaign), despite some der-developed industry is there- wage and the national income is
promises on reducing debt and fore bound to fail. sufficient to develop health, edu-
increasing aid, nothing was done Worse still, the proposals also cation, housing and water.
about global trade. included provision to allow prof- In a world where a child dies of
This was arguably because of its to be removed from the poorer poverty-related causes every 3 sec-
the World Trade Organisation's country. In other words - if you onds, those of us in the privileged,
(WTO) talks taking place at the can't compete, the deal will keep developed world, owe it to our
time - the so-called Doha Develop- you poor. neighbours to ensure that the rules
ment Round. It's like telling Swindon are not stacked against them.
The talks offered access by de- Supermarine that they are allowed Making poverty history is more
veloping countries to low value to play with Chelsea at Stamford than slogans and concerts. It's a
Kate Nash at the Christian Aid dram for
agricultural markets in the Euro- Bridge, but that Chelsea gettofield long hard slog to change a funda-
a better deal event in Swindon as re-
pean Union and United States. But their star players and keep all of ported in the August Link mentally unfair system which pro-
in return the developing countries the gate receipts - how fair is that? tects the pickings of the rich.
had to agree to complete liberali- And how likely is it that Super- can eliminate poverty by estab- To help unlock the doors for the
sation of their high value markets, marine would benefit from the ex- lishing a fair rules-based trading poor, contact Kate Nash, Secretary
i.e. manufacturing and services. perience? system where:, of Swindon WDM on 704154, or
The argument goes: more mar- In the WDM, we believe that • local industries are encouraged mail: [email protected]
ket freedom (liberalisation) means whilst the deal on the table would by giving them the time and space • Rebuilding after the Tsunami -
more trade, which means more provide some benefits for poorer to become fit for competition; see page 28.
money and jobs for the poor. How- nations particularly in agriculture, • local governments have the • Climbing for Sierra Leone School
ever one very important point is the complete liberalisation of their space to decide how best to run - page 30.
ignored. markets would effectively destroy
Industries in well-developed their ability to trade their way out
nations can enter new markets and of poverty. It would result in more Tea bags give school
compete easily because they have poverty, not less. It is a had deal another link to South Africa
the finance and infrastructure to and therefore it is better that we
do so. If you are not well-devel- rip up the negotiations now and At Peatmoor Primary, teachers had been putting their staff room tea
oped, your industries can barely go back to the drawing board. bags in the school's compost bin until they read about Bob Newman's
cope in a'protected' home market, The international community drive to send dried tea bags to South Africa in The Link.
In June young- ^•y t-^
sters collected !l
about 1,200 bags •
from home, emp-
tied the contents y V '^
into the school ,^ a
compost bin and
dried the paper
so that they could
be transformed
into miniature
works of art.
Bob, from
Westlea,hasbeen Bob Newman an d Melanie Brough holding T-Bag design
sending them to craft items with Peatmoor children holding tea bags
Original T-Bag ready for postin I
Designs, located
in a township near Cape Town. The response to the first request
Once painted by local artisans, the for help in December's Link has
bags are used to decorate a range been phenomenal and Bob has so
of goods including cards, station- far sent over 10,000 bags. He said,
ery, wooden boxes, coasters, can- "even though the organisers of the
dle holders and even jewellery. project have taken on more artists,
Peatmoor's acting head, Melanie which has boosted the township
Brough said, "Bob came into school economy, they are overwhelmed
and told the children about the by the supply. So I'm concentrat-
project and showed a DVD. We ing on building up the market for
were all fascinated by the craft the decorated tea bag items."
items that they become." The hand crafted goods will
In July two teachers visiting from make excellent Christmas presents.
Come and Peatmoor's partner school in South Bob will have them on display at
African were intrigued to see tea
* Re-upholstery ee our wide bags drying on the window sill. So the Peatmoor School autumn fair
on Friday 15 September, 4pm.
service 01367 selection of much so that Margaret Grant, head • Bob is keen to give illustrated
241855 of Dihlabeng school, decided that talks to groups about the T-bag
* Curtains suites today
on her return journey she would project. For details call him on
call into the workshop to see the 872389 or mail: bobandlyn25
project first hand. @aol.com