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Gordon Brown must call time on global greed to solve financial crisis
Demonstration: 6.30-7.30 pm, Monday 10 November 2008
Anti-poverty and environmental groups representing over nine million people today urge Prime Minister Gordon Brown to call time on the global greed responsible for the worst financial crisis in history.
Groups campaigning for justice for the world's poor will be demonstrating as Brown addresses the City tonight at the Lord Mayor of London's banquet.
Protestors will gather outside the Guildhall to demand Brown helps devise a major recovery plan for the financial crisis that puts people and the environment at its heart.
The groups say that while those to blame for the crisis have been bailed out with billions of dollars of taxpayers' money, the world's poorest people remain saddled with an unfair economic system and have received nothing.
Their alliance - including the Trade Justice Movement, ActionAid, CAFOD, the Jubilee Debt Campaign, Stamp Out Poverty, War on Want, the World Development Movement and the New Economics Foundation - demand fundamental reform of the global economic system which fuelled the crisis.
Benedict Southworth, chair of the Trade Justice Movement and director of the World Development Movemnt added: "The past few months have seen one of the most significant financial crises in North American and European history, a crisis caused by global greed - a reckless and unregulated economic system which has been biased against the poor for decades.
"It's time for a radically different system which reduces inequality, creates jobs and puts people before profit, within a low carbon economy. It's essential that rich countries do not use this crisis as an excuse not to make deep cuts in carbon emissions and agree a post 2012 climate change deal. Instead we need to grasp this as an opportunity to set the world economy on the path to sustainability."
Meredith Alexander from ActionAid, said: "The financial crisis has graphically demonstrated to people in rich countries what the poor have known for years that the current international economic system doesn't work. We need a radically different economic system which puts people first. Most importantly, the world's poorest people must have a full and equal say in developing this system. Decisions must not be taken by organisations that only represent rich countries."
The protest will take place in the run-up to a controversial G20 summit of leaders from the world's richest economies in Washington on Saturday (15 November) to discuss the financial crisis.
Campaigners are pressing for decisions about reform to the global economic system to be made in a far more democratic forum that gives the poorest of the world a full and equal say.
They propose that the United Nations, as the only organisation with such a mandate, must be empowered to lead a process of comprehensive reform of the financial and economic system which involves all countries.
The alliance is calling for:
- a major recovery plan for the financial crisis that puts people and the environment at its heart - in particular enabling countries to better feed, clothe, educate and protect their people.
- effective regulation of the financial system, including just tax, debt and trade rules.
- a new and democratic set of institutions to govern this economic system.
Notes to editors:
1. For further information or to arrange interviews contact:
- Kate Blagojevic, World Development Movement & Trade Justice Movement , 07711 875 345, Kate.Blagojevic@wdm.org.uk
- Paul Collins, War on Want, 07983 550 728, pcollins@waronwant.org
- Anjali Kwatra, ActionAid, 07941 371 357, Anjali.Kwatra@actionaid.org
- Jonathan Stevenson, Jubilee Debt Campaign, 07818 651 124,jonathan@jubileedebtcampaign.org.uk
2. On Monday there will be two financial crisis picture opportunities:
Gordon Brown pressed on global greed
A protestor wearing a Gordon Brown giant head/a Gordon Brown mask, in bed with a city fat cat, will be woken by a massive alarm clock declaring 'Gordon: Call Time on Global Greed'
10.00 am GMT, Monday 10 November 2008
Forecourt of the Royal Exchange, opposite the Bank of England, above Bank tube station, central London.
Evening: call time on global greed demo
Scores of campaigners will stage a noise demonstration with bells and alarm clocks outside the Guildhall as Brown speaks to City leaders, with banners reading 'Call Time on Global Greed'.
6.30 pm-7.30 pm GMT, Monday 10 November 2008
Opposite the Guildhall, Gresham Street, London, EC2V 7PG
The full list of organisations involved is: the Trade Justice Movement, ActionAid, CAFOD, the Jubilee Debt Campaign, Stamp Out Poverty, War on Want, the World Development Movement and the New Economics Foundation.
3. Anti-poverty campaigners are urging people to sign a petition calling for fundamental reform to the economic system. Go to http://www.waronwant.org/?lid=16607
Kate Blagojevic
Press officer, World Development Movement
0207 820 4900/4913, 07711 875 345, Email:
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