Oxford demonstration against the WTO

Great to see pics as I could not get there but please,
I could not see the banners clearly, what does MSF stand
for or MST on the caps. Please don't assume that we are
all on board yet, or you may lose many valuable people...
The monster was great, I was sorry to have missed it.

Hi Newcomer,

MST is: Movimento sem Terra - the Brazilian Movement of Landless Peasants

MSF is: Manufacturing Science Finance - now AMICUS-MSF - the union for skill and professional people.

If you would like to know anything else, email us or visit the website.
Cheers!

More than 300 people attended this march in Oxford to highlight the unfair trade rules which currently leave many millions of people suffering from the policies of the WTO. It was organised by the Oxford for Trade Justice campaign, which has also recently held two sucessful meetings to further inform the public about the relevant issues. Forthcoming meetings include...

Thursday September 18th: the consequences of WTO policies on the environment
Oxford Town Hall, 7.00pm
- The economics of GM food and corporate owenership of the food chain
- Alternative practices: the Brazilian Movement of Landless Peasants (MST)
- Speakers include: Caroline Lucas (MEP) plus Miriam Kennet (academic, and
editor of the book 'Green Economics')

and...

Thursday September 25th: the consequences of WTO policies on human rights
Oxford Town Hall, 7.00pm
- When civil society gets in the way: trade unions, assiniations and human
rights in Columbia - Jesus Alfonso Naranjo, President of the Columbian
Health Service Trade Union
- British union support for Columbian Trade Unionists - Gerard Kelly
ex-president of NATFHE
- Cheap goods and cheap workers - Mick Duncan, from the No Sweat campaign

The march assembled at Manzil Way and set off along the Cowley Road at 11.30. The 'Monster' attracted the attention of many passersby, who were informed about the campaign by people who leafleted as the march progressed. Throughout the march the crowd chanted... "What do we want? TRADE JUSTICE! When do we want it? NOW!"

After crossing Magdelen Bridge, the march turned off the High Street and down Turl Street, before morphing into a rally on Broad Street. Here, the crowd heard from several speakers, including veteran CND campaigner Bruce Kent. A play was also staged by Waterworks Theatre Group to highlight the inequalities engendered by WTO policies.

Oxford Labour councillor John Tanner expressed his hope that all aspects of the loosely termed 'global justice movement' (my phrase) would come together to oppose any policies contrary to basic human rights. These include anti-militarism, environmentalists and fair trade campaigners, as all these issues are linked and must be fought in a united and co-ordinated fashion.