Vigil for the Global Week of Action organised by Devon Trade Justice Network

The All-Night Vigil
An exciting culmination to the Global Week of Action was experienced by the many who attended an all night vigil at the Methodist Mint church in Exeter.

Trade justice campaigners from across Devon joined hundreds of thousands of people across the world in the all-night vigil.

There was also a candle lit moment of solidarity outside Exeter cathedral at midnight, when the stunning lanterns made earlier in the evening drew attention from passers by. Fire jugglers and drummers also added to the attractions and over one hundred people shared in this moment.

A dawn walk to historic trading sites in Exeter was followed by a Fair Trade breakfast feast.

Campaigners the world over took part in similar events; the largest in the UK was in Westminster in London. The event has become the largest ever mobiliastion on trade justice

The Trade Justice Movement is calling for a change in the rules of trade to benefit the world’s poor and the environment. Sue Errington, coordinator of the Devon Trade Justice Network says:

"Trade has become more and more unfair, with big businesses and rich countries getting richer, while poor ones find it ever-harder to compete. This vigil provided a fun and informative way of standing in solidarity with the world’s poorest people who are trapped in poverty by unfair trade rules. Together with thousands the world over, we were able to send a powerful message to world leaders that it’s time for trade justice.”

Stories from around the world...

Zambia Cotton Trade Campaign
Read about a campaign for trade justice in the Zambian cotton industry and the background to the issue. Zambia is a country where unfair trade rules really hurt local producers and their families. The campaign aims to collect one million signatures for a petition calling for changes to the rules that govern the cotton trade at a local and global level. Read the paper [pdf format]