VOTE FOR TRADE JUSTICE Ballot on the Beach Sunday 26 September 2004 > Home > Background > Minute by minute > Events > Video at www.christian-aid.org.uk > Photos

Carnival atmosphere as trade justice campaigners descend on Brighton beach

Brighton beach has been awash with colour as thousands of campaigners carrying placards, banners and balloons descended on the seafront. Their message: we want trade justice not free trade.

From around 10.30am, campaigners from Burnley to Bromley started to gather on the seafront near the famous Brighton pier as the sun slowly emerged from the overcast sky.

Seaside entertainment

All the usual seaside entertainments were on offer but with a trade justice twist. Some watched a Punch and Judy show with the infamous characters replaced with Tony Blair and a poor farmer. Others lined up along the beach to have their photo taken in a ‘head in hole’ end-of-pier display – all of the characters of course holding Vote for Trade Justice postcards.

Behind the show, a more surreal sight unravelled as a “GATS monster” undulated along the pebbles led by two people dressed as taps.

The spectacle was to highlight the campaign by the World Development Movement against the little-known General Agreement on Trade and Services. This is a trade agreement which aims to apply free trade rules to the delivery of basic services such as water and education. This will benefit the profits of large multinationals above the interests of poor communities.

Making a big impact

Bernard White, 57, from Croydon said: “I hope we make a big impact. I am gathering outside the conference centre here to get make sure our message of trade justice gets heard by those inside.”

Sharon Green from Wimbourne in Dorset said: “I am here to change the rules of international trading because the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer.”

Glen Tarman, co-ordinator of the Trade Justice Movement said: “People are here in their thousands from all over the country to issue a massive challenge to the British government.

“This is an incredible start to the Vote for Trade Justice campaign which will only grow and grow as international issues go higher up the agenda as we move into 2005.”