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

Silence is deafening as 6000 vote

The 6,000-strong crowd stopped the traffic as it snaked along the seafront in a blaze of colour and noise. Costumed carnival dancers dressed as giant white flowers, suited men on stilts, giant taps, and computer-headed campaigners processed alongside protestors beneath bobbing balloons and jostling placards.

The placards bore witness to the journeys people had made that day: Widnes says Trade Justice, declared one. Cardiff another… Nottingham, Thames Ditton, Dunstable, Clitheroe, Bristol, Enfield. One busload had left Chorley in Lancashire at 5am.

It took 45 minutes for people to march the half-mile route to the Brighton Centre, where suited Labour Party Conference delegates watched from balconies as the crowd gathered below them.

“I hope we put pressure on the politicians to actually do something about Trade Justice,” said Matthew Preece, 34, whose family travelled with a group from St Peter’s and Mary Immaculate Catholic parish in New Barnet, London.

“Whichever government comes in at the next election we want Trade Justice to be on its agenda,” said Lucy Gallagher, 29.

In solidarity with a global movement

“Welcome to Ballot on the Beach” declared trade campaigner Pushpanath Krishnamurthy over the loud speakers. “You are part of a global movement. Ten million Latin Americans have voted for Trade Justice, one million Ethiopians and one million Zambians.

It was in solidarity with those campaigners, and the millions of lives wrecked by unjust trade rules, that the 6,000-crowd then stood in silence for two minutes. The silence was deafening.

It was broken by an ear-shattering outburst of noise as campaigners banged pots, pans, colanders, spoons and drums. They blew whistles, honked horns, clapped and shouted. All the while besuited delegates looked on from the balcony of the conference centre.

And then giant ballot boxes were unveiled on the seafront and bundles of cards were handed through the crowd to be cast in a massive vote for Trade Justice. There were votes collected in Shrewsbury, Hastings, Abingdon. CAFOD supporter Anne Kam, 56, brought 100 votes from Ewell in Surrey.

Politicians must listen

“Is Tony Blair here in Brighton?” asked Maria Jakulis, 23, who travelled with her brother Paul from Chorley. “Yes? Then hopefully this will give him a message that trade should be fair. I hope he listens.”

Former MP Tony Benn cast his vote there and then on the promenade.

John Kaseki, from the Democratic Republic of Congo was there with his wife Regine and ten-year-old daughter Deborah. “We came because we know many people are suffering because of unfair trade in Africa and Asia,” he said. “And they’re suffering because of policies of governments here in Britain and the rest of the rich world. We hope your politicians pay attention.”

Labour delegate Robert Atkinson said: “Initially I thought it was the sea – a great roar could be heard. When I came outside it was protestors with their claxons and pans.

“Delegates were impressed with the numbers of people and the fact that so many were willing to come out in solidarity with the developing world.”