6 December 2005

UK sporting heroes support campaign for trade justice 

Some of the biggest names in UK sport have teamed up with Make Poverty History and the Trade Justice Movement in the fight for trade justice with one week to go before the important World Trade Organisation (WTO) meeting in Hong Kong from 13 to 18 December. 

Sir Steve Redgrave, Dame Kelly Holmes, Freddie Flintoff, Jonny Wilkinson, Sol Campbell, Frankie Dettori, Greg Rusedski, Alec Stewart, Chris Eubank, Nick Faldo and Colin Montgomerie have all joined the campaign and are calling on the nation to Vote for Trade Justice. 

In a series of striking images, the sports stars help illustrate how unfair trade rules hold back the performance of developing countries in global trade. The images portray world trade as a game where the rules are weighted in favour of one side, a game where not even the strongest players can win. 

"Trade has the potential to lift millions of people out of poverty. But foul play in global trade talks means that poor countries are getting a raw deal. It's time they were given a fair chance", says Sir Steve Redgrave.

Greg Rusedski says: "It seems that the rules are rigged in favour of the rich countries on the global trading system. This isn't fair. Poor countries should be allowed to decide how they can compete globally."

The images of sports stars competing under restricted conditions feature key elements of the trade justice campaign, how the current global trade rules are destroying livelihoods of farmers, crippling the growth of industry and threatening the delivery of affordable basic services such as clean water to poor communities.

To add to the injustice, farmers in wealthy countries are subsidised by their governments and dump their excess produce on the markets of poor countries. This means that farmers in developing countries cannot even sell their produce locally, let alone export it to foreign markets. 

The top sports stars added their voice as well as their image to the campaign: 

Athlete Dame Kelly Holmes: "Unjust trade rules rob poor countries of £1.3 billion a day - 14 times more than what they receive in aid. As long as rich countries remain the obstacles to trade justice we cannot make poverty history".

Footballer Sol Campbell: "Rich countries are putting their own goals above making poverty history. It is time to give the red card to poverty and make trade work for and not against the poor. Trade Justice can lift millions out of poverty."

Cricketer Alec Stewart: "Everyone should have a right to an acceptable standard of life. Global trade rules are increasing the inequality. Increased awareness of these issues is needed to help make poverty history."

Golfer Nick Faldo: "Not even the strongest of developing nations could take on rich countries in the trade game. The rules are tipped in favour of the rich. This injustice is cheating poor countries out of pulling themselves out of poverty."

A Vote for Trade Justice is a vote to let poor countries make their own poverty history. 

Over 750, 000 people across the UK have already cast their Vote for Trade Justice. 

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