24 Hours for Trade Justice 

This weekend, tens of thousands of campaigners will lobby more than 500 MPs in Scale Up for Trade Justice the biggest ever simultaneous lobby the country has ever seen. 

The aim is to create massive pressure on the UK Government to take a lead at the forthcoming World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministerial Meeting in rewriting world trade rules to benefit poor countries and the environment. In particular, campaigners will insist that the Government stop backing an expansion of the WTO's powers to include new issues such as investment.

The 24 hour lobby will culminate in a huge symbolic action taking place all over the UK at noon on Saturday. At festivals, rallies and celebrations nationwide, campaigners will hold up scales, the symbol of trade justice. 

The following is just a selection of the events taking place. To find out about events near you, or for more details on the events below, search the Trade Justice Movement Action Exchange 

Big city events

In Leicester, Secretary of State for Trade Industry Patricia Hewitt will brave trade campaigners and attend a city centre event.

In Newcastle, From five points in the city, campaigners will march to Grey's Monument. A minute's silence as a giant set of scales is raised will end with a roar of solidarity with campaigners around the country who are sharing in this moment. 

In Glasgow, campaigners will take over Bells Bridge, which will be swathed with banners. At least four or five of the city's MPs will be there for the Weigh-In movement.

In Manchester, campaigners from all over Greater Manchester will hold a WEIGH IN to celebrate all the MP lobbying that has taken place. Hosted by BBC GMR Sunday Breakfast Show Presenter Mike Shaft, this event will feature live music with a Zimbabwean 15 piece band, and talks from Margaret Sisilu, a bishop and others. Cafod's trade expert, a Kenyan speaker, Bishop of Middleton and others.

In Brixton, London, hundreds of people will lobby local MP Keith Hill, then process to Windrush Square for their Weigh In. 


24 hour events

In Methley, West Yorkshire, campaigners will be holding a 24 hour ' singalongathon' in Methley Methodist Church.

In Brighton, MPs will be able to take advantage of the city's 24 hour culture and drop in any time at a 24-hour lobbying stall in Pavilion Gardens. At 12 noon on Saturday, campaigners will make a giant trade justice symbol on the beach by dressing in white and down in the shape of scales. 


Events with celebrity involvement

In Tottenham, Casualty actor and Celebrity Fame Academy winner Kwame Kwei-Armah will lobby David Lammy MP, along with local campaigners. Kwame recently went to Senegal to visit Christian Aid partners there.

In Nottingham, World Champion Boxer Jawaid Khaliq will 'fight' a small child to illustrate the injustice of world trade rules. 

In Birmingham, Paul Bradley (Nigel from Eastenders) will join hundreds of people at a city centre carnival. The event will include an 'Unfayre', music, stalls, and the opportunity to add "your weight" to a mass West Midlands total. 

In Rochdale, comedian Jimmy Cricket will join local campaigners to lobby MP Lorna Fitzsimons

CAFOD supporter Delia Smith is supporting Scale Up.

At Glastonbury Festival, the campaign will have a huge presence. Headline band Radiohead are supporting Scale Up for Trade Justice, as are a number of other main performers. Festival-goers will be able to fax their MPs and join the campaign, with many stunts, stalls and events and a Trade Justice Procession.