Thousands to Hold Night Vigil at Downing Street for World Trade Justice

In the run up to the Global Week of Action on Trade Justice on 10th-16th April, a coalition of UK aid agencies and faith groups has been preparing a massive event to join the global voice for justice. Thousands of people will be gathering at an all-night candle-lit vigil outside Downing Street, Westminster, London on Friday 15th April in a bid to push the UK government to reinforce world trade justice policies and to better protect poor countries.

The all-night vigil is organised by the Trade Justice Movement (TJM), which is a coalition of over 60 organisations in the UK, including Christian Aid, Oxfam, World Vision, Baptist Union, Methodist Relief & Development Fund among others. Stars from stage, screen and the music world such as Vanessa Redgrave, Pete Postlethwaite and Simon Mayo will be among the rally to perform songs and readings.

It is expected that Whitehall will be lit up with ten thousand spectacular lanterns and candles. Singer Ronan Keating said, "It will be an important event with millions of people all over the world calling for trade justice. A candlelit vigil outside Downing Street will be the biggest this country has ever seen. So come and be part of making history that night."

In 2005, as the UK hosts the G8 summit of world leaders and gains the presidency of the European Union, it gives the government a unique opportunity to change the unjust trade system that keeps millions of people in poverty and harms the environment. Make Poverty History, a massive campaign launched previously in the UK for 2005, has emphasised on this point and urges the government to take a leading role in implementing feasible policies to relieve world poverty.

With the same aim, TJM demands the government to stop pushing poor countries to open up their economies and respect their right to decide on trade policies which will help them end poverty and protect their environment.

Glen Tarman, TJM coordinator, said, "It’s going to be an amazing night. If you care about those living in poverty across the world - come and join us if you can. If you cannot stay up all night please come to Downing Street just before midnight on Friday 15th April. Help us wake up UK politicians to the fact that the British public have had enough of the way global trade is run in our name to benefit rich countries and hurt poor ones."

The all night programme has a huge range of activities throughout the night to appeal to everyone from clubbers to faith groups including:

- Club night at the Marquee Club in Leicester Square featuring Nitin Sawhney, Radio 1 DJ Bobby Friction and other artists

- Trade justice cinemas at the Odeon Panton Street and Methodist Central Hall

- Overnight fair trade café with breakfast served in the morning

- A fleet of rickshaws to give the public free rides to all the different venues and along the amazing spectacle of Whitehall lit up by thousands of candles and lanterns