News from Global Justice Now

In the media

It’s been a busy period for media. Nick Dearden wrote two op-eds for the Guardian, on the Pacific trade deal in April and Labour’s approach to international trade in February, and was featured in a New Humanitarian podcast. For the Energy Charter Treaty, we worked with Conservative MP Chris Skidmore on an op-ed for the Financial Times and with Caroline Lucas MP on one for Times Red Box. The ISDS walking tour of Leeds organised by Global Justice York led to a great article in Yorkshire Bylines.

Our campaign on the Finance Bill has been referenced in the New Internationalist and Byline Times. Nick also had an op-ed in CityAM on UK food shortages, and a number of articles published in the run-up to the Monopoly Capitalism conference. On pharma, we worked with Labour MP Virendra Sharma on a Times Red Box op-ed opposing stricter IP rules in the India trade deal, which would restrict the availability of TB drugs. Tim Bierley had a letter in the Financial Times criticising big pharma’s demands to increase NHS medicine prices.

On climate, our reactions to Shell and BP’s escalating profits were in the Independent, iNews and the Sun in February, and in the Telegraph, Evening Standard, Daily Express and the Guardian in May, and Dorothy Guerrero was interviewed by LBC. Our reasons for taking part in XR’s The Big One were quoted by EuroNews in March, and Dottie was interviewed on Al Jazeera. In reactive media, we were quoted by iNews on deportation flights, and in the Guardian on corruption at the World Bank.

Action checklist

Trade and climate

Council reportback

Our most recent council meeting took place at the end of April. At most council meetings we have an update from one of the management team, and this time James O’Nions reported on the work of the activism team. We heard about the well-attended conference in March and successful participation in ‘The Big One’ with XR. We also discussed the growing youth network and how this can best be supported within the structure of Global Justice Now. Beyond this, we discussed issues including fundraising and risks to the organisation, and planned the AGM. Next year we will be electing a new council – please do get in touch if you’re interested in standing. Nicola Ansell, chair.

Write to your MP about the Energy Charter Treaty, and try to arrange a meeting to explain the issue further.

Reach out to other local groups interested in climate change for possible joint activities.

Write to (or for) a local paper about the ECT.

Climate justice

Start thinking about how your group could be involved in the Make Polluters Pay day of action on 23 September.

Pharma

Decide whether you want to host a Pharmanomics book launch locally, or a film screening.