Global Justice Now
 | |
| Formation | 1970 |
|---|---|
| Type | NGO |
| Purpose | Global Justice issues |
| Headquarters | 66 Offley Road, Kennington, London SW9 0LS |
Region served | Worldwide |
Chair | Paul de Hoest |
Main organ | Council |
| Website | http://www.globaljustice.org.uk |
Global Justice Now, formerly known as the World Development Movement (WDM), is a membership organisation based in the United Kingdom which campaigns on issues of global justice and development in the Global South.
The organisation produces research to expose injustices against the world's poor. Examples include their work against trade deals such as TTIP, or highlighting how UK aid has been used to favour the interests of corporations more than those of the supposed beneficiaries.[1]
Much of their research highlights how corporations' power, supported by governments, has an adverse effect on those living in poverty.
Key to Global Justice Now’s mission is to promote democratic alternatives, such as food sovereignty, enliven public debate and attract more members of the public to global issues.
Aims
Its aims are:[2]
- To work with, and amplify the voices of, groups that are fighting the takeover of their resources, such as food, water and energy
- To mobilise people in the UK to create change
- To use political systems to control the power of big business
Organisational structure
Global Justice Now has a network of local groups as well as individual members, and an office in Edinburgh from which Global Justice Scotland is run.[3] It participates in international networks such as the Our World is Not for Sale network on trade and corporate globalisation,[4] and the World Social Forum.[5]
Global Justice Now has an associated charity, Global Justice Now Trust, which funds Global Justice Now’s charitable activities.[6]
History
Global Justice Now started in 1969 as 'Action for World Development' (AWD). Many people who were involved in collecting one million signatures on a petition about world development had seen the need for political campaigning which charity law restricted development charities from undertaking. AWD was formally launched by aid agencies such as Oxfam and Christian Aid, and by churches.
The World Development Movement was formed in 1970, and extended the work of AWD but as a separate body with its own member groups to decide its policies and priorities. Its constitution was subsequently changed to allow individuals as well as local groups to become members.
Global Justice Now was a co-founder of the Fairtrade Foundation in 1992, Jubilee 2000 in 1997, the Trade Justice Movement in 2000, and the 2005 anti-poverty mobilisation Make Poverty History.
In late 2006, Global Justice Now moved its London offices from Brixton to new premises at 66 Offley Road in Kennington, London.
On the 1st January 2015 the organisation was renamed to Global Justice Now as part of a wider relaunch.[7][8]
Campaign highlights
Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP)
Global Justice Now is campaigning against TTIP, the proposed free trade agreement between the European Union and the United States. It argues that safety regulations, workers’ rights, environmental protection rules and food standards regulations are all threatened by TTIP.[9]
Climate change
Global Justice Now considers climate change to be a climate justice issue. In 2009 they successfully campaigned to stop new coal-fired power station in Kingsnorth, Kent and Hunterston in Ayrshire because the organisation considered any plans for new coal-fired power stations to be incompatible with plans to tackle climate change.[10]
From 2010 Global Justice Now ran a campaign on climate debt opposing the UK government's plans to give money in the form of climate loans to already heavily indebted poor countries in the global South.[11]
See also
- Pergau Dam - successful campaign issue
References
- ↑ "The UK’s support of the growth of private education through its development aid". Retrieved 2015-12-14.
- ↑ "About us". Retrieved 2015-04-22.
- ↑ "Activism: Think global, act local". Retrieved 2015-01-15.
- ↑ "Signatories to the OWINFS statement". Archived from the original on August 12, 2007. Retrieved 2008-05-22.
- ↑ "WDM in East Africa". Retrieved 2008-05-22.
- ↑ "WDM Annual review for 2005". Archived from the original on 2007-02-18. Retrieved 2007-02-19.
- ↑ "Global Justice Now". Retrieved 2015-01-15.
- ↑ Currah, Kel. "WDM changes its name". Persuaded Magazine. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
- ↑ "TTIP: A Threat to democracy, standards and jobs". Retrieved 2015-04-22.
- ↑ "Campaign success: EON shelves plans for dirty coal at Kingsnorth". Retrieved 2015-12-14.
- ↑ http://www.wdm.org.uk/climate-debt-campaign/what-wdm-doing
External links
- Global Justice Now
- Global Justice Now's flickr photostream
- Trade Justice Movement
- Development Ratings Research and recommendations on development charities.