Give the 'Jobs, Justice, Climate' message to world leaders

by Fiona Montgomery

How often do you get the chance to put your views across to the finance ministers of the world’s richest nations?

On Saturday 7 November in St Andrews, hundreds of people from a massive coalition of organisations will be urging G20 ministers meeting there to accept that business as usual is not an option.

Scottish Secretary Matt Smith has urged branches to take the opportunity to join the important ‘Jobs, Justice, Climate’ rally on the beach in St Andrews. At this time of economic and environmental crisis, the Put People First coalition says existing policies reinforce high levels of poverty and inequality.

PPF wants the G20 to:

• Rebuild our economies so they deliver decent jobs & public services for all
• Eradicate the scourge of global poverty and inequality
• Create and invest in a green economy that preserves the environment for our children and the natural support systems of our planet to prevent runaway climate change.

Matt said: “UNISON played a key role, along with other trade unions, in the Put People First demonstration in London in March for the G20 leaders’ summit.

“Here in Scotland, we are particularly well placed to step up pressure on the G20, given that Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Chancellor Alistair Darling and International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander all represent Scottish constituencies.

“The Put People First demands, including decent jobs and public services for all, fit very well with our Public Works campaign, part of UNISON’s A Million Voices for Change campaign.”

The day in St Andrews will begin at 11.30 am with a rally on the beach and a fun photo stunt. You are advised to wrap up well! The ‘People’s Summit’ continues with a range of speakers, workshops and cultural events at St Andrews University. These will explore positive alternatives for a global economy that puts people first.

Speakers include Kevin Dunion, Rector of St Andrews University, Jan Bebbington, Vice-Chair of the Sustainable Development Commission in Scotland, and Sister Rosemary, Director of St Monica’s, in northern Uganda, a project working with child/young mothers who were forced to become slave wives when they were abducted by the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army. Also speaking will be Colin Hines, member of the Green New Deal group, author of ‘Localisation - a global manifesto’ and former co-ordinator of Greenpeace International’s Economics Unit

The afternoon will end with a free screening of the film The Yes Men Fix the World. You can also make your voice heard by emailing your MP asking her/him to write to Alistair Darling calling for strong action on Jobs, Justice and Climate at www.foe-scotland.org.uk and click on the link.

Edinburgh UNISON and UNISON Scotland are running a bus from Edinburgh to St Andrews. Full details about the G20 Road to St Andrews event, with background information, travel timetables and a downloadable ‘People’s Guide to G20 Action’ are at: www.g20standrews.org

Organisers are keen to have an idea of the numbers planning to come so please have someone from your group email g20@jubileescotland.org to say how many you expect to attend.

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