Global Justice Now held a big event to mark its change of name in London last weekend (photo: Global Justice Now).

Global Justice Now group relaunches in Bexhill

The World Development Movement (WDM) has changed its name to Global Justice Now, and the Bexhill and Hastings branch is holding an event on Friday 27 February to mark the fact. Nick Terdre reports.

“The reason for the change of name is that the word ‘development’ has been highjacked by big businesses wanting to get a foothold in Africa and many other countries where WDM has been working,” Christina Lucey of Global Justice Bexhill and Hastings told HOT.

“The relaunch gives us the opportunity to reinvigorate our local campaigning work.  WDM has worked on issues of poverty and injustice for over 40 years. As Global Justice Now, the organisation as a whole will continue to campaign for a world where resources are controlled by the many, not the few, and will work in solidarity with social movements to fight injustice.”

The event, organised jointly with Bexhill Fairtrade Committee, will be an evening of film – Seeds of Freedom and Fairtrade Matters – and discussion. Alex Scrivener, the national group’s policy officer, will give a talk. There will also be stalls, refreshments and a free Fairtrade wine tasting. It takes place in the church hall of St Mary Magdalene in Magdalen Road, opposite Bexhill station. Doors open at 6.30pm and entry is free.

One of the crowded sessions at the relaunch event in London (photo: Global Justice Now).

A national relaunch event, Take Back Our World, was  held in London last weekend. Members from the Bexhill and Hastings group report that the turnout was immense, with a good range of ages and ethnic diversity. The sessions they attended were very informative and interesting.

In addition to films and workshops, the programme included a dozen sessions on diverse issues such as the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), how to fight global agribusiness, energy justice and rolling back privatisation. Street artists from Mexico, who currently have an exhibition in London,  introduced a debate on the role of art in social change and C4 economics editor Paul Mason provided an update on the situation in Greece from which he had just returned.

Lots of new members signed up during the event, a spokesman told HOT. Nationally the movement is growing, with around 50 local groups around the country following the recent formation of groups in Bristol and Brixton.

See also Fairtrade Fortnight under way

Also in: Campaigns