Global Week of Action on Trade, 10-16 April 2005 witnessed an unprecedented coming together of hundreds and thousands of people across India who raised their voice against the unjust trade rules of WTO and the policies of IMF and World Bank.  Observed in over 70 countries, Global Week of Action was part of the international movement for trade justice, a trade with rules weighted to benefit the poor and the environment.  It is against ‘free trade’.

The Global Week of Action served notice on the rich countries, international financial Institutions and the World Trade Organisation to amend global trade rules so that these do not undermine food sovereignty of the poor. It further called for affirmative action from the rich countries so that the rules of international trade favour the poor and not just be neutral. It, therefore, establishes a relationship between the poverty in the global south and the plenty in the global north; it demanded responsible behaviour from the governments and sought unprecedented international solidarity in the struggle for a just multilateral system.

The theme of Global Week of Action in India was ‘Globalisation and its impact on Food Sovereignty of Communities, in particular Dalits, Adivasis and Women.’ People from over 20 states and sectors observed the week of action. While calling upon rich countries to alter their trade policies, the Indian campaign also reminded the government that the primary responsibility of protecting food sovereignty of Indian people lies with it.

The most significant aspect of the Indian campaign was that taking place in villages and municipal towns it provided an opportunity for the impoverished farmers, the poor and the marginalised to express their concern on how trade impacts their lives. In some instances, the action became celebrations – celebrating natural food, natural resources and cultural identity. In other instances, it became protests – protesting against genetically modified seeds, plunder of natural resources, lack of employment and social discrimination.

The Indian process demanded, in particular, restoration of tariff on import of agricultural commodities, immediate stop to privatisation of water, discontinuation of the use of India as a testing ground for genetically modified seeds and an immediate end to patenting of life forms and community knowledge.

As a part of Global Week of Action in India, one million people will sign a memorandum, which will be submitted to the Prime Minister in June. Over 25,000 postcards were sent to the President of India by the people during the week.

Effigy burning of WTO in Rajasthan and Uttaranchal, rally in Andhra Pradesh with symbolic items to show the impact of globalisation like grain to show the impact on food sovereignty and slate to highlight the impact on education, ‘prabhat pheri’, a colourful morning rally with tableaux in West Bengal, street actions against offices of MNCs in Punjab, human chain and demonstration at Shivganga in Tamil Nadu, alternate food festival in Kerala and a candle light vigil at the lawns of VP House in New Delhi to awaken the government on the need for protecting the food sovereignty of the poor in India on the last day marked the week-long action programme.

Among the organisations that were part of the India campaign included the Centre of Indian Trade Unions, All India Central Council of Trade Unions, Hind Mazdoor Sabha, All India Trade Union Congress, Hawkers Sangram Samiti, BIRSA, Kheti Virasat Mission, National Fish Workers Forum, Center for Education and Communication, HAQ Centre for Child Rights, Voluntary Health Association of India; Forum for Biotechnology and Food Security, National Forum of Forest People and Forest Workers and a number of NGOs and civil society organisations all over India.

(For more information on Global Week of Action India, please log on to www.gwaindia.org. Information on global campaign is available at www.april2005.org)