Update from the Christian Council of Asia: Ecumenical Protests against World Trade Organization held

by Global Ministries | published on Oct 10, 2014

Letter from Global Ministries partner, the Christian Council of Asia, relating to ecumenical activities and protests around the WTO meetings.

Prior to the World Trade Organization (WTO) – 6th Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong (December 13-18, 2005), the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) welcomed over 200 delegates of various ecumenical organizations and people’s movements from around the world to Hong Kong. The ecumenical gathering was to share concerns and to discuss the role of faith communities on issues that cause the suffering of the poor – who make up the majority of global community. During the conference, three speakers gave presentations on “economic justice and social sustainability in the context of WTO and a globalized world” and another three on “the role of faith communities in creating alternatives”. At the end, the conference produced two statements – one to governments and one to faith communities. These statements can be found at the CCA website: http://www.cca.org.hk/home1.htm.

One of the highlights of people’s movement against the WTO was the people’s rally on December 11, 2005. Around five thousand people took part in the rally protesting the WTO that aims only to appreciate the agri-businesses, but leaves the majority of the people in inhumane situations- poverty, unemployment, under employment, etc. This photo is of one of the banners expressing the suffering of the poor brought by the “McDonaldisation” of food.