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Dear Tesco shareholders,

On the eve of Tesco’s AGM a report published by Corporate Watch, shows how Tesco’s increasing hold on the UK clothing market is having a detrimental effect on workers in the UK but particularly in the clothing sweatshops of the third world. It seems in this time of action against poverty you might take a stand against corporate greed and sacrifice just a little of the huge profits Tesco makes for the benefit of others. Or am I being just a little naive?

Love Wildberry
 

The following is the conclusion of the Corporate Watch report. You can read the complete report on-line here.

 ‘Despite Tesco's assertions about its ethical performance, the structure of global sourcing in the garment industry means that the way it operates will always contribute to an undermining of workers' standards worldwide. This is due to the power of the big retailing corporations such as Tesco who can bargain for the lowest prices and find the most competitive and flexible production sources. The result is that the most vulnerable people in the chain, the factory workers, are likely to suffer from low wages, poor working conditions and job insecurity. The end of the Multifibre Agreement is putting further pressure on suppliers and therefore workers. Since its end, at the start of 2005, conditions in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in particular appear to be getting even worse.

In the UK, Tesco holds an increasing share of the British clothing market. Tesco's low prices, makes it difficult for other companies to compete so they, in turn, pressure their suppliers to lower their prices. Whilst many other retailers are failing to fulfil their responsibility to workers in the supply chain, the constant pressure on prices results in a downward spiral, led by Tesco and the other supermarkets, which affects working conditions in the garment trade worldwide.

On Sunday The Observer newspaper included a very good supplement called Turning the Tide. The special report, produced in association with the Carbon Trust, included some fascinating statistics. Their random poll concluded that 'the public overwhelmingly expects radical action to combat climate change, with three-quarters of those polled anticipating restrictions to be imposed on private vehicle use. 51 percent of voters believe that some kind of rationing or restrictions on air travel will be necessary in the future.'

It seems to me that the majority in this country are aware of climate change to a greater or lesser degree, but they see it as someone else's responsibility. It isn't. Yes - it would be immensely beneficial for the government or better still the EU to legislate to ban high fuel consumption vehicles, to restrict the number of flights and to clamp down on polluting businesses. But the fact is they're along way behind the science and the need.

I firmly believe by the time governments act it will be too late. We need to act now - TODAY! You and I. If we don't fly so much there won't be the need to restrict flights. If we don't buy the gas guzzlers they'll soon stop making them. I'm afraid we need to use those dreadful 'market forces' in our favour, because if we don't,  not in five years or ten, but tomorrow. It will be too late and we'll only have ourselves to blame - you and I!
 

Tour de France

On a slightly brighter note the Tour de France starts on Saturday. Will Lance Armstrong break another record by winning seven tours? I think he probably will, although I must admit I've been supporting Jan Ullrich for the last three or four Tours.

If you want to watch and you don't have Eurosport, ITV2 have excellent coverage, with the unbeatable team of Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwin, which is available in the UK on Freeview.

Keep safe - Wildberry

Friends of the Earth have produced two very powerful short films to highlight the dangers about climate change and to encourage us to lobby our MPs. You can see one online here and one featuring Thom Yorke of Radiohead to be shown in cinemas here.
 

Monday 20 June 2005
Billy Bragg

On Saturday we went to see Billy Bragg at Queen Elizabeth Hall as part of Patti Smith's Meltdown festival. Billy and his band were on great form with some fantastic arrangements of some of his old hits. He also played a couple of Woody Guthrie songs which made me want to check out some of his music. I'm not sure where to start, so if anyone has any recommendations, I'd appreciate it.

The other thing Billy talked about was the growing strength of the BNP (British National Party) in his home town of Barking, Essex. Apparently at the forthcoming council elections the BNP could get 12 of the available seats. It's really important that all segments of our communities band together to rid our councils of these fascists. You can read more about situation in Barking on the Stop the BNP site.

A couple of other links that might be of interest are The Anti-Nazi League and Unite Against Fascism.

Isn't it hot! - Wildberry.

Anthony Gormley's excellent sculpture Another Place is currently being installed on Crosby beach near Liverpool. The exhibit was originally displayed in a river estuary in De Panne, Belgium, in 2003, then on the shores of Stavanger, Norway, in 1998; and at Cuxhaven, Germany, in 1997. I've always wanted to see this sculpture (or is it a group of sculptures?) and I'll certainly be making my way to Crosby, but don't worry there is no rush Another Place is going to be on display in Crosby until November 2006, when it is expected to move to New York. See the Guardian article here.

Good night - Wildberry

I've received an email from Transport 2000 telling me that Jeremy Clarkson is due to be awarded an honorary degree by Oxford Brookes University in the autumn in recognition of “his contribution to learning and society and as an exemplary role model for students”. Huh! 

I'm not naive, I know there are people who love their cars, love driving them and they probably love Jeremy Clarkson. But for a University that is supposed to be guiding the youth of this country, surely Jeremy Clarkson's speed loving, environment polluting, method of self-publicity can't be the best example they can find.

There is an online petition against this award that you can sign here or on the Transport 2000 website.

Pay to drive

I'm left feeling a little cold by Alistar Darling's announcement of the 'Pay-as-you-go' road charges. BBC report. You would imagine me to be raving about it .... I suppose it's a good thing. I think I'm just a little disappointed that by the 21st century, the only way we've found to get the majority of us out of our cars, is to tax us out.

I'd liked to imagine that in some utopian way the trains and buses would be so wonderful and cycle routes so extensive that roads became empty because we didn't want to use them. I'd imagined car showrooms stock piling cars because we just didn't want them anymore! We turned our back on the gas guzzlers and we peddled away in pollution free clean air ...... OK you're right, bring on the tax.

Open Organic Gardens

In a vain attempt to keep the slugs and snails off my lettuces this week, I stumbled this week across the HDRA website. They did have some anti-gastropod information, but the really interesting thing I found was the listing of organic gardens that open during the summer. We did visit one of these a few of years ago and had a great day. I'd forgotten about it, but it was a really inspiring. You can find the list on the HDRA site here.

Keep you pecker up - Wildberry!

 

But when the news media moves on, as it undoubtedly will sometime after the G8 conference, we must not forget these issues will still be there. Children will still be dying in Africa, climate change will still be happening and only by sticking with it, by keep banging that drum can we make some changes.

So whatever is your personal drum, keep banging it. Get your white band and wear it! Stick it in the face of everyone you meet, don't let them think the problem faded away with the last notes of Live 8. Join Friends of the Earth or one of the other charities highlighting climate change. Just don't let these issues die, because if we do we're just as guilty as those who don't give a damn.

A few useful links.

Make Poverty History
Oxfam
Live 8
G8 Gleneagles 2005
G8 Alternatives
Gleneagles
Perthshire G8 summit
G8 bike rides
G8 Climate Change
Queer G8
Faslane G8 protest

Friends of the Earth
Greenpeace
Rising Tide

What incredible tardiness

I've just looked at the Wildberry's Climate Change section to get the links above and it's a bit scrappy to say the least! Whenever I get the opportunity to update links in the directory I look through to see which area is in most need and my sincere apologies but the Climate Change section must have passed me by. I'll move it to the top of the queue, if you have any sites you'd like to see listed please let me know.

Don't let it get you down - Wildberry

 

Thank you for looking, if you've ended up here, as a result of the advert in the Friends of the Earth magazine 'Earthmatters'. (That's my advertising budget blown for this year.) Have a look at the about page for much more information about Wildberry's.

In short Wildberry's has been set-up to serve several purposes. I suppose the heart of Wildberry's is the blog, (the bit you're reading now) it's the part I think about everyday. As you will see if you look back through the last six months of blogs, I certainly don't write everyday, but reasonably frequently and it allows me to get things off my chest. Maybe that's a bit self indulgent but it's a sounding box for me when my accumulated frustration at the injustice and greed in the world becomes too much.

More important than this Wildberry's is an information resource for you, to pass on the good things in life, and try out the recommendations of others. So use it, it's here and it's free. Please go to the feedback page to make any comments and recommendations or you can just email to nigel@wildberrys.org.uk.

Bob does it again!

Bob Geldof has got himself in a bit off a pickle with his plea to the public to come to Edinburgh at the time of the G8 summit.

In his inimitable style Bob said, "We don't care how you get there. But you have got to get to Edinburgh and let them know what we think," he declared. "Give up home and school for a week. It will be just like the Ban the Bomb protests in the sixties - something special. "You may never have this opportunity again. These people are on our shores and we can do something. Stand up and be counted." See the BBC report here.

It's easy to criticise and maybe it was a bit stupid, but we all need to remember here we have a passionate man who has been so close to this thing for so many years. Occasionally after talking dryly to Presidents, Popes and Prime Ministers, that passion and that frustration need to come out. All power to him I say, I'd far rather have a leader with passion that makes the occasional mistake, than the uninspiring alternative we see in so many of our politicians today.

If you are thinking of going to the rally in Edinburgh have a look at the Make Poverty History website. They have links for places to stay, groups that are organising coaches etc. Let's be honest you don't what to spend the nights sleeping on the streets in Edinburgh, even in July! If you do go look out for me - I'll be the one wearing the white t-shirt!

Keep safe and have a good weekend - Wildberry.

Yesterday as I'm sure you're aware Bob Geldof announced plans for a Liveaid type concert called Live8 to further the highlight the G8 conference at Gleneagles. BBC report here. Although I am sure that Bob's motives are of the very highest I do wonder at the motives of some of those who take part. There is a lot to be said these days for a global audience to re-launch a flagging pop career. Maybe I'm just being cynical this morning. This is what Bob has to say:

"This is not Live Aid 2.

These concerts are the start point for The Long Walk To Justice, the one way we can all make our voices heard in unison.

This is without doubt a moment in history where ordinary people can grasp the chance to achieve something truly monumental and demand from the 8 world leaders at G8 an end to poverty.

The G8 leaders have it within their power to alter history. They will only have the will to do so if tens of thousands of people show them that enough is enough.

By doubling aid, fully cancelling debt, and delivering trade justice for Africa, the G8 could change the future for millions of men, women and children."

and I can't argue with that!
 

McLibel gets mainstream TV airing!

After its recent showing on BBC4, the BBC have now chosen McLibel as part of a series of landmark documentaries to be shown on BBC2. McLibel will be broadcast on World Environment Day, Sunday 5th June, at 10.30pm.

'McLibel' is the only un-commissioned, independent film from a first-time filmmaker to be selected for the prestigious series. Also screening are Errol Morris's 'The Fog of War', cinema hit 'Lost In La Mancha' and France's top-grossing doc,'Etre et Avoir'.

There will be a live webchat with filmmaker Franny Armstrong and the McLibel
defendants directly after the screening at 11.55pm on 5th June on the McSpotlight website.

Some days the news is good - Wildberry.