Biggest dress in the world challenges trade rules
-28/01/05
Thousands of people from Ekklesia’a partner organisation the SPEAK network have joined together to make a statement about trade justice by creating the biggest dress in the world.
The dress is over two storeys high and wide enough to contain over 250 people.
Athlete and TV presenter Jonathan Edwards, Body Shop founder Anita Roddick and the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams have all contributed sewn squares to make the ‘creative petition’.
Campaigners say they hope that dress will be a visual challenge to the Government to make rules that protect the poor in developing countries from exploitation by big companies based in the UK.
The Big Dress will be unveiled in February next to the Houses of Parliament as part of a day of action, when campaigners will lobby their MPs and stage a visual catwalk show highlighting exploitation of garment workers as part of the MakePovertyHistory events of 2005.
The dress is made up of thousands of squares of material upon which people from all over the UK have written, sewn and drawn messages of concern about the lack of regulation of big companies and the exploitation of workers. Participants include groups from Christian Unions and local churches, music fans at the Glastonbury music festival, school groups and Womenís Institutes.
ìI’ve been encouraged by growing support for SPEAK from church leaders and MPs over the past five years,î said Stephen Timms MP, Financial Secretary to the Treasury.
ìThe Big Dress is an imaginative, visual petition to decision-makers. It provides a physical space for people to learn more about the challenges of trade justice – and about God. 2005 is a critical year, with Britain’s leadership of the G8 and of the European Union giving us the chance to help MakePovertyHistory. I support the Big Dress initiative wholeheartedly.î
SPEAK is calling on the Government to put legislation in place that will hold UK-based multinational companies accountable for their actions in developing countries.
The Big Dress will be unveiled at 1100am on 21st February next to the Houses of Parliament which kicks off a ‘day of action’ involving the Bishop of Barking who will lead campaigners in a ‘repentance action’, which will include a symbolic balancing of the scales of world justice. Campaigners will also lobby their MPs inside SPEAKís Big Dress. Both SPEAK and Ekklesia are part of the MakePovertyHistory campaign
Biggest dress in the world challenges trade rules
-28/01/05
Thousands of people from Ekklesia’a partner organisation the SPEAK network have joined together to make a statement about trade justice by creating the biggest dress in the world.
The dress is over two storeys high and wide enough to contain over 250 people.
Athlete and TV presenter Jonathan Edwards, Body Shop founder Anita Roddick and the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams have all contributed sewn squares to make the ‘creative petition’.
Campaigners say they hope that dress will be a visual challenge to the Government to make rules that protect the poor in developing countries from exploitation by big companies based in the UK.
The Big Dress will be unveiled in February next to the Houses of Parliament as part of a day of action, when campaigners will lobby their MPs and stage a visual catwalk show highlighting exploitation of garment workers as part of the MakePovertyHistory events of 2005.
The dress is made up of thousands of squares of material upon which people from all over the UK have written, sewn and drawn messages of concern about the lack of regulation of big companies and the exploitation of workers. Participants include groups from Christian Unions and local churches, music fans at the Glastonbury music festival, school groups and Womenís Institutes.
ìI’ve been encouraged by growing support for SPEAK from church leaders and MPs over the past five years,î said Stephen Timms MP, Financial Secretary to the Treasury.
ìThe Big Dress is an imaginative, visual petition to decision-makers. It provides a physical space for people to learn more about the challenges of trade justice – and about God. 2005 is a critical year, with Britain’s leadership of the G8 and of the European Union giving us the chance to help MakePovertyHistory. I support the Big Dress initiative wholeheartedly.î
SPEAK is calling on the Government to put legislation in place that will hold UK-based multinational companies accountable for their actions in developing countries.
The Big Dress will be unveiled at 1100am on 21st February next to the Houses of Parliament which kicks off a ‘day of action’ involving the Bishop of Barking who will lead campaigners in a ‘repentance action’, which will include a symbolic balancing of the scales of world justice. Campaigners will also lobby their MPs inside SPEAKís Big Dress. Both SPEAK and Ekklesia are part of the MakePovertyHistory campaign