Thousands to join in call for global justice at mini-festival

Published on Monday 18 June 2007 12:00

THOUSANDS of people are set to take part in a two-week "justice festival" to celebrate the second anniversary of the Make Poverty History march in Edinburgh.

The event starts on Tuesday and will feature a concert, dubbed Justice in the Gardens and a special fair trade market outside the City Chambers.

Other events, including film screenings and activist workshops, will take place at venues across the city.

More than 30 groups dedicated to ending climate change, world poverty and the nuclear arms race will take part in the festival, which has grown out of a one-day event held last year. Organiser Harriet Grant said she hoped it would be an annual showcase for peace organisations and charities.

"The first festival we held in Edinburgh last year was very small, but we had a lot of people coming to see what it was about," she said. "When we decided to host another event this year, we were swamped with calls from organisations who wanted to join in and host events. We originally planned it as another one-day festival but we soon realised it would have to be far bigger.

"It's going to be like a kind of mini-Fringe festival with a lot of different events in venues across the city. With the music events and fair trade market, we're hoping that thousands of people will come to see what is happening and join in. It's all about trying to keep the momentum from the Make Poverty History march going, as well as trying to address the problems of global justice and climate change."

The Justice in the Gardens event next Sunday will feature a range of musical styles including a ten-man "ska machine" and a group promising "jazz-funk-folk" fusion. It takes place at the Ross Bandstand from 1pm to 4pm.

Salsa and Latin bands will also perform at a Cuban-themed music event at the Bongo Club during the festival, while organisations such as Christian Aid, Friends of the Earth and Amnesty International will host workshops and discussions across the city.

Organisers had originally hoped The Proclaimers would perform, but the band were forced to turn down the invitation due to prior touring commitments.

However, Craig and Charlie Reid have since lent their support to the event. In a statement on the festival's website, the brothers said: "We believe in the festival's aims and principles to promote peace and justice, environmental justice, economic justice and human rights."

Edinburgh's Lord Provost George Grubb, said the festival would continue to highlight the issues raised at the Make Poverty History March.

He said: "The fact the festival has grown so much since last year, shows that the people of Edinburgh are committed to the ongoing fight against injustice."

YOUR LINK

For full details of the festival events, visit the justice festival website at www.ewjf.org.uk