- News>
- World
WTO head asked `Why is it so hard to sort this problem out?`
Cancun, Sept 10: Chris Martin, lead singer of British rock band Coldplay, has urged the World Trade Organisation to end unfair trade rules, handing over a petition signed by 3.7 million people.
Cancun, Sept 10: Chris Martin, lead singer of British rock band Coldplay, has urged the World Trade Organisation to end unfair trade rules, handing over a
petition signed by 3.7 million people.
"You seem like a nice guy," the singer and guitarist
told WTO Director-General Supachai Panitchpakdi. "Why is it
so hard to get this problem sorted out?"
Martin gave Supachai a petition in favour of fair trade on behalf of the Oxfam charity.
Oxfam urged ministers gathered for a WTO meeting in Cancun to take decisive action to "make trade fair" and end "obscene inequalities".
3.7 million people from 200 countries signed the petition, among them UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, Bangladeshi garment workers and Zambian cotton farmers, Oxfam said.
"Decisive action at Cancun could set globalization on a different course, reducing the obscene inequalities that divide rich and poor and lifting millions of people out of poverty," Oxfam said in a statement.
"Rich countries are poised to break their promises to make trade fair for the world's poorest countries. Cancun could be the last chance for rich countries to deliver," it said.
It warned that failure in Cancun would be "bad news for the whole world economy, not just for poor countries". Bureau Report
Martin gave Supachai a petition in favour of fair trade on behalf of the Oxfam charity.
Oxfam urged ministers gathered for a WTO meeting in Cancun to take decisive action to "make trade fair" and end "obscene inequalities".
3.7 million people from 200 countries signed the petition, among them UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, Bangladeshi garment workers and Zambian cotton farmers, Oxfam said.
"Decisive action at Cancun could set globalization on a different course, reducing the obscene inequalities that divide rich and poor and lifting millions of people out of poverty," Oxfam said in a statement.
"Rich countries are poised to break their promises to make trade fair for the world's poorest countries. Cancun could be the last chance for rich countries to deliver," it said.
It warned that failure in Cancun would be "bad news for the whole world economy, not just for poor countries". Bureau Report