Scoop Misses Wellington's Fair Trade Protests

Hoping to find protests of Seattle like proportions, Scoop went to the demonstration against global capitalism in Wellington's Manners Mall and found... very little.

Advertised to go from 12 noon until 5pm, a selection of political groups were to protest in solidarity with third world countries' in their demands for fairer standards in international trade.

The protest was part of an international effort timed to co-incide with action in Washington, where officials from both the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank are meeting.

Latin dancers were to offer free “Salsa” lessons, and a drama group, Magdalena Aotearoa was to perform street theatre. A letter was also to be delivered to the Starbucks Cafe congratulating them on agreeing to stock "fair trade" coffee.

However, when Scoop arrived at 3:30pm, a part from an information stand, there was little evidence to suggest any protest had gone on at all.

The action is scheduled to resume on Saturday morning.

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