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date: 27 March 2009

embargo: 00:01 hours Saturday 28 March 2009

Brendan Barber - "anger and hope" at Put People First

Speaking later this afternoon (Saturday) at the rally in Hyde Park after the Put People First march for jobs, justice and climate, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber will say:

'I have two emotions today. It is right to be angry as there is nothing inevitable about this recession. It was made by all the policy makers of the last few decades who believed that they should let the market rip, that public services should become profit centres and who were happy to see the gap between the super-rich and the poor get bigger every year.

'It's right to be angry about the people losing their jobs and homes and the billion extra people throughout the world who will go hungry because of the crisis, and to be angry at the greed of those who took huge bonuses and avoided paying their fair share of tax on them.

'But I also feel some hope as there is change in the air. It's not just the numbers here today but the huge breadth of organisations supporting today's event. There are trade unionists and unemployed people - not just from the UK but the rest of Europe, Africa, the USA, and Australia. There are campaigners for global justice, environmentalists warning of the dangers of climate chaos and people of faith.

'We may not agree on everything, but we have a huge amount in common. Today is the birth of a powerful progressive voice. This is not the last time that we will work together, but just the first.

'And next week when G20 leaders come to London there will be voices for change. Voices that want to see global regulation of finance and a crack down on tax havens. Voices for a green new deal. Voices for the kind of economic boost that can fight unemployment and poverty.

'We don't yet know if those voices will be strong enough to make the difference next week. But just like us, they are not going to go away. In London today and throughout the world we stand together for jobs, for justice and for tackling climate change. It's time to put people first.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- The Put People First march for jobs, justice and climate takes place this Saturday (28 March). Organised by an unprecedented alliance of more than 150 union, environment, development and faith organisations, it is taking place on the weekend before the G20 London summit.

- The march will assemble at 11am on Victoria Embankment (by Temple tube) and then thousands will march to Hyde Park for a rally with speakers and entertainment which will include Luke Pritchard of the Kooks, comedian Mark Thomas and Mauritanian musician, Daby Toure. An ecumenical church service will feed into the march from Central Hall Westminster.

- At 11.30am there will be a photo opportunity on the Embankment/Temple Place involving rally speakers (including TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber, Bianca Jagger and Luke Pritchard), along with banners and flags at the front of the march. Before the march moves off at 12 noon, there will also be an opportunity for interviews with speakers and representatives of the supporting organisations. Put People First media officers contacts for the photo op and march Anjali Kwatra (ActionAid) 07941 371357 and Liz Chinchen (TUC) 07778 158175

- The march will go via Embankment, Parliament Square, Lower Regent St, Piccadilly, Hyde Park Corner, Park Lane and then enter Hyde Park from the north side. The route (which is just over four miles long) is at http://www.putpeoplefirst.org.uk/whats-happening/the-route/

- An ecumenical church service takes place at 11am in Central Hall Westminster which will feed into the march as it goes through Parliament Square (at approximately 12.30pm). Speakers at the service include Joel Edwards, International Director of Micah Challenge; Richard Chartres, Bishop of London; Father Joe Komakoma, Secretary General of the Episcopal Conference, Zambia; and Christine Allen, Executive Director of Progressio. More details at http://www.putpeoplefirst.org.uk/whats-happening/church-service/ Press contact for the church service is Jonathan Spencer (Tearfund) on 07767 473516.

- The front of the march is expected to arrive in Hyde Park at around 2pm and the rally will run from 2.30pm until 4.30pm. The MC for the rally will be actor and TV presenter Tony Robinson. Music will be provided by Luke Pritchard of the Kooks and Mauritanian singer, Daby Toure, and humour will come from Mark Thomas. Speakers will include Brendan Barber (TUC), Bianca Jagger, Tony Juniper, Susan George (Transnational Institute), Sharan Burrow (International Trade Union Confederation), and Kumi Naidoo (GCAP).

- Luke Pritchard, Mark Thomas, Daby Toure, Tony Robinson, musician Sam Duckworth, from Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly, and Amanda Melling, aka Connie from Holby City, will be available for interview. Interviews can be arranged between 1.15-2.15pm by calling Jon Slater (Oxfam) on 07876 476403. Please note Luke Pritchard is only available for prearranged interviews.

- There will be a media desk in the backstage area in Hyde Park. Media representatives will need a press card or other recognised media identification to receive a wristband that will allow access. Interviews and photos and camera access within the restricted area can be arranged from the media desk. The lead Put People First media contact in Hyde Park is Asha Tharoor (ActionAid) on 07912 387396.

Contacts:

Media enquiries: Liz Chinchen, TUC: 020 7467 1248 or 07778 158175 media@tuc.org.uk

Press release (1,000 words) issued 28 Mar 2009