What do they want? Trade justice. And when do they want it? Now. On November 15 the Financial Times published a letter on these lines signed by representatives of no fewer than 142 organisations. The numbers are impressive. But, as Albert Einstein remarked in response to a pamphlet entitled 100 Authors against Einstein, “if I were wrong, one would be enough”.

The “trade justice” movement is gaining substantial support, even in the UK.* A motion before the House of Commons arguing that “the UK government should not push developing countries to open up their markets but respect their right to decide on trade policies that will help them to end poverty, respect workers’ rights and protect their environment” has gathered support from 229 out of 646 members. Opponents, one assumes, wish to perpetuate poverty, undermine workers’ rights and destroy the environment. Naturally, they desire no such thing.