Chester Jubilee Debt Campaign at Lord Mayor's Parade - Photos

On June 16th the Chester Debt Campaign put its biggest ever entry into the Chester Lord Mayor's parade. We were led by a genuine Bangladeshi rickshaw. Romy Tiongco of Christian Aid Northwest piloted the rickshaw, with a "rich, well-dressed passenger", who was in fact Sue Bownas of Chester CAFOD. Two other supporters dressed in morning suits and top hats cycled behind the new Chester Banner ( bound for Genoa ), on a tandem, representing the World Bank, and IMF, and their wobbling, uncertain progress made about as much sense as the real IMF/World Bank. We were honoured by the company of some of the Bangladeshi local community.

A general view of some of the thirty supporters in the parade. Part of the placard display which ran along one side of our "walking float" asking for the debt cancellation to be applied to Bangladesh also.

The Lord Mayor talks to our rickshaw driver just before the parade sets off.

Sue Bownas, the rich passenger being pulled along by the poor Bangladeshi. This was part of the message we were intending to put over, not an unfamiliar one: that poor countries are funding rich ones with their interest payments and underpriced exports. There was an in-joke of course in that Romy is NW Christian Aid coordinator and Sue leads the Chester CAFOD Support Group, so that Christian Aid was pulling CAFOD. Very appropriate as they work together so well, especially in the Jubilee Debt campaign.

At the head of our group the new Chester banner, bound for Genoa. It has already hundreds of signatures from the people of Chester and hinterland, and it will have many more soon. The thoughts and prayers of those who signed will go with the 30 en route to Genoa. There will also prayer vigils in the week prior to July 21st. We have decided after much angst to take a chance on the plane etc. and trust that we will actually get to make our point over there! Pity we cannot get the Chester chain on board the plane, also the borrowed rickshaw.

Some of our supporters, undaunted by a light rain, left to right: Marjorie Ackerley, Carol Murphy, Romy on the rickshaw, Sue's foot, Peter Linsey, Chester City Councillor Janet Black. We are just passing Chester Cross and St Peter's church, both mediaeval landmarks in a town which is very much alive today. Many charities are active in the town. The Jubilee Campaign alone has over 100 active supporters and many more sympathisers. A number of the crowd watching the parade joined in our traditional chant - yes "What do we want..." - "Cancel the debt" led by the stentorian voice of City Councillor Alex Black.