A demonstration called “Solidarity on Earth” was held in the Place de la Bastille in Paris on Saturday, 13 October, as part of World Food Day. Its aim was to press the candidates for the legislative and presidential elections in France for a greater commitment in the daily struggle against poverty. The demonstration which was simultaneously held in thirty other cities in France was promoted by the Catholic Committee against hunger and for development (CCFD) which in March this year published a manifesto with the slogan: “For a juster world, make the difference”. The demonstration, like the manifesto of the campaign, had as its logo a gigantic scale, symbol of the imbalances that still exist between the countries of North and South. The manifesto which has already registered 130,000 signatures in support – asks in particular the country’s political leaders to allocate, between now and 2005, 0,7% of French GDP to state aid for development. “Humanity said Jean-Marie Fardeau, secretary general of the CCFD in Paris is still living in conditions that are an insult to human dignity. That’s why we have taken to the streets today, to defend and reinforce state aid to development in favour of the poor countries. Why do we do so? Because we refuse to abandon these countries to poverty and war. But also because the money that France receives from the sale of arms is more than the money she spends on international solidarity”.
