"No to Poverty, Yes to Solidarity" meeting held --- 500 participants from unions

On February 28, lawyers including attorney Keiichi Uchikawa and activist organizations held a "No to Poverty, Yes to Solidarity" meeting at the Naka Ward Office Hall, Nagoya. More than 500 people participated in heated discussion. The agenda included talks by Makoto Yuasa and Kenji Utsunomiya, messages from four parties concerned such as the plaintiffs of the "Free/Low Price Lodging Center" lawsuit, and appeals from 13 organizations. At this meeting, the participants agreed to work toward creation of Aichi Anti-Poverty Network in May. After the meeting, a spirited parade took place to a Toyota building in front of Nagoya Station. A lot of unionist joined from Women's Union, Sasajma Day Worker Labor Union, Nagoya Fureai Union, General Union, ATU, JMIU, Aichi Solidarity Union and other local union members. (Aichi Solidarity Union) (See the Aichi Solidarity Union website.)


「なくそう貧困、つながろう愛知集会」開かれる～ユニオンの仲間など500人
　2月28日、名古屋市中区役所ホールで、内河恵一弁護士などの法律家や運動団体がよびかける「なくそう貧困、つながろう愛知集会」が開かれました。500人を超える人が集まり、熱気あるものになりました。集会は、湯浅誠さんと宇都宮健児さんの講演、「無料定額宿泊所裁判」原告など4組の当事者の発言、さらに13団体のアピールがありました。そして、5月に反貧困ネットワーク愛知の結成をめざすことが確認されました。集会後は、名古屋駅前通称トヨタビルまでのパレードが元気に行われました。女性ユニオン、笹日労、名古屋ふれあいユニオン、ゼネラルユニオン、ATU、JMIU、愛知連帯ユニオンなど地域のユニオンの仲間も多く参加しました。（愛知連帯ユニオン） ・愛知連帯ユニオンHP

Let’s change society to change politics! Two thousand participants speak out against poverty and for social reform.

　On October 19, approximately 2000 people participated in a mass meeting against poverty and for social reform, held in Meiji Park in Tokyo. The event was lively throughout the day with music, a rally, stalls, subcommittee meetings and a parade. People in wheelchairs and the elderly were a visible presence, and the event was a space for the socially vulnerable to speak out directly. There were 12 subcommittees, but the Labour subcommittee, in particular, attracted many participants. The harsh reality of the workplace and the struggles inspired there were highlighted. Makoto Yuwasa powerfully declared that: “I’m sick of losing because of the small differences. Let’s go beyond these walls and find our peers on the other side. We can all take one step closer towards this goal. Let’s change society and we can change politics”. Participants, with their originally designed merchandise in hand, made their way to the demonstration in Shibuya.
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社会を変え政治を変えよう！～2000人が反貧困・世直しの声あげる

　10月19日、東京・明治公園で「反貧困・世直しイッキ（一揆）!大集会」が開催され、約2000人が集まった。音楽・集会・出店・分科会・パレードで終日盛り上がりをみせた。会場には車いすの障がい者、高齢者などが目立ち、社会的弱者が文字通り直接声をあげる場になった。12の分科会では、とくに労働の分科会の参加者が多く、職場のひどい実態とたたかいが紹介された。集会宣言で湯浅誠（ゆわさまこと）さんは「小さな違いにこだわって負け続けるのはもうたくさんだ。垣根をこえて仲間を増やそう。一人ひとりがもう一歩踏み出そう。そして社会を変え政治を変えよう」と力強く訴えた。参加者は、趣向をこらしたグッズを手に渋谷へ向けてデモを行なった。
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