Readers may be interested to know that March 13 was the EU-wide day of Action on GATS.

GATS (the General Agreement on Trade in Services) is an international treaty backed by the UK government which seeks to "open up" the trade in services. Services can be defined as anything you cannot drop on your foot, and include vital public services such as libraries, hospitals, water, schools, rubbish collection etc.

The World Development Movement has been campaigning against this treaty for years, due to concern at the impact privatisation of basic services could have on people in poorer countries, and also because of the proposed reduction in the right of governments to regulate in the public interest.

Swindon WDM continues to campaign on GATS, lobbying both local MPs, and more recently one of our MEPs, Glynn Ford, (as much of the negotiation takes place at EU level). We have also succeeded in getting a motion passed at Swindon council (this agreement affects UK services too!).

For further information on GATS, please contact WDM on 020 7737 6215 or visit: www.wdm. org.uk. For details of Swindon WDM contact 01793 320993 or visit: www.communigate.co.uk/wilts/swindonwdm

Chris Thackray

Swindon WDM

Kent Road

Swindon