Why Now?

The current global economic crisis makes this initiative all the more urgent. The recession is already generating protectionist sentiments in America and Europe. In the 1930s it was protectionism that turned a recession into a prolonged slump. It proved hugely counterproductive for the wealthiest nations but its impact on the less developed countries was catastrophic: the poorest always suffer worst.

So the TOP campaign is doubly important at this time: to remind rich countries that they have nothing to gain from punitive action against imports from low income countries but the latter have literally everything to lose.