An exciting day in Hong Kong. We started the day with a workshop on what to expect inside the WTO. An experienced Oxfam-campaigner shared her experiences in lobbying on the inside, and a long-time activist gave us some tips on what to expect on the outside. The lessons I took with me was that in order to lobby effectively, you need to do your homework and come prepared. It also helps if you have some information to share with the delegates, perhaps on statements from other governments, so it becomes an exchange of information (or fair trade...).

But, here as everywhere, it is the personal relationships that matter. If you are able to build up a certain sense of trust among the delegates you are trying to lobby, they will listen to you and share information with you.

Later today we joined Oxfam Hong Kong in their Big Noise Day. It was mostly an event for the media, and it featured a giant farmer and a giant bowl of rice being carried through the busiest shopping street of Hong Kong. There were also a couple of symbolic stunts, including the one you can see below (smashing the trade box - smashing the current trade agreements). Double click for video

I have my doubts about how effective these kinds of stunts are and if the the money and resources going into it are worth it. I guess we'll see tomorrow how much the media actually covered it.

And about media, I did quite a lot of filming for the documentary we're planning today. I got a lot of good shots from the march, and I have to say I enjoyed the competition between all the people filming. We were always looking for the next best shot and the best position for it, and although the experienced media people were smarter than me, I could run faster...

At night all the participants of the Oxfam workshop went out to eat, and after three days of a strict Chinese diet I was happy to go to Pizza Hut and have some good old pizza. Tomorrow Kumi Naidoo, the director of the Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) is coming to speak at the workshop, and I have scheduled to interview him for the documentary right afterwards.

Must sleep...