In 9 words... TRADE JUSTICE. DROP THE DEBT. MORE AND BETTER
AID.
The have's and the have-not's. The gap between the
worlds’s rich and poor has never been wider. Malnutrition,
AIDS, conflict and illiteracy are a daily reality for
millions. It’s man-made factors like a glaringly
unjust global trade system, a debt burden so great that
it suffocates any chance of recovery and insufficient
and ineffective aid .
It doesn’t have to be this way though.
Back in 2001 the governments of the eight wealthiest
nations promised to halve world poverty by 2015. Four
years later the world is failing dismally to reach those
targets.
But we have been given another, maybe even a final
chance – 2005.
This year offers a truly exceptional set of opportunities
for the UK to take a lead internationally and say that
enough is enough.
With the UK hosting the G7 Finance Ministers meeting
in February and the G8 gathering of powerful world leaders
as well as holding the presidency of the European Union
(EU), our Government and particularly Gordon Brown and
Tony Blair, will be influential players on the world
stage – we must make sure they play their part.
This is the year to say
'enough is enough', and campaign for urgent change in
trade, debt and aid.
The G8 summit: In July the
UK will be hosting the G8 summit in Gleneagles, in Scotland.
Poverty in Africa will be a main topic for discussion.
The EU Presidency: In the second
half of the year the UK will be holding the chair of
the European Union.
20th Anniversary of Live Aid:
(13th July) will draw the public's attention to issues
of poverty in Africa.
The Commission for Africa:
Its report will form the key focal point of the British
Chairmanship of the G8 next year. It is due to be released
in April.
UN General Assembly Special Summit
on the Millennium Development Goals: takes place
in September to review the progress since the declaration
of the MDGs to halve the proportion of people living
in poverty by 2015.
There are a few simple ways you can make you voice heard.
Write a postcard to Tony Blair
telling him why it matters and what you want him to
do about trade justice, debt and aid. It's quick to
do, click HERE
Wear a wristband as sign of your commitment to
changing lives. Get one from Oxfam.
Subscribe to the Make-Poverty-History mailinglist
and keep up-to-date with what's happening. Be informed
and tell everyone. Click HERE
For comprehensive information on the campaign and how
various organisations are supporting it, visit the links
below.
Make
Poverty History
Chrisitan
Aid
Oxfam
Traidcraft
Vernon Coaker (Labour MP for Gedling)
2A PARKYN ROAD
DAYBROOK
NOTTINGHAM
NG5 6BG
coakerv@parliament.uk
Paddy Tipping (Labour MP for Sherwood)
1st Floor Council Offices
Watnall Rd
Hucknall
Nottinghamshire
NG15 7LA
p.tipping@dial.pipex.com
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