Scotsman runs article on G8 Make Poverty History NGO Campaign
 http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3493337

Coalition Launches G8 Anti-Poverty Manifesto
Tues 14th Sept 2004

By Jude Sheerin, Scottish Press Association

A UK-wide coalition of charities, trade unions and campaign groups launched an anti-world poverty manifesto today in the run-up to next year’s G8 summit.

More than 50 influential organisations are behind the drive for rich countries to introduce fairer trade, cancel the debt of poor countries and enhance aid.

The Make Poverty History campaign will culminate in a mass street demonstration in Edinburgh on July 2, days before the 2005 G8 meeting at Gleneagles, Perthshire.

The groups are calling for Prime Minister Tony Blair to use his position as host of the summit, and as he takes up Britain’s six month presidency of the EU, to address the plight of millions of people who live on less than a dollar a day.

Backing the campaign, anti-apartheid hero Archbishop Desmond Tutu said: “2005 is a year of great opportunity. We can really do something to change the world. The time has come to stop talking and start taking some action.

“If everyone who wants to see an end to poverty, hunger and suffering speaks out then the noise will be deafening. Politicians will have to listen.”

Cafod, Comic Relief, Help the Aged, Oxfam, Save the Children, the TUC, Unison, Unicef UK and World Vision UK are among the other big names involved.

Last time the UK hosted G8 was in Birmingham in 1998 when some 70,000 people formed a human chain around the city centre calling for the cancellation of unpayable debt.

Mhairi Hearle, chair of NIDOS (Network of International Development Organisations in Scotland), said: “In 2005, the eyes of the world will be on Scotland, with the G8 a huge opportunity to make poverty history.

“For too long trade justice, debt and aid have been discussed but left on the ‘too difficult to deal with’ pile.

“That must not continue. The poor of the world deserve more than the crumbs from the Gleneagles table.”


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The Guardian
 http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,3604,1303942,00.html

Coalition to fight poverty sees Blair as its big hope
Ashley Seager
Tuesday September 14, 2004

A powerful grouping of charities, non-governmental organisations and trades unions is today calling on Tony Blair to spearhead a drive next year to eradicate global poverty.

The Make Poverty History coalition plans to emulate the success of the Jubilee 2000 debt relief campaign. Calling for a radical shake-up of world trade rules and increased flows of aid to poor countries, the coalition said Britain should use its joint presidencies of the European Union and G8 to kick-start stalled progress towards the goal of halving world poverty by 2015.

This would put increased pressure for change on the EU's common agricultural policy as well as the export subsidies enjoyed by rich American farmers.

It aims to be the most powerful coalition ever against poverty and calls for urgent action. It is "looking to Tony Blair to improve the lives of millions of poor people around the world, who have to live on less than a dollar a day".

U2 lead singer and veteran debt relief campaigner Bono added: "The year 2005 is our chance to go down in history for what we did do rather than what we didn't. This campaign is critical and is coming to a stadium and pulpit near you."

The group said poverty is killing 30,000 people around the world every day. Billions do not have access to clean water and millions are dying of HIV/Aids.

It sees 2005 as a crucial time to put pressure on world leaders through the Labour government, which has been a key backer of initiatives to tackle poverty. Mr Blair's Commission for Africa reports in April while Britain holds the presidency of the Group of Eight rich nations and the European Union next year. Next year also sees the 20th anniversary of Live Aid in July.

"[This] is a year of great opportunity. We can really do something to change the world . If everyone wanting to see an end to poverty, hunger and suffering speaks out, the noise will be deafening. Politicians will have to listen," said Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa.

The world's rich countries agreed a set of millennium development goals four years ago with the target of halving world poverty by 2015. But campaigners and experts say far more action and commitment are needed by governments if the date has any hope of being met.

"For too long trade justice, debt and aid have been discussed but left on the 'too difficult to deal with' pile. 2005 is a unique opportunity. That's why the unions are joining with faith groups, charities and campaigning groups to urge everyone to take action to make history," said TUC general secretary Brendan Barber.

The group said it would organise a human chain at the G8 summit in Edinburgh next July similar to the one at the last G8 summit in Britain, in Birmingham in 1998.

In the area of trade, the group will fight for rules which ensure governments, particularly in poor countries, can choose the best solutions to end poverty and protect the environment. It will also push for an end to export subsidies for rich countries' farmers.

It will campaign for further and faster debt relief for poor countries, building on the work already done and supported by Gordon Brown. Many countries are still spending more on repaying debt than meeting the needs of their people.

On aid, it will push for all western nations to provide 0.7% of their national income in aid and make aid work more effectively for poor people.

The group's website is www.makepovertyhistory.org