Nelson Mandela in Trafalgar Square
Keith Parkins | 04.02.2005 14:22 | Globalisation | Repression | Social Struggles
Nelson Mandela launched the Make Poverty History campaign to a packed Trafalgar Square lunchtime Thursday 3 February 2005.
'Nelson Mandela's presence in London sends a clear signal from one of the world's greatest heroes that 2005 is the year when we strike a huge blow against world poverty. His presence is not only a rallying cry to the public to get involved, but serves notice to rich countries that the world will not put up with false promises, delays and hollow sound bites.' -- Adrian Lovett, Oxfam
'While poverty persists there is no true freedom.' -- Nelson Mandela
'Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by human beings. And overcoming poverty is not an act of charity. It is an act of justice.' -- Nelson Mandela
'If it isn't this year, then when? I'm tired of the politics of being nice. I'm sick of standing in squares of linking arms, of tear gas, of records and concerts. I'm sick of this crap. Feed the world, feed the world still.' -- Bob Geldof
I don't know how many people were in Trafalgar Square. All I know is it was packed and the atmosphere was electric. The London Evening Standard put the figure at 20,000.
The launch of Make Poverty History started at 12 noon with African music.
A guy from Oxfam gave an excellent speech on debt, aid and trade, the themes of Make Poverty History, and every word counted, every word hit home.
Millennium targets were set to halve poverty by 2015. Five years down the line, and hell will freeze over before these targets are met.
We then had the black female R&B singer Jamelia give an excellent performance of 'Stop'. She may have been miming, but excellent nevertheless.
Some school kids down from Scotland gave us their view.
A guy from South Africa gave another stirring speech.
The world showed solidarity with America for 9/11, where is America finding solidarity with the rest of the world?
The US/UK can find the money to wage an illegal war on Iraq, why not to end poverty?
Then Bob Geldoff his thoughts.
And finally, the moment we had all been waiting for, a very frail Nelson Mandela slowly approached the mikes. The crowd went wild.
There can be few world leaders who have the stature of Nelson Mandela, the world's senior statesman. The man, Tony Benn always likes to tell us, Margaret Thatcher called a terrorist.
It was a poignant moment for me, Nelson Mandela in Trafalgar Square, outside the South African Embassy, the same location many of us had protested for decades for an end to apartheid, for the release of Nelson Mandela.
Make Poverty History is calling for action on aid, debt and trade. Poor countries are not calling for charity, they are calling for fair trade, for justice.
We have to make the same determined effort to end poverty as we did to end apartheid.
Make Poverty History is part of the Global Call to Action Against Poverty.
The Global Call to Action Against Poverty is an international campaign, but all eyes will be on the UK because the UK will hold the chair of G8 and the presidency of the EU during 2005.
On Thursday 3 February 2005, 20,000 people in Trafalgar Square called for justice.
Were you listening Mr Blair, you smug little git!
If justice is to be met, we have, as Nelson Mandela said, to call for it, to demand it, we have to stand up and make our voices heard, millions have to take to the streets, to make our corrupt leaders sit up and listen.
In a gesture of solidarity, the lions around Nelson's Column, each had a white Make Poverty History band around their necks.
Having addressed the people on Thursday, Nelson Mandela is to address the G7 finance ministers today (Friday).
Web
http://www.makepovertyhistory.org/
http://www.oxfam.org.uk/what_you_can_do/campaign/mdg/mph.htm
Reference
Africa to miss key poverty goals, BBC News on-line, 17 January 2005
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4180595.stm
Campaign bids to end poverty trap, BBC News on-line, 3 February 2005
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4234811.stm
Noreena Hertz, IOU: The Debt Threat and Why We Must Defuse It, Fourth Estate, 2004
Mandela calls for poverty action, BBC News on-line, 3 February 2005
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4231141.stm
Mandela steals the show in London, BBC News on-line, 3 February 2005
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4233323.stm
Mandela's poverty plea in London, BBC News on-line, 28 January 2005
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4216555.stm
Mandela's poverty speech, BBC News on-line, 3 February 2005
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4232603.stm
Keith Parkins, A sense of the masses - a manifesto for the new revolution, October 2003
http://www.heureka.clara.net/gaia/democracy.htm
Keith Parkins, Sowing Seeds of Dissent, Indymedia UK, 6 September 2004
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/09/297391.html
Keith Parkins, Seeds of Dissent, September 2004
http://www.heureka.clara.net/gaia/seeds.htm
Keith Parkins, Future of Food, Indymedia UK, 24 January 2005
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/01/304228.html
Keith Parkins, Make Poverty History, Indymedia UK, 1 February 2005
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/02/304624.html
Patrick Sawyer, Cry freedom from poverty: 20,000 in Trafalgar Square to hear Nelson Mandela call for an end to global misery, Evening Standard, 3 February 2005
'While poverty persists there is no true freedom.' -- Nelson Mandela
'Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by human beings. And overcoming poverty is not an act of charity. It is an act of justice.' -- Nelson Mandela
'If it isn't this year, then when? I'm tired of the politics of being nice. I'm sick of standing in squares of linking arms, of tear gas, of records and concerts. I'm sick of this crap. Feed the world, feed the world still.' -- Bob Geldof
I don't know how many people were in Trafalgar Square. All I know is it was packed and the atmosphere was electric. The London Evening Standard put the figure at 20,000.
The launch of Make Poverty History started at 12 noon with African music.
A guy from Oxfam gave an excellent speech on debt, aid and trade, the themes of Make Poverty History, and every word counted, every word hit home.
Millennium targets were set to halve poverty by 2015. Five years down the line, and hell will freeze over before these targets are met.
We then had the black female R&B singer Jamelia give an excellent performance of 'Stop'. She may have been miming, but excellent nevertheless.
Some school kids down from Scotland gave us their view.
A guy from South Africa gave another stirring speech.
The world showed solidarity with America for 9/11, where is America finding solidarity with the rest of the world?
The US/UK can find the money to wage an illegal war on Iraq, why not to end poverty?
Then Bob Geldoff his thoughts.
And finally, the moment we had all been waiting for, a very frail Nelson Mandela slowly approached the mikes. The crowd went wild.
There can be few world leaders who have the stature of Nelson Mandela, the world's senior statesman. The man, Tony Benn always likes to tell us, Margaret Thatcher called a terrorist.
It was a poignant moment for me, Nelson Mandela in Trafalgar Square, outside the South African Embassy, the same location many of us had protested for decades for an end to apartheid, for the release of Nelson Mandela.
Make Poverty History is calling for action on aid, debt and trade. Poor countries are not calling for charity, they are calling for fair trade, for justice.
We have to make the same determined effort to end poverty as we did to end apartheid.
Make Poverty History is part of the Global Call to Action Against Poverty.
The Global Call to Action Against Poverty is an international campaign, but all eyes will be on the UK because the UK will hold the chair of G8 and the presidency of the EU during 2005.
On Thursday 3 February 2005, 20,000 people in Trafalgar Square called for justice.
Were you listening Mr Blair, you smug little git!
If justice is to be met, we have, as Nelson Mandela said, to call for it, to demand it, we have to stand up and make our voices heard, millions have to take to the streets, to make our corrupt leaders sit up and listen.
In a gesture of solidarity, the lions around Nelson's Column, each had a white Make Poverty History band around their necks.
Having addressed the people on Thursday, Nelson Mandela is to address the G7 finance ministers today (Friday).
Web
http://www.makepovertyhistory.org/ http://www.oxfam.org.uk/what_you_can_do/campaign/mdg/mph.htm Reference
Africa to miss key poverty goals, BBC News on-line, 17 January 2005
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4180595.stm Campaign bids to end poverty trap, BBC News on-line, 3 February 2005
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4234811.stm Noreena Hertz, IOU: The Debt Threat and Why We Must Defuse It, Fourth Estate, 2004
Mandela calls for poverty action, BBC News on-line, 3 February 2005
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4231141.stm Mandela steals the show in London, BBC News on-line, 3 February 2005
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4233323.stm Mandela's poverty plea in London, BBC News on-line, 28 January 2005
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4216555.stm Mandela's poverty speech, BBC News on-line, 3 February 2005
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4232603.stm Keith Parkins, A sense of the masses - a manifesto for the new revolution, October 2003
http://www.heureka.clara.net/gaia/democracy.htm Keith Parkins, Sowing Seeds of Dissent, Indymedia UK, 6 September 2004
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/09/297391.html Keith Parkins, Seeds of Dissent, September 2004
http://www.heureka.clara.net/gaia/seeds.htm Keith Parkins, Future of Food, Indymedia UK, 24 January 2005
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/01/304228.html Keith Parkins, Make Poverty History, Indymedia UK, 1 February 2005
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/02/304624.html Patrick Sawyer, Cry freedom from poverty: 20,000 in Trafalgar Square to hear Nelson Mandela call for an end to global misery, Evening Standard, 3 February 2005
Keith Parkins
Homepage:
http://www.makepovertyhistory.org/
Comments
Hide the following 6 comments
dissent! poster text?
04.02.2005 17:31
Massive poverty and obscene inequality […] have to rank alongside slavery and apartheid as social evils.
Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings.
Young people of Britain [I] ask you to take it along with millions of others to the G8 summit in July. Not to do this would be a crime against humanity, against which I ask all humanity now to rise up.” (edited from Mandela's speech)
YOU HEARD THE MAN, HE WANTS MILLIONS OF YOUNG PEOPLE AT THE G8! AND CONSIDERS IT A CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY NOT TO GO! RATHER EMBARRASSING FOR THOSE CHARGED WITH STOPPING US, ONE WOULD HAVE THOUGHT...!
anarchoteapot
Nelson Mandela's brilliant but...
05.02.2005 00:31
Probably the same as Tony Benn feels about New Labour I guess.
Ozymandias
Problem, Reaction, Solution
07.02.2005 11:36
After Africa has been invaded, destroyed and disarmed in the 'war for freedom' and their dictators go into "exile" (CIA protection) with the $millions they have embezzled from the starving, the corporations can walk in and take over, like in Iraq.
You get me?
Poverty relief...
07.02.2005 13:52
This is the age of greenwash and sort-of-fair trade....
IMF
Mandela Text Transcript of Speech
22.02.2005 16:58
Massive poverty and obscene inequality are such terrible scourges of our times - times in which the world boasts breathtaking advances in science, technology, industry and wealth accumulation - that they have to rank alongside slavery and apartheid as social evils.
The Global Campaign for Action Against Poverty can take its place as a public movement alongside the movement to abolish slavery and the international solidarity against apartheid. And I can never thank the people of Britain enough for their support through those days of the struggle against apartheid. Many stood in solidarity with us, just a few yards from this spot.
Through your will and passion, you assisted in consigning that evil system forever to history. But in this new century, millions of people in the world's poorest countries remain imprisoned, enslaved, and in chains. They are trapped in the prison of poverty. It is time to set them free.
Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings. And overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life. While poverty persists, there is no true freedom.
The steps that are needed from the developed nations are clear. The first is ensuring trade justice. I have said before that trade justice is a truly meaningful way for the developed countries to show commitment to bringing about an end to global poverty. The second is an end to the debt crisis for the poorest countries. The third is to deliver much more aid and make sure it is of the highest quality.
In 2005, there is a unique opportunity for making an impact. In September, world leaders will gather in New York to measure progress since they made the Millennium Declaration in the year 2000. That declaration promised to halve extreme poverty. But at the moment, the promise is falling tragically behind. Those leaders must now honour their promises to the world's poorest citizens.
Tomorrow, here in London, the G7 finance ministers can make a significant beginning. I am happy to have been invited to meet with them. The G8 leaders, when they meet in Scotland in July, have already promised to focus on the issue of poverty, especially in Africa.
I say to all those leaders: do not look the other way; do not hesitate. Recognise that the world is hungry for action, not words. Act with courage and vision.
I am proud to wear the symbol of this global call to action in 2005. This white band is from my country. In a moment, I want to give this band to you - young people of Britain - and ask you to take it forward along with millions of others to the G8 summit in July. I entrust it to you. I will be watching with anticipation.
We thank you for coming here today. Sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great. You can be that great generation. Let your greatness blossom.
Of course the task will not be easy. But not to do this would be a crime against humanity, against which I ask all humanity now to rise up.
Make Poverty History in 2005. Make History in 2005. Then we can all stand with our heads held high."
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Crowd Comments
22.02.2005 17:00
CAFOD supporter Ellen Teague:
"It is crucial to make poverty history for the future of the majority of the world's poeople and the planet."
CAFOD supporter Elaine Kelly:
"Africa cannot wait."
Rebecca, campaigner:
"It is time for the world to realise that we are just one body."
Tamara Murad, 20, Royal Holloway University student:
"2nd July - we'll be there!"
Kerry Bush, 19, student:
"We know about possibilities to help but I never knew how bad poverty in Africa was. In 2005, the UK has a big role with the presidency of the EU and G8 in 2005. We should reach the 0.7%aid target and cancel the debt."
Yinka Graves, University of Sussex student:
"Mandela is a key figure of the world. Mandela means hope and struggle to me."
Katasi Kironde, University of Sussex student:
"There is a sense that throughout his whole life he has been fighting. These are still live causes today. The message he brings is that you can dedicate your life to a cause and suceed."
Maria Hession, 17, student from Our Lady's Convent school, Hackney:
"Our generation are not going to let this pass. We're not going to stand by and do nothing - this has to end now."
Pauline Derwas, campaigner:
"Mandela is an iconic figure from my youth and there was no way I was going to miss hearing him speak. I travelled down from Shrewsbury early and was here by 10am waiting by the podium.
“It’s amazing he’s here to back the Make Poverty History campaign, I’m overwhelmed. He fought hard for what he believed in and is a statesman everyone trusts. He will without doubt motivate thousands more people to come out and push our politicians to Make Poverty History.”
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