Mandela to rally faithful to make poverty history
-1/02/05
Nelson Mandela will rally the public to the cause of making poverty history at a special open-air address in London this week.
The former South African president is to speak in Trafalgar Square to a crowd of thousands at the invitation of the MakePovertyHistory coalition, and will endorse the biggest anti-poverty campaign ever.
Mr Mandela will be coming to London on the eve of the G7 (Group of seven industrialised countries) finance ministers meeting in London where it is hoped that rich countries will make significant steps in cutting dropping the debts of developing countries – currently costing 39 billion dollars each year.
He will meet with the ministers during the visit, and put on the pressure to make good on their promises to increase and improve aid for the poor, deliver trade justice and provide further debt relief.
White bands, the symbol of the campaign, will adorn the square, Nelson’s Column, and will be worn by the huge crowd expected to attend.
Alison Fenney, director of advocacy and communications at catholic aid agency Cafod said: ìNelson Mandela ís visit to Britain to launch the MakePovertyHistory campaign, lends it the support of one of the worldís greatest statesmen, illustrating the importance of this campaign.
ìWhen he comes to London, he will add his voice to the rallying cry for everyone to get involved and for the richer nations to take action in those areas which perpetuate inequality.
ìThis means they should increase their aid budgets, reforming trade rules and bringing an end to the burden of debt on poor countries, so that people have a real chance to develop sustainable livelihoods and to climb out of poverty.î
Mandela to rally faithful to make poverty history
-1/02/05
Nelson Mandela will rally the public to the cause of making poverty history at a special open-air address in London this week.
The former South African president is to speak in Trafalgar Square to a crowd of thousands at the invitation of the MakePovertyHistory coalition, and will endorse the biggest anti-poverty campaign ever.
Mr Mandela will be coming to London on the eve of the G7 (Group of seven industrialised countries) finance ministers meeting in London where it is hoped that rich countries will make significant steps in cutting dropping the debts of developing countries – currently costing 39 billion dollars each year.
He will meet with the ministers during the visit, and put on the pressure to make good on their promises to increase and improve aid for the poor, deliver trade justice and provide further debt relief.
White bands, the symbol of the campaign, will adorn the square, Nelson’s Column, and will be worn by the huge crowd expected to attend.
Alison Fenney, director of advocacy and communications at catholic aid agency Cafod said: ìNelson Mandela ís visit to Britain to launch the MakePovertyHistory campaign, lends it the support of one of the worldís greatest statesmen, illustrating the importance of this campaign.
ìWhen he comes to London, he will add his voice to the rallying cry for everyone to get involved and for the richer nations to take action in those areas which perpetuate inequality.
ìThis means they should increase their aid budgets, reforming trade rules and bringing an end to the burden of debt on poor countries, so that people have a real chance to develop sustainable livelihoods and to climb out of poverty.î