Sales of Make Poverty History armbands go through the roof
-9/02/05
Sales of white bands – the symbol of the MakePovertyHistory campaign – have gone through the roof, with half a million being sold in just 4 weeks.
Tonight, at the Brit Awards, stars including Lemar, Keane, Jamelia, Minnie Driver and many others will be showing their support when they wear the white bands at the awards ceremony in London.
Lemar said, ìSinging on Band Aid 20 made me realise just how many people in the world are so poor. Itís awful and itís not right that anyone in todayís world should die of hunger. There should be enough food to go around for everybody. Thatís why Iím happy to wear the white band and support Make Poverty History.î
Sales of the white bands have been boosted by Nelson Mandelaís support of the campaign in London last week, with 60,000 sold online, many of the charity shops selling the bands selling out and many more now being bought by text.
White Bands will be worn around the world at key moments in 2005, especially on July 2 when there will be a huge rally in Edinburgh ahead of the G8 meetings in Scotland.
Christian Aidís Martin Drewry, coordinatorís of Make Poverty History, said; ìThe response has been incredible and very encouraging. The message is getting through to the public and weíre gathering new supporters for the campaign daily. It shows the huge level of concern about trade justice, debt and aid.î
Save the Childrenís Matt Phillips, another Make Poverty History co-ordinator said; ìThe demand for the White Bands and support by stars for the campaign has been phenomenal and thereís a real momentum gathering. This sends a clear message to politicians that they must take big steps this year to make poverty a thing of the past. A child dies from poverty every three seconds. This must be the year of change.î
The BRIT Awards and the BRIT Trust have linked up with charity Save the Children to bring real and lasting change to children affected by the tsunami in Asia. The British Phonographic Industry have guaranteed £500,000 from the awards night will go to a two-year project to aid youngsters affected by the catastrophe.
Celebrities such as Rhys Ifans, Denise Van Outen, Graham Norton, McFly, June Sarpong, Busted, Travis and Davinia McCall have all been sporting the white band in support of the campaign since it launched.