Blair urged to make poverty history
The Prime Minister is set to receive an open letter today calling on the British government to fight “extreme” poverty in Africa in 2005.
The letter is penned by the Make Poverty History campaign, a coalition of charities including
Tearfund, CAFOD, Christian Aid, World Vision, Oxfam, Save the Children, trade unions and celebrities such as U2 singer Bono and Sir Bob Geldof.
The campaign is the creation of screenwriter Richard Curtis and Sir Bob, mastermind of Band Aid.
With Britain to assume the presidencies of European Union and the G8 of leading industrial nations in 2005, the letter called on Tony Blair to press world leaders to join him in a concerted fight against global poverty.
Mr Blair has described Africa as a “scar” on the world’s conscience.
The campaign group said 30,000 children die every day from starvation and malnutrition.
In the light of the shocking statistic, the coalition is demanding the cancellation of $10bn of debt in the world’s poorest nations, a boost of 26 billion pounds a year in international aid per year, and tougher corporate law streamlining how multinationals operate in developing countries.
The letter reads: “You have an unparalleled opportunity to influence the direction of the international community and its institutions and now, more than ever, you will be held accountable for its action.”
Rudo Kwaramba, World Vision’s director of communications, said: “Around 1.2 billion people live on less than 60 pence a day and every day 30,000 people die because of poverty. This is totally unacceptable and it’s time that we stood united to call for change.”
Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown has already said 2005 will be a “make or break year” in the fight against poverty.
Mr Brown said: “2005 must become the year when through the world trade talks, we release the poorest countries from unfair trade barriers.”
Bono is guest editor on BBC Radio Four’s Today programme this morning.
He and Hollywood actress Scarlett Johansson will also appear in a three-minute video screened at festivities in Trafalgar Square, London, and Princes Street, Edinburgh, on New Year’s Eve.
Bono will say: “We’re the first generation that can end extreme poverty. By that I mean the kind of stupid poverty that allows a child to die of hunger in a world of plenty.”
