So, can we Make Poverty History? - Liza Coffin

Nelson Mandela in Trafalgar Square at the Make Poverty History rally

2005 is a year of exceptional opportunity for the UK to take an international lead in making the changes that could make poverty history. The UK holds the presidency of the European Union, has just hosted the G7 Finance Ministers meeting and will be hosting the G8 meeting in Scotland in July.

Development in Action have joined more than two hundred charitable organisations that form the Make Poverty History Coalition, to make sure that our Government uses its influential position on the world stage to change the face of world poverty.

The UK coalition is part of the Global Call to Action Against Poverty, the biggest ever global mobilization to hold governments to accountable for the promises they made to eradicate poverty. This worldwide alliance of hundreds of organisations was launched in January at the World Social Forum in Brazil .

The UK 's Make Poverty History campaign has kicked off to an inspiring start. A crowd of more than 20,000 people gathered in Trafalgar Square on 3 February to listen to the campaign's most high-profile supporter. Nobel Prize winner Nelson Mandela urged the rally to “Make Poverty History in 2005” and help set free the millions of people in the world's poorest countries who remain imprisoned by poverty.

“Massive poverty and obscene inequality are such terrible scourges of our times… that they have to rank alongside slavery and apartheid as social evils”, Mr Mandela said. He called on world leaders to honour the promise they made in the Millenium Declaration to halve extreme poverty by 2015:

White Band - symbol of the Make Poverty History campaign

“I have to 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.”

The Make Poverty History Coalition are calling for trade justice, debt cancellation and more and better aid:

Trade Justice : The rules of international trade are stacked in favour of the most powerful countries and their businesses. The Coalition want rules that ensure governments, particularly in poor countries, can choose the best solutions to end poverty and protect the environment. These will not always be free trade policies. They are also calling for an end to export subsidies that damage the livelihoods of poor rural communities around the world, and laws to stop big business profiting at the expense of people and the environment.

Debt Cancellation : The debt crisis is far from over. Rich countries have not delivered on the promise they made more than six years ago to cancel unpayable poor country debts. As a result, many countries still have to spend more on debt repayments than on meeting the needs of their people. The Coalition is calling for these debts to be cancelled in full, by fair and transparent means.

More and Better Aid : Poverty will not be eradicated without an immediate and major increase in international aid. The Coalition want donors to deliver at least $50 billion more in aid and set a binding timetable for spending 0.7% of national income on aid. Aid must also be made to work more effectively for poor people.

Development in Action has as vital a role to play in campaigning to make poverty history as the big-name NGOs whose company we keep in the coalition. On 2 nd July thousands of people will join together in Edinburgh to call for the world's wealthiest nations to make poverty history ahead of the G8 summit in Gleneagles. This is your opportunity to make your voice heard. Watch this space for more information about joining Development in Action at the mass rally.

Visit www.makepovertyhistory.org to find out more about the campaign. You can buy white bands via this website or from your local Oxfam shop. To find out more about the Global Call to Action Against Poverty and the key dates in 2005 when you should your white band to voice your support for the campaign, visit www.whiteband.org .