From the editor - Editor

Welcome to the winter edition of the Development in Action magazine. 2005 was the year of the volunteer a national initiative to promote and celebrate giving up your time for causes worthy and wide. Through Development in Action hundreds of young people have volunteered in NGO's in India over the past ten years. As the initiative recognises, “active citizenship” is one of the greatest benefits conferred by volunteering. The promotion of ‘global citizenship' is the goal of Development in Action, as expressed in our mission statement. Volunteering in India is an inspirational and altering experience, but the changes are truly brought through on returning to the UK . Through voluntary activity in the UK , old and new volunteers further their engagement in global issues. Almost every committee member of Development in Action is a volunteer. The products of this are celebrated and explored here.

The activities of Development in Action members and supporters in 2005 is impressive. Steve Roberts spent A Week in the Woods to raise awareness and sponsorship for Development in Action and global poverty. We re-cap the huge success of the Anniversary Celebration in the House of Commons in November 2004. Awe (and perhaps incredulity) goes out to Ruth and Elinor, Cycling from Birmingham to Bradford in aid of DiA.

What does it mean to be a volunteer? What are the particular benefits to be gained by the experience? These are the sometimes difficult questions examined by Mandarin Bennett . They are also understood through first hand experience, in this edition in the Edinburgh special , accounts and impressions of the Make Poverty History rally on 5 th July 2005 .

Looking in-depth at specific global issues, Abi Dymond examines the role of India in the WTO negotiations , and Liza Coffin gives an honest account of the perceived achievements and shortcomings of the Make Poverty History campaign.

I welcome your feedback to this edition. If you would like to receive regular editions of Development in Action, please subscribe via our website at www.developmentinaction.org

Charlotte Alfred – Editor

newsletter@developmentinaction.org