Make poverty history

[raven]

I know there's been thoughts expressed on the protest march but any on the campaign itself?
It's easy to be cynical and a fair bit of the press have been ... how's a concert gonna change the world ... how's a wristband gonna change the world ... how's Bob gonna fix it, he didn't feed the world last time did he .... blah blah, well yeah there's definitely truth in those arguments but i really like this idea of establishing a campaign around 3 of the central issues: cancelling debt, increasing aid, and establishing genuinely fair trade, that doesn't ask for donations to be thrown at it, cos that of itself won't resolve it, and doesn't even say, right we need to do these 3 things and it's all sorted, cos each issue has about 10 other issues within it, eg, increasing aid is clearly good but how - by handing it over to corrupt dictators to stash in their accounts overseas? Through tied aid which has proved beneficial to everyone but the people who should be benefitting and in some cases has forced countries into privatising essential services like water supplies. And fair trade ... how the hell is anyone gonna convince the EU (including Britain) to give up the CAP?
I don't think a concert, a wristband (unethically produced)(or even one ethically produced) and a march will make poverty history but more than other campaigns which have just been 'send us your £20 and get a conscience cleared and the world saved by Monday' I think this one will create momentum, encourage an interest in first world/third world divide cos it doesnt reckon it has all the answers in a soundbite but does reckon on us being intelligent enough to find out more . I'm usually very cynical so i'm surprising myself here reckoning someone might read a book or 2, write a letter, take a walk, join Bob's quest

[Sleepflower]

I think it's a really good thing to be doing, no it may not make poverty history, but the fact people are actually finally making a stand about it and trying to make a difference is what makes it so good. It's really good to see so many people passionate about making a difference too. I really hope and pray that at least some of the people who don't win tickets to the Live 8 gig will at least consider going to Edingburgh

[*lisa simpson*]

i have 5 wristbands (bought in bulk) and i have applied for live8 tickets. the whole thing is very idealist, and i don't know how far it will actually help but at least the profile of the campaign is raised and perhaps - just perhaps - the leaders at g8 will take note of that.

[The Wibbler]

i don't know how far it will actually help but at least the profile of the campaign is raised and perhaps - just perhaps - the leaders at g8 will take note of that.

It's worked. The campaign is all over the media right now (especially the Daily Mirror - official paper of the poor) here. But I don't know what it's like in the other G8 countries. We know Blair is more likely to propose the aims than most of the other leaders, so surely there needs to be more campaign abroad? (But as I say, I don't know how much the campaign is talked about in the other G8s)

[*lisa simpson*]

:up: yes, raising the campaign's profile among the general public has definitely worked, but it remains to be seen whether this will really have any impact on what happens at the summit. hopefully it will.

[The Wibbler]

Let's hope so. There was a piece in one newspaper today about how likely they all are to make poverty history. Aah, it was the Mirror and I've found it:

Blair - Most likely of a bad bunch
Chirac - Unlikely as the francophone colonies are the poorest on earth
Putin - Russia is net receiver of aid, so may be sympathetic
Schröder - Poor record so far
Bush - Unlikely
Koizumi (Japan) - No
Martin (Canada)- Overall performance is poor
Berlusconi - No

So it's not looking too good. Let's hope that Bob and everyone can convince them to change their minds