[Make Poverty History] campaign closes amid warnings

From Reuters Alert Net

By Jeremy Lovell

LONDON, (Reuters) - Make Poverty History, the campaign that galvanized the political agenda in 2005, comes to an end next week hailing its own success, despite warnings that world leaders are backsliding on their pledges.

When Nelson Mandela challenged the Group of Eight rich nations in London's Trafalgar Square in February to eradicate the "obscene inequality" of global poverty, his call acted as a clarion cry.

The campaign's white wristband became a must-have fashion accessory and millions of people took part in marches, vigils and events that reached a climax in Live 8 concerts around the globe on July 2.

And politicians took heed.

Britain, at the helm of the G8 this year, brokered a major increase in aid and debt cuts for some of the world's poorest nations as well as winning a pledge to tackle the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

"The Make Poverty History coalition came together for a special year of opportunity," campaign chairman Richard Bennett said. "The political decisions made would not have been made without their passionate commitment."

"If governments follow through on their promises, millions of lives that would have been lost could now be saved."

But ActionAid, one of the 540 organisations that made up Make Poverty History, warned that all was not what it might seem and that world leaders were already distancing themselves from some of their loftier declarations.

"It is not enough for politicians to wear white bands," ActionAid director Richard Miller said. "They had the power to turn commitment into reality in 2005 and they failed to rise fully to the challenge."

"Pledges have been half-hearted, and recent backsliding on aid and debt commitments underscores the need for sustained pressure," he added. "This must come from the public."

WORLD TRADE

While Make Poverty History trumpeted the progress on aid, debt and HIV, it lamented the lack of action on reforming world trade to benefit poorer nations.

"The World Trade Organisation ministerial meeting in Hong Kong could have been a turning point in making poverty history. But the potential for justice for the world's poorest people was squandered," it said on its Web site.

At the WTO meeting this month, ministers from 149 states saved long-running global trade talks from collapse with an interim deal to end farm export subsidies by 2013 but agreed the results were generally disappointing.

Make Poverty History insisted the campaign had energised a new generation who would carry on the fight.

"Although this special year is coming to an end, the campaign has inspired a generation who believe that it is possible to make poverty history," Bennett said.

"Their leaders have the power and ability to do this and all of those who have campaigned this year, including many thousands who have done so for the first time, will continue to urge them to deliver the changes that will make poverty history."