[UK] Summit Tackles Future of Poverty Fight

from Community Newswire

Anti-poverty lobbyists were today gathering in Cambridge for a summit which was looking at how best to build on the groundswell of support for last year's Make Poverty History campaign.

The conference has been organised by the Cambridge arm of the World Development Movement (WDM), one of the founding organisations behind Make Poverty History.

The event, entitled "Where Next After Make Poverty History", was due to feature talks by veteran global justice campaigners Kofi Mawuli-Klu and Vicky Cann who were examining the successes, failures and future challenges for the campaign.

The speakers were also looking back at what was achieved in 2005 when the UK, as host of the G8 and chair of the EU, had a central role on the global stage and were tackling questions such as "What was the true meaning of the G8 debt deal?" and "What really happened at the World Trade Organisation talks in Hong Kong?".

They were also discussing the future of the fight against world poverty, including how to build on the thunderous momentum of Make Poverty History when millions of people expressed solidarity for the cause by wearing white wristbands.

Aidan Baker of Cambridge WDM said: "Make Poverty History did a great job of raising awareness, but the campaign to secure justice for the world's poor is far from over.

"There were some small victories, such as the end to the harsh economic conditions attached to UK aid and, for the few countries set to benefit, the limited G8 debt deal. The deal is inadequate not least because only 19 out of over 60 countries that have been identified as needing full debt cancellation immediately are set to benefit. In any case not a penny has actually been delivered yet.

"The structural causes of global poverty remain firmly in place. Rich countries like the UK continue to force free trade policies like water privatisation and trade liberalisation onto the world's poorest countries, policies which have proven time and again to hurt the poor.

"Join us and help us to look forward and build on the momentum created by Make Poverty History. In 2006 and beyond, WDM will continue to hold leaders to account and in solidarity with activists across the world we will continue the fight for the fundamental change and reform still desperately needed to truly make poverty history."

WDM has been campaigning on debt, trade and aid for more than 30 years and was a founding member of the Trade Justice Movement and the Jubilee Debt Campaign and now Make Poverty History.

The conference was being held at the Latimer Room, Clare College, Cambridge at 8pm. For further details call Cambridge WDM call 01223 562983 or see www.cambridgewdm.org.uk

For national WDM campaigns see www.wdm.org.uk