Thousands tell Tony Blair 'make your last G8 count'

from Reuters Alert Net

Thousands of campaigners will descend on London this weekend to urge Tony Blair to push leaders of the world’s richest countries to make good on their anti-poverty commitments made at Gleneagles two years ago.

Midge Ure, Shameless’ David Threlfall and Gerard Kearns and Eurythmics star Annie Lennox will join campaigners on the banks of the Thames on Saturday 2 June for a demonstration of huge public support for the ongoing campaign to end global poverty.

Ahead of next week’s G8 summit in Germany, more than 300,000 people have written to the out-going Prime Minister – currently on a visit to Africa – calling on him to turn the promises of 2005’s G8 summit into reality and ensure that further concrete action is taken.

At 2.30pm their voices will be represented by around 10 000 campaigners who will make three minutes of noise, sending the loud message to the G8: the World Can’t Wait. They will be supported by African drummers and a gospel choir and co-ordinated from a barge on the river.

Midge Ure said: "In 2005 I was proud to be one of the millions of people who got behind the Make Poverty History campaign. Britain showed that you can make politicians pay attention if you shout loud enough. But promises are easily made – let’s hope they’re not so easily broken."

Kumi Naidoo, from the Global Call to Action Against Poverty, said: "There’s lots of talk about Tony Blair’s legacy - and this summit offers a golden opportunity for him to really leave a mark. In 2005 the British public gave the government a huge mandate to fight poverty. People across Africa are still waiting for the G8 to deliver."

For further information please go to www.yourvoiceagainstpoverty.org.uk