Geldof & UK Church Heads to Lead G8 Rally to Make Poverty History

This coming Saturday the highly publicised Make Poverty History rally will take place in Edinburgh prior to the Summit of G8 leaders. Hundreds of thousands are expected to take part in the march to call on the world leaders, who will gather in Gleneagles, Scotland on 6th July, to fully cancel the debt of the poorest nations in the world, and to increase he amount and standard of aid.

Backing the march are the two leaders if the Catholic Church in Britain. Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, the head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, and Keith O’Brien, Scotland’s head Cardinal, have confirmed that they will help to lead the march.

With over 100,000 people expected to arrive in Scotland’s capital in time for the weekend’s march, Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor stated that he is hoping to pressurise the government to change international trade laws.

The cardinal was reported as saying, "There is suddenly a real chance - the sort that comes but once in a generation - for Africa to reverse its three decades of stagnation. There is a moral awakening abroad, probably the greatest awakening since the movement to end slavery in the 18th century."

The International Development Secretary, Hilary Benn, who is planning to travel to the venue and take part in the protest said, "I hope lots of people will turn up. The most important thing is that it is a safe demonstration. In the end, people are gathering because they want politicians to achieve something. I am in fact planning to join the march. I am going to be in Edinburgh anyway."

In early June the British Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown was invited to speak at the march, and he has expressed his desire to do so, however, his attendance is yet to be confirmed.

Also raising the publicity of the Make Poverty History campaign, Bob Geldof joined the Glastonbury music festival crowd, and lead 100,000 people in a chant of "make poverty history."

Geldof, an organiser of Live 8 and the Live Aid concerts 20 years ago, appeared said Saturday the shows will be shown around the world in what they billed as the largest-ever broadcast of a live event.

Television, radio and internet and even mobile phones will allow up to 5.5 billion people, an amazing 85% of the world’s population to access the concerts in eight July 2nd venues across the world. The shows in London, Paris, Tokyo, Rome, Philadelphia and Pennsylvania will broadcast to more than 140 countries, and include worldwide famous artists such as Madonna, U2, Paul McCartney and Coldplay.