Over 2.5 Million Britons Demand Blair to Make Poverty History

Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair yesterday held the first monthly press conference at No.10 Downing Street in London with his new cabinet after the General Election. As Blair addressed the policies he would put forward in his new term, campaigners and Christian groups have not ceased pressing the government to take concrete actions against world poverty in the post-election period.

Make Poverty History, a UK-based global anti-poverty initiative, yesterday represented over 2.5 million supporters to highlight the issue to Downing Street. Six African women dressed in colourful attire of their home countries with baskets on their heads, delivering thousands of letters and postcards to the Prime Minister.

Make Poverty History demands Tony Blair to put the crisis of world poverty at the top of his agenda and lead the world to Make Poverty History in 2005.

With the UK hosting the G8 gathering of powerful world leaders in July as well as holding the presidency of the European Union (EU) for the second half of the year, the UK will be influential players on the world stage in 2005. Therefore, the government is being pressed to take the role of leadership to make a difference to the Third World.

The campaign urges the government to reinforce trade justice policy, to drop the debt of third world countries and to provide more aid.

According to World Vision UK, over 300,000 people have sent personal messages to Tony Blair by text, email or postcard. More than 45,000 have attended major campaign events in London - the Nelson Mandela rally and the trade justice vigil.

Adrian Lovett of the Make Poverty History, said, "Before the election Tony Blair said he would work night and day to make poverty history. Now millions of people want to ensure he keeps that promise as he prepares for the G8 in July."

"In just 50 days the eyes of the world will focus on Edinburgh rally on 2 July. Tony Blair can lead the change to make poverty history and he must make it his Government's top priority," Lovett added.

Matt Phillips, from Save the Children, on behalf of Make Poverty History said, "Despite all the talk, the UK Government has much to do to improve its own policies on delivering more aid, fairer trade rules and debt cancellation for the poorest countries. A monumental, international effort is needed by the Government to halt the outrage of 30,000 children dying unnecessarily every day."

The Evangelical Alliance UK (EAUK) has urged Christians not to cease dialogue with the newly elected Government in the post-election period, and to make sure the voice of the communities is heard.

The Head of Public Affairs of the EAUK, Don Horrocks suggested, "Christians are agents for hope and change and we should be continually considering how we might impact our culture in a positive way."

"... whatever our priorities - whether it is world poverty, local issues, the environment, religious liberty, health, asylum, etc, we need to continue to take part in the political and cultural process. Christians need to take responsibility in helping to shape the kind of society we wish to live in - and that means being political."

Horrocks encourages all Christians to get involved with the Make Poverty History campaign.