Pope and Mandela Invited to Address Anti-Poverty Rally in Edinburgh

The Pope and Nelson Mandela have been invited to attend and make addresses at a huge free upcoming anti-poverty rally and concert in Edinburgh, Scotland which will commence the first day of the summit of world leaders from the G8 countries.

Sir Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, who were prominent figures in raising millions for Africa through Live Aid in 1985, will help to present the event at a Tuesday press release.

In addition, the rally and concert has been planned specifically for 6th July, which is the day that Tony Blair hosts seven of the world’s most powerful leaders including American President George Bush.

Although a venue has not been confirmed yet, the Scotsman.com state that the organisers held talks with the Scottish Rugby Union last week in plans to bring the gathering to Murrayfield stadium – home of the Scottish rugby team.

The Make Poverty History rally is also set to be held in Edinburgh on 2nd July, which organisers say will bring more than 100,000 people together demanding trade justice for developing countries. In addition, they will also call for complete debt cancellation and increased aid for the world’s poorest countries.

Also on 2nd July, Sir Bob Geldof has assisted in a Live 8 concert to take place in London’s Hyde Park. This, as well as other gigs organised across other European countries, and even maybe in America in the preceding days will lead up to the Edinburgh event.

Although many music artists will gather for the worldwide events, it has been emphasised greatly by the organisers that the world leaders are the ones the focus should lay upon.

The Scotsman.com report that the organisers yesterday confirmed that new Pope, Benedict XVI and Nelson Mandela had been approached, and were on the list of prominent figures and musicians that would be asked to back the initiative.

Ewan Hunter, the Hunter Foundation Chief Executive, told the Scottish Press Association, "We very much support the delivery of a major event in Scotland on the Wednesday. Plans are still very much fluid but we hope we can send the leaders of the G8 a message so strong and powerful that they can’t refuse the decent request for justice for the poor 50,000 who die each day needlessly through the west’s lack of intervention."

A Scottish Rugby Union spokesperson commented, "We are aware of speculation concerning the possibility of a concert at Murrayfield during the G8 summit but that is all it is at the moment and we cannot comment further."

The Make Poverty History campaign is continuing to gain pace in the run up to the Edinburgh gathering. James Bond star Sean Connery this past weekend gave his full backing to the campaign, and called for the G8 leaders to finally make a reality their previous commitments to use 0.7% of their countries’ wealth on aid. The United Nations called for this commitment to be filled over 30 years ago, yet it remains unfulfilled.

On this, Connery was quoted as saying, “Thirty five years ago rich countries agreed to give 0.7% of their national income in aid and it is high time they, and we, kept that promise. Not keeping our word has already cost millions of lives – the world can’t wait any longer.

"Gleneagles, in the heart of Scotland, is the place to deliver. It is now time for the world’s leaders to do the right thing, and make good their pledges to the world’s poorest," concluded Connery.