Tearfund Volunteers Blow the Whistle on Poverty

As the half time whistle blew at Saturday's FA Cup Final, over 100 Tearfund volunteers from churches across East Anglia joined together in a whistle blowing moment of their own - to signal their desire for action in the fight against poverty.

|PIC1|The campaigners gathered ahead of Blow the Whistle Sunday on 20 May, a day organised by the Micah Challenge campaign for churches around the country to focus on the issue of global poverty.

Dave Cooper, Tearfund's East England Regional Manager, "A promise was made by world leaders in 2000 to halve poverty by 2015 through the UN's Millennium Development Goals. This summer it's half time to halve poverty, and many of the goals are in danger of not being met.

"That is why we stood together - around the time of the half-time whistle at the Cup Final, to all blow whistles loudly in unison, to publicly declare how we feel about world economic poverty. We represent many local churches across East Anglia."

He added: "We are tired of words and demand action on behalf of those in need, those whose voices are never heard by men and women in positions of power and influence. We will not be satisfied until we see tangible results.

"I used to be a teacher here in Ipswich for over twenty years, and on travelling to Burkina Faso in West Africa recently, saw again for myself the need for universal primary education."

Burkina Faso like many countries is also suffering the effects of HIV and Aids which Tearfund, through its partners there, is striving to make an impact upon - reaching young people with the message of the dangers of the virus, and providing anti-retroviral drugs for pregnant mothers.

The climate of this poor country too is now being seriously impacted by climatic change and needs urgent help, Tearfund explained.

"These are just three of the eight Millennium Development Goals. Our new Prime Minister needs to be reminded of the strong stand he has already taken, and encouraged to urgently act for us as he takes up his new office soon," a Tearfund statement said.

Tearfund volunteer for Ipswich, Val Dufour said, "I was proud of the lead our country took with the rest of the world, in cancelling debt. But global poverty is still getting worse. I urge our leaders to boldly lead again now, to meet the commitments made in 2000. I want to be proud of our country again."