Make Poverty History

Make World Poverty History uses the Internet, the mass media, and community-based events to bring UK citizens together to end a situation that organisers describe as "shameful": Each day, they claim, 30,000 children die as a result of extreme poverty. Citizens who visit the Make Poverty History website might begin the process by learning about poverty and the other issues that are at the heart of the campaign: trade justice, debt forgiveness, and increased overseas development assistance. A campaign Manifesto, book, and various information resources are offered here to enhance citizens' understanding about the problem of poverty.

The campaign website also describes very specific ways in which the public may engage in advocacy around these issues, offering concrete information and tools to support participation. The symbol of the campaign is a simple white band that is designed to be worn around the wrist, or in any other place that might get the attention of fellow citizens (on a key ring, pet collar, vehicle's rear view mirror, etc.) To stimulate participation, organisers are asking campaigners to share how they are getting involved by sending photos of themselves and their family/friends wearing white bands in creative ways. Selected photos are highlighted in the online gallery.

The theme of the white band is to be carried through - and communicated on a large scale - at a large public rally slated for Edinburgh on July 2 2005. The rally consists in a march that, by mid-afternoon, is expected to have encircled the city centre, forming a giant human white band around Edinburgh (those attending the rally are asked to wear white). The goal is to create a message for G8 leaders by the sheer magnitude of public commitment to campaign demands. Organisers have also asked supporters to bring personal messages to the world leaders by writing a note on their white band; the goal is to collect tens of thousands of messages, which will be displayed at the rally before being delivered to the G8 leaders in Gleneagles. Entertainment is also used as a strategy to motivate the public to attend and participate; the rally will be followed by a party featuring guest speakers, live music, and celebrities. In fact, the participation of well-known public figures is a thread running throughout the campaign; many of the campaign's public service announcements (PSAs) feature famous people such as Nelson Mandela and the musician Bono (click here to view these videos).

Throughout the year, citizens of all ages are asked to engage in advocacy in their communities, schools, and online. For instance, a tool on the website enables citizens to email Tony Blair through an editable, personalisable letter. "Now is your chance to tell the Prime Minister that enough is enough, that he must do all he can to seize the opportunities of 2005. That you do care." People are also asked to plan events in their own communities; resources for action are available on the Make Poverty History website. Among the free offerings are an event poster (e.g., to announce a communal white-band-making event), a rally poster (for the July 2 rally), and a mobilisation guide that includes both a 5-minute "Make Poverty History" talk and a press release with tips for promoting local events though local media. The "Schools" section of the website provides action ideas, resources, and local support to involve children and young people in the campaign. Also available here are tools for teachers, such as curriculum support designed to help educators introduce the G8. The lessons are designed to be suitable for a variety of subjects, and to help pupils critically engage with the concept of the G8 as well as the themes of Africa and climate change. The campaign website also includes an interactive youth space.

Poverty, Rights, Overseas Development Assistance.

Make Poverty History is a member of the Global Campaign Against Poverty (GCAP): "alongside the hundreds of member agencies in the UK we are also uniting with people around the world to call on the G8 to make poverty history." BOND is a network of UK-based voluntary organisations working in international development and development education.

Organisers claim that, the last time the G8 Summit was held in Britain (in 1998), 70,000 people formed a human chain encircling Birmingham. By calling on the G8 to drop the debt of the world's poorest countries, "these campaigners put debt relief on government agendas and led to pledges of debt cancellation."