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The world can't wait!
Thousands of campaigners descended on London at the weekend to urge Tony Blair to push leaders of the world's richest countries to make good on their anti-poverty commitments made at Gleneagles two years ago. WaterAid and The World Can't Wait coalition partners and supporters gathered on the banks of the River Thames with alarm clocks to make sure he got the message loud and clear! At 2.30pm, after a minute's silence, alarm clocks and mobile phones were simultaneously set off, for three glorious minutes of noise. Whistles, African drummers and a gospel choir increased the volume further! Stars including Midge Ure, Annie Lennox and Shameless actors David Threlfall and Gerard Kearns joined campaigners in a huge show of public support for the ongoing campaign to end global poverty. Midge Ure said: "In 2005 I was proud to be one of the millions of people who got behind the Make Poverty History campaign. Britain showed that you can make politicians pay attention if you shout loud enough. But promises are easily made - let's hope they're not so easily broken." Kumi Naidoo, from the Global Call to Action Against Poverty, said: "There's lots of talk about Tony Blair's legacy - and this summit offers a golden opportunity for him to really leave a mark. In 2005 the British public gave the government a huge mandate to fight poverty. People across Africa are still waiting for the G8 to deliver." Ahead of the G8 summit in Germany, more than 300,000 people have written to Tony Blair, calling on him to turn the promises of 2005's G8 summit into reality and ensure that further concrete action is taken. In 2005, the G8 committed to boosting development assistance by $50 billion a year by 2010. Two years on, the rich countries that make up the group are only ten percent of the way to their target. More information, pictures and video from the event can be found at www.yourvoiceagainstpoverty.org.uk.
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