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Act!
Newsflash!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Global ‘Make Poverty History’ Campaign Gains Momentum in Victoria
Victoria, BC: September 14, 2005
From September 14 to 16, over 170 world leaders are meeting in New York
for a UN Special Summit on the ‘Millennium Development Goals’
(MDGs). The purpose of this summit is to evaluate the progress made toward
the MDGs, which include cutting extreme poverty in half by 2015. These
goals are in jeopardy because some of the richest countries involved refuse
to commit to a timeline for donating 0.7% of their Gross National Income
(GNI) to foreign aid. While President Bush is admittedly preoccupied with
hurricane relief efforts, the disproportionate effects of Hurricane Katrina
along class and racial lines highlight the urgency of poverty eradication
efforts the world over. We must hold our world leaders, as well as our
various levels of government accountable for their commitments to reach
the Millennium Development Goals.
VIDEA, VIDEA’s Global Youth, Canadian Crossroads International,
Power of Hope, TheatreWorks and others have formed a coalition to promote
the Make Poverty History (MPH) campaign in Victoria. The Canadian faction
of this international campaign calls for:
· More and Better Foreign Aid,
· Trade Justice,
· ‘No Strings Attached’ Cancellation of Foreign Debts,
and
· An end to Child Poverty in Canada.
The Victoria Make Poverty History Coalition is planning a number of outreach
events over the next few months to raise awareness about this campaign
and inspire action at a local level. Here’s how you can get involved:
1) Join the Coalition: Our next meeting will be held on Monday September
26th at 7pm in the VIDEA office (407-620 View Street). Please RSVP to
Elizabeth Wallace.
2) Come out to our events: The first event planned is a Social Justice
Film Series at UVic, which will begin at 7pm on Monday, September 19.
Contact Catherine Etmanski for more information: 384-8016, etmanski@uvic.ca
3) Work toward the MPH goals: Incorporate poverty-reduction goals into
your social group, church, union, organization, or workplace programming.
4) Volunteer: Committed individuals are always needed to transport volunteers
and supplies, staff tables, organize venues, advertise, and plan events.
VIDEA’s Global Youth are planning a benefit concert in the fall
– lots of help is needed!
5) Spread the word: Tell your friends, acquaintances, colleagues, and
strangers about this campaign and invite them to participate. Wearing
the white MPH armbands and writing letters to public officials and/or
editors of your favourite publications are a few ways to demonstrate your
support.
6) Find out more: Contact VIDEA, or visit the Canadian Make Poverty History
Website for more information: http://www.makepovertyhistory.ca/
SOLID
kicks off MAKE POVERTY HISTORY on Salt Spring  A group of community leaders on Salt Spring are organizing their own Make Poverty History campaign. For nearly a decade, SOLID (Salt Spring Organization for Life Improvement and Development) has been doing grassroots work in Africa. SOLID supports initiatives to educate people about the AIDS pandemic and also creates community gardens in Africa to address food security and nutrition. SOLID and VIDEA’s Global Youth Program kicked off the Make Poverty History campaign with Salt Spring's own Live 8 concert in Centennial Park on Saturday July 2. With a backdrop of sailing ships and the silhouettes of the Gulf Islands, this concert featured the talents of Stephanie MacPherson, Stephanie Rhodes, Drop Radio frontman Lauglin, Donn Tarris, and headlining band OKA. This Australian trio combined jazz, tribal, and electronic music in a high energy blend that had the 250 strong crowd dancing until sunset. This incredibly talented band sold 60 CD’s on Saturday night; you can look for their music on sale at Salt Spring Sound. Saturday’s concert happened in synch with 10 other Live 8 events around the world that were attended or viewed by 2 billion people. Speakers from Oxfam Canada along with the Green Party’s Ken Rouleau brought Salt Spring the message that it is up to citizens to Make Poverty History, by holding global leaders accountable to meaningfully address global poverty through: more and better aid, trade justice, as well as the cancellation of the debts of the world’s most impoverished countries. SOLID sold white Make Poverty History arm bands and collected over 500 letters to Paul Martin urging him to make good on his promises to help Africa overcome its crises of AIDS and poverty. The concert was co-produced by VIDEA’s Global Youth, a team of dedicated young people who will be coming to Salt Spring throughout the Make Poverty History campaign to do public outreach and learn media skills to better spread the message about the biggest grassroots political movement in history.Thanks also to PARC and to Salt Spring Sound for their generous support of this all ages, free concert! Carrying on from Saturday’s wonderful kick-off, SOLID will be raising funds towards the building of tree nurseries in schools in Lesotho, a very impoverished nation in southern Africa where AIDS levels are reaching 50% of the population. Five SOLID members traveled to Lesotho this winter and established the first tree nursery at Malapo High School with money raised from the 2004 Community to Community conference and keynote speech by Stephen Lewis. The first batch of tree seedlings have already been planted, and will be available for re-sale to the Lesotho Department of Agriculture at about R.$1 per tree. With the funds raised from the sale of tree seedlings the school will be able to provide bursaries for orphaned students whose parents have died of AIDS, children who would otherwise not receive an education. In addition, the planting of trees addresses the soil erosion problem in Lesotho and contributes towards a more sustainable ecosystem. This simple project cost only $3,000 and stands to support dozens of AIDS orphans. SOLID is seeking funding for more tree nurseries for other Lesotho schools, and in addition to selling the white Make Poverty History arm bands will be collecting donations at our Saturday market info table. Look for the white bands at Island Star Video, Star Books, Salt Spring Books, and Salt Spring Roasting Co., and Pharmasave. By wearing a white band Salt Springers are showing their support for SOLID and for the aims of Make Poverty History. Look out for more great events on the island focusing on raising awareness and bringing the community together to address poverty around the world. |