Mike backs call to 'make poverty history'

3.23.52pm GMT Mon 7th Mar 2005

Local Lib Dem campaigner and councillor Mike Bell is urging local people to sign up to the Make Poverty History campaign.

Make Poverty History is unique UK alliance of charities, campaigning groups, faith communities, and celebrities who are mobilising around key opportunities in 2005 to drive forward the struggle against poverty and injustice. The alliance is pressing for trade justice for the developing world, cancellation of debt and more and better aid.

Mike Bell said: "This is a brilliant initiative bringing together so many of us concerned with global poverty and mobilising our efforts to make a real push in 2005 towards the goal of ending world poverty. I've signed up and I would urge everyone else who is concerned with these issues to do so as well".

People can sign up to the campaign at www.makepovertyhistory.org

"This site has some great ideas as to how we can all help. It's not asking for donations just two minutes of our time once in a while", said Mike.

Mike agreed that new emphasis being placed on world poverty by Tony Blair and Gordon Brown is welcome but said much more action was needed to support their words. "Gordon Brown is pushing for debt repayments in countries effected by the tsunami to be delayed and rescheduled. That's good in the short term but what we really need is the debt to be cancelled altogether", added Mike.