South Tyneside

 

NE to G8

Members of South Tyneside Friends of the Earth local group will be making their way to Edinburgh this weekend to take part in the Make Poverty History event. Members from other local FOE groups, including Tyne Bridge, North Tyneside and Derwent Valley will also be travelling up by bus, train and even bicycle to make it to Edinburgh to get their voices heard.

Bryan Atkinson, South Tyneside FOE spokesperson said:

“It’s important that we get the message across that we are not happy with the way our government is handling poverty in the developing world. While the developed countries are devouring the planet’s resources at an ever-increasing rate, people in many countries cannot afford basics like clean water, health care and education – things that we take for granted.”

Friends of the Earth will also be campaigning in Edinburgh as part of the ‘Counter G8’ conference in support of their ‘The Big Ask’ initiative, which would bring in laws that would require the government do something concrete about climate change.

Bryan Atkinson continued:

“Climate change is being caused by the richest nations gorging on a fossil fuel economy – whilst the poorest will pay the price. The damaging effects of climate change will hit those less able to support themselves - the poorest - the hardest.

“Tony Blair and the other G8 leaders have to recognise that there are environmental limits to growth and they have to lead by example and put their own house in order before lecturing the rest of the world.

“Key issues like the environment, trade justice and debt relief need to be resolved now. Make Poverty History isn’t about charity; it’s a matter of justice.”

Contacts

email: stfoe@negg.org

Notes

1. http://www.makepovertyhistory.org/
2. South Tyneside FOE online: http://www.negg.org/stfoe/
3. FOE England, Northern Ireland & Wales: http://www.foe.co.uk/
4. The Big Ask: http://www.thebigask.com

We are not amused

(from http://www.makepovertyhistory.org/)
50,000 people die every day because of poverty. That’s 270 million people since 1990 – roughly equivalent to the population of the USA.

A child every three seconds dies because of poverty.

More than 1 billion people do not have access to safe drinking water.

The three richest people in the world control more wealth than the poorest 600 million.