Manchester’s Gay Village Businesses, The Lesbian and Gay Foundation, Operation Fundraiser, George House Trust and Oxfam have joined forces to encourage the queer community to support the Make Poverty History campaign, a UK coalition of organisations and celebrities that are asking the world’s leaders to take a stand against global poverty in 2005. 

At 6:00 pm on Saturday May 28, Manchester’s Gay Village will become a sea of white as members of the public, bars and businesses join together to show unity in one human chain across Canal Street to represent the white band of Make Poverty History.

Sackville Park will play host to a number of speeches from representatives of the LGB community asking the gay community to sign up to the campaign and show their support either by wearing a white band or attending the Make Poverty History rally before the G8 world leaders in Edinburgh on 2nd July.

“We are delighted that Manchester’s gay community taking this campaign to it’s heart,” said Sarah Blakemore of Oxfam.  “Make Poverty History is a chance to stand up and be counted and help make a real difference to the lives of people living in poverty across the world.”

With the UK hosting the G8 summit at Gleneagles, Scotland, in July, as well as holding the presidency of the European Union (EU), 2005 is the biggest ever opportunity for the UK Government to play a central role in bringing an end to poverty forever.

The Make Poverty History campaign believes that if there is to be any hope of eradicating poverty: people must be put at the centre of trade negotiations, world debt must be cancelled, there must be more aid and it must work for poor people.

“It’s fantastic that Manchester’s Gay Village is getting so involved in this event as it is important to let people know that the gay community, village businesses and charities are all working together to highlight the causes of poverty around the world that affect us all,” commented Emma Peate, the project manager of Operation Fundraiser, the group that raises money for LGBT charities during Manchester’s annual “Pride” event.

Andrew Gilliver of the Lesbian and Gay Foundation said that he was honored that his organization was approached “take part in this important initiative as poverty affects everyone regardless of age, race, gender or sexuality.

“Manchester's LGBT Community have long been at the forefront of fundraising and awareness on many different issues and it is with great Pride that we show our support on 28th May and do everything we can to Make Poverty History,” he added.

Many village businesses in Manchester’s famed “Village” are also helping to promote the initiative hosting white-themed parties, or special events over the course of the weekend.

Earlier this year when if Africa, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown spoke forcibly on the desperate need for the G8 countries to seriously address the mounting problems of poverty in some parts of the world and with the difficulties of national debt by cancelling debt.

Prime Minister Tony Blair has also spoken up on the subject.  Both pledged that Britain would be at the forefront of addressing poverty in “third world” countries – and both have called on other world leaders to take the matter very seriously at the G8 Summit in Gleneagles.

LINKS

Oxfam website
Operation Fundraiser website
Lesbian and Gay Foundation website

G8 Gleneagles 2005 official website
Make Poverty History website

20  May  2005