quinta-feira, fevereiro 03, 2005
Mandela em Londres contra pobreza
BBC online 03.02.05
Nelson Mandela has urged world leaders "do not look the other way" from world poverty during a mass rally in London. The former South African president also called on the crowds in London's Trafalgar Square to join the largest ever campaign against poverty. Mr Mandela is in London to address finance ministers from the G7 industrialised countries. Helping the developing world on trade, debt relief and aid are on the agenda when the ministers meet this weekend. The talks are the first event in the UK's presidency of the G7.
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He urged the rally on Thursday to "Make Poverty History in 2005" and help set free the millions of people in the world's poorest countries who remained imprisoned by poverty.
"It is time to set them free ... Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural - it is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings," he said. He called on world leaders to honour the promise they made in the Millennium Declaration to halve extreme poverty.
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The Making Poverty History campaign wants developing countries' debts - which cost them £21bn a year - to be cancelled. Fair access to trade markets and aid money are also on the list of demands. It says the public can help put pressure on government by taking party in rallies, writing to their MPs and ministers and other campaign activities.
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