Leonard accepts 'Make Poverty History' call

12.00.00am GMT Wed 16th Mar 2005

Alliance spokesperson for Laganbank, Allan Leonard, has accepted the call to show support and spread the word of the 'Make Poverty History' campaign, which aims to drop unrepayable debt owed by the world's poorest countries, to increase the amount of international aid, and to make global trade fair:

"I learned about the 'Make Poverty History' campaign through the launch day event, with Nelson Mandela and Bob Geldof making the case. Mr Mandela said, 'Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity, [but] is an act of justice.'

"I believe that you can't fight for justice at home but ignore it abroad, so I promptly went to my local Oxfam shop and purchased the campaign's white bracelet to visibly demonstrate my support.

"I then promoted the campaign at the Alliance Party's recent annual conference, providing several hundred bracelets, spreading the word, and collecting over a hundred signatures for a petition, calling on the British and Irish governments to honour their commitment to contribute 0.07% of national income to international aid.

"I call upon Belfast City Council to lead the way and make Belfast a designated Fair Trade city. If I am elected to council by the voters of Laganank, I will push to make this happen.

"I wear my white bracelet with pride, and look forward forthcoming 'Make Poverty History' events. I plan to go a large demonstration of 100,000+ on 2 July, in Edinburgh, where the UK Government are hosting a G8 summit."

Photo supplied courtesy of Stephen Davison/PaceMaker: http://leonardforlaganbank.blogs.com/allanleonard/images/AL-20050312-MPH.jpg [300KB]

Make Poverty History official website: http://www.makepovertyhistory.org