Thur June 30th 6.30pm Drop the debt: Make Poverty History rally, Spire, O Connell

by Jon Glackin - Street Seen Thu Jun 09, 2005 12:06

Dublin Rally Starting At Parnell Street

6.30pm, Thursday June 30th
Eve of World White Band Day
Music, Speakers, Street Theatre

Route
Parnell Street to the Department of Foreign Affairs

Theme
Ahead of the meeting of the G8 leaders in Scotland, on the eve of Global White Band Day, we stand in Solidarity with the Poor of the world asking the G8 to MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY by doing three things:
Drop the Debt,
More and Better Aid
Trade Justice

by Jon Glackin - Street Seen Sun Jun 19, 2005 20:53 streetseen at hotmail dot co dot uk

Downloadable Posters/ Web Banners are now available @ http://www.debtireland.org/resources/poster.htm

by Ray - . Sat Jun 25, 2005 19:16 ray_whelan at hotmail dot com Rathmines, Dublin 6. 0871370507

Could someone state that one of the main problems is that western powers ie. G8 never specify to buy African, if they did this is a real and effectve way to combat poverty with the other related issues, dropping debt etc.?
The reason western politicians never say buy African is because they want African countries to stay dependant on them, and their real concern is that people buy western products rather than African, as this would see their own producers suffer, thus people in the west would lose jobs etc. So we should buy as much African products as possible...

by green pepper reader Wed Jun 29, 2005 15:37

Interesting article on the background & politics of Make Poverty History.

by Ciaron - Dublin Catholi Worker Thu Jun 30, 2005 07:10

How about make exploitation history and I'm sure enforced poverty will take care of itself.

How about making poverty voluntary as a means of redistributing wealth ( as in "live simply so all may simply live"). Rather than downsizing to it a personal piety gig.

These are some of the questions posed by CW founder Peter Maurin....

http://www.catholicworker.org/roundtable/easyessays.cfm#%3Cstrong%3EChristianity,%20Capitalism,%20Communism%3C/strong%3E

by Hypocritical oath. Thu Jun 30, 2005 11:48

It is easy to be cynical about MPH. Of course as an individual I do not want to see 30k people dying daily in a world which over produces for profit.

I agree with the last post, make exploitation history and how about legislating equality into the constitution.

Will those "white" people enjoying themselves on Saturday think about the basic contradiction that they could not enjoy the luxury of charity without living off the backs of millions of slaves worldwide.

Black people see the hypocrisy of "white" people being concerned with poverty in Africa, while ignoring racism at home.

Who will be called a p*ki, a nig**er a gyp*, over the next week, denied equality and face blatant racism and discrimination, while you do you march and dance....?

by Ciaron - DCW Thu Jun 30, 2005 13:08

Yep good response.

I'm not cynical, I'll be there tonight. It's created space to talk about poverty (what creates it...is Africa "poor", looks pretty wealthy in terms of resources to me ..or is it exploited?)

White guilt can only take us so far etc

What is the role of the arms trade? What is the good and bad about NGO's, celebrity led events etc etc.

Cynicism remains the 5th. column of the establishment and is rampant in Ireland and throughout the imperial centres.

Be there or be square!

by Anti War/Anti Globalisation Thu Jun 30, 2005 14:14

On this one I'll be a square.

by Con Carroll Thu Jun 30, 2005 15:12

it is disgusting disgrace that MPH members have invited Ahern to attend tonights protest.
if he shows his face lets give him the message loud and clear.
experience of people living in poverty is not sexy it is reality. political alienation and class alienation is not come and look at us as if we are experiments so that you can become elected politicians, social workers. it is the reality that many liberal middle class jumping on the bandwagon wouldn't have a clue.

by Hypocritical oath Thu Jun 30, 2005 17:30

I have read and digested the information on the MPH and the G8 concert..its a con and as someone with African connections this is a painful conclusion to reach.

Charity condones the negligence of the state and I believe that the power on this planet needs these events to hide their collusion in murdering thousands of Africans every day in the name of profit...and we have fallen for it.

Africa needs the freedom to develop with out the interference of those people directly reponsible for its poverty.

It certainly does not need white guilt or white help in making a difference in a world controlled by white greed.

by really Thu Jun 30, 2005 17:48

Ahern is part of the problem. It would be farcial to have him protesting against his own policies.