MAKE POVERTY HISTORY

On Saturday 2nd July over 225,000 people took to the streets of Edinburgh to call on world leaders to act at the G8 summit.

Many of the campaigners came dressed in white to form the world's largest human white band and speakers from around the world addressed the crowd to speak of the difference the G8 could make when they met later in the week at Gleneagles.

Whether you wore a white band, sent an email or if you were one of 225,000 people who marched in Edinburgh to make their voices heard, the fact that global poverty was at the top of this year's G8 agenda is thanks to you and thousands like you.

Welsh campaigners on the march, Edinburgh 2nd July. Picture: Ian Homer

The G8 have chosen not to do all that campaigners insist is necessary to free people trapped in the prison of poverty. Important steps have been taken, steps that will bring hope to millions.

But more action is urgently needed if they are to play their role in bringing about real change for the world's poorest people and consigning extreme poverty to the history books.

To secure a deserved place in history, the G8 must go a lot further and secure real change by working with other world leaders at the UN summit on the Millennium Development Goals and talks around the World Trade Organisation. The people of the world are already on the road to justice. They expect their leaders to be with them.

The G8's Communique has shown that the G8 need to run much faster to catch up.

Did the G8 Make Poverty History?

G8 leaders close their eyes to poverty. Picture: Craig Owen

Statement by the Global Call to Action Against Poverty marking the end of the G8 summit

"The people have roared but the G8 has whispered", said Kumi Naidoo, chair of the Global Call to Action against Poverty. "The promise to deliver by 2010 is like waiting 5 years before responding to the tsunami," he added.

Welsh Dragon roars for justice in Edinburgh and draws a lot of attention. Picture: Lyndsey Maiden