Make Poverty History Campaign

LRC campaigned to Make Poverty History

More than 200,000 people gathered in Edinburgh for the big MPH rally

In Spring 2005, LRC joined the national MakePovertyHistory (MPH) coalition, campaigning with more than 500 other UK NGOs under the banner More and Better Aid, Drop the Debt and Trade Justice.

MakePovertyHistory was focused around three key political events of 2005 (the G8 Summit in Edinburgh, the UN Millennium Development Summit in New York and WTO Hong Kong ministerial) and was symbolised by the White Band. The coalition made a huge impact on the public and policy makers in the UK, and around the world through sister campaigns such as the GCAP and One.

LRC staff played an active part in the planning and coordination of the MPH Edinburgh rally on 2 July and campaigned throughout the day to bring Southern concerns surrounding the international trading system to the attention of people attending the rally. During the day more than 100 people signed up to our newsletter Bridging the Gap.

One of the main attractions of the LRC stall was our unique world trade game, which sparked many interesting and engaging discussions about the inherent inequalities of the WTO. Many people tried their best to secure a good deal at the WTO for their favourite country by knocking over as many ‘trade concessions’, i.e. bottles, as possible.

Of course, this was a lot easier for players who picked big powerful countries and got a football, than for players who picked smaller marginalised countries and got a ping pong ball.

If you choose a powerful country like the US, you got a football

LRC's trade game included bottles symbolising trade concessions that you had to knock over with a ball