CAMPAIGNERS DEMAND BIGGER SLICE OF PIE FOR WORLD'S POOREST

19-05-2008

Campaigners formed “the biggest pie chart in the world” outside Centenary Square yesterday in a bizarre attempt to draw attention to the ongoing crisis in global debt.

The event was the climax of a weekend of events to mark the 10th anniversary of the human chain which encircled world leaders attending the G8 summit at the International Convention Centre.

In 1998, more than 70,000 ordinary citizens turned out to call for the cancellation of loans which have the effect of keeping millions in Africa – and elsewhere – in grinding poverty.

The aim of the pie chart was to point out that while 20% of the debt has been cancelled, the remaining 80% is still outstanding.

In the build up to the novel protest, a major conference at the ICC hosted by Stirrer editor Adrian Goldberg drew a crowd of more than 1,000 people – and attracted messages of support from Gordon Brown, Desmond Tutu and the President of Liberia.

Conservative party chairman Caroline Spelman, Labour MP Andy Reid, an Birmingham Council’s deputy leader Paul Tilsley all put in a showing, as did a former Archbishop of Cape Town and a Zambian MP.

Coaches came from as far afield as Scotland, and local Jubilee Debt organiser Audrey Miller summed up the positive vibe afterwards, saying: “I felt that we had a good day with a renewed energy and commitment.

"It was particularly encouraging to see so many young campaigners taking part and the involvement of the whole faith community not just from Birmingham but national leaders too.

"The input from the Global Jubilee network including US, Zambia, Indonesia and Jamaica was very moving and really brought home to some of the veteran campaigners like myself that we have 'made a difference'.

"We saw new film footage of just exactly what debt cancellation can achieve in terms of children in schools, new roads and improved health care.

"The next stage in the Journey to Justice has to be faster and the UK government must take the lead to persuade other rich countries to cancel all unjust and unpayable poor country debt.

"No one can of come away from today in any doubt that debt cancellation is very much unfinished business. Campaigners will not allow any amount of' 'spin' to divert them from challenging urgent need for more debt cancellation now."

WERE YOU THERE? SHOULD THE DEVELOPED WORLD CANCEL ALL ITS DEBTS OWED BY POOR COUNTRIES? LEAVE A MESSAGE ON THE STIRRER FORUM.