Tom Brake MP Signs Up To The World Can't Wait - Your Voice Against Poverty Campaign

9.39.22pm BST (GMT +0100) Sun 20th May 2007

Aid Still Plays a Key Role in Supporting Developing Countries

Tom Brake, MP for Carshalton and Wallington, is one of over 100 MPs who have added their names to an Early Day Motion calling on Tony Blair and the other G8 leaders to take urgent action to end global poverty and avert potentially catastrophic climate change chaos.

He said, "G8 member states must live up to their commitments to eradicate poverty and tackle climate change. I urge the UK government to take stronger action and use its influence in Europe and the G8 to ensure that promises are fulfilled".

In 2005 world leaders were given a huge public and political mandate to make poverty history and a series of historic promises were made that, if fulfilled, would help many millions escape extreme poverty. Two years on, it is clear that more urgent action is needed to tackle global poverty, as 1.2 billion people still struggle to survive on less than $1 a day. The promises that have been kept have changed millions of lives. But most are at serious risk of being broken, which is a disgrace.

The G8 Summit, which starts on 6th June in Germany, is key to ensuring that not only do the rich countries deliver on the commitments they made at the Gleneagles Summit in 2005, but they also make further, far-reaching promises. Urgent action is needed on debt cancellation, on more and better aid, on trade justice, on healthcare, education, water and sanitation for all, and to prevent catastrophic climate change.

In the UK, over ninety campaigning organisations have joined forces to arrange a mass anti-poverty rally in Westminster on Saturday 2nd June, to show the G8 leaders that the world is watching and the world can't wait.

For further information on the campaign and to find out how to get involved please go to www.yourvoiceagainstpoverty.org.uk