If you have a chance to get hold of a copy of the Independent today (Tuesday) then do. It is edited by Bono and has an Africa focus. See the website if getting hold of a paper copy is not an option.

I’d say more but I have no electricity today and laptops these days have a battery life of about 7 minutes.

Update on the Independent story: Kester is dubious. Jonny is less dubious.

Update on my electricity: I have found that I can blog from the kitchen as the ketle socket still works as it is on the oven circuit rather than the power sockets circuit. Do you see?

Second update on the Independent story: Liz comments too.

Posted by Dave at 11:41 am on May 16, 2006 and filed under Live8, Make Poverty History, Current events.

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This e-mail has come to my attention (posh way of saying someone sent it to me):

Dear friends,

*******************************************************
THE FUTURE OF MAKE POVERTY HISTORY - WHAT DO YOU THINK?
*******************************************************

At the last Make Poverty History assembly it was clear that some agencies felt the MPH campaign should be looked on as a campaign that has ‘happened’. However, through informal discussion, some of us from TIDAL have found a very strong feeling amongst many organisations and individuals that the Make Poverty History campaign should continue in a modified, sustainable form. We are canvassing opinion to see how widespread this feeling is (see attached document). Please let us know if you and/or your organisation agree with the following statement:

“We believe that the Make Poverty History campaign, name, website and mailing list should continue into 2006 and beyond in a modified and sustainable form”

If you and/or your group/organisation agree, please let Joanna Brown know (email: jozart@fish.co.uk). Your name and/or group name and contact details will then be put on one of the lists in Appendix A of the attached document. Comments in support of this statement are also welcome (the comments will be made public but the name of the person will be kept confidential). The document will then be sent to the MPH Co-ordination Team (Appendix B).

Please circulate as widely as possible to individuals and groups that you think are interested in the future of MAKE POVERTY HISTORY.

Many thanks.

Kind Regards,

Joanna Brown

On behalf of Mary Keynes, Ben Margolis, Mahmood Messkoub and Bill Phelps from TIDAL

Dr Joanna Brown
TIDAL, JDC Board, MPH New Media Working Group and Leeds Fairtrade City Steering Group

I haven’t read the document in question as I am essentially just a nosey parker rather than an organisation. From what I can gather it looks as if Make Poverty History as a campaign will end at the end of theis year (?) but some of the smaller organisations at least are hoping that it will continue. I don’t know what should happen, all I know is that there has been a lot more going on behind the scenes within the Make Poverty History coalition than has been made public.

There was also a ‘behind the scenes’ programme about the Live8 concert on BBC one tonight. What I saw was quite illuminating. Part 2 is tomorrow I think.

Posted by Dave at 12:40 am on December 21, 2005 and filed under Live8, Make Poverty History.

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[Click on the image for the full sized version]

Posted by Dave at 1:32 pm on July 5, 2005 and filed under Cartoons, Live8.

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Newsnig8t remains the best source for latest on the ground news from Edinburgh. He says at least 120000 were there, though a few newspaper reports are saying rather more. I thought this was interesting too:

The big battalions have been mobilised by the churches - dwarfing the sizeable contingents of the campaign groups and the left.

See the Wibsite as well, where at least 4 of our bloggers will be reporting back from Edinburgh and one from Live8.

Update (for the sake of historical accuracy): The consensus is that 220000 marched in Edinburgh.

Posted by Dave at 5:37 pm on July 2, 2005 and filed under Live8, Make Poverty History.

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Watching Live8. Fantastic that the Make Poverty History campaign has been getting so much media coverage, not just via Live8 on the TV today but also in the papers. The Sun even has a Make Poverty History CD today including part of Nelson Mandela’s speech from Trafalgar Square. Who would have thought this would happen a few months ago.

Technorati Tags: live8, MakePovertyHistory

Posted by Dave at 2:42 pm on July 2, 2005 and filed under Live8, Make Poverty History.

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Click here to see the larger version of this cartoon on the main CartoonChurch.com site. Subscribers are welcome to use this cartoon in their own publications - you can find all the information about doing that via the link.

I’m sadly not in Edinburgh this weekend. Having been to the demonstrations in Brighton, Trafalgar Square and overnight in London I’d have liked to have been there, but I decided it wasn’t practical / advisable for one reason or another. (Those links have my pictures by the way). I really hope it all achieves something. Also that Edinburgh can cope with all the people. The organisers of the London one really didn’t have the resources to cope with the unexpectedly large numbers, so lets hope this one goes smoothly.

It doesn’t look like there are any Make Poverty History events organised in this part of the country, so we may well head into London, perhaps to pick up something cool for our Wiblog International Secret Exchange buddies. We shall see.

Update: stayed in and watched Live8.

Posted by Dave at 1:10 pm on July 1, 2005 and filed under Cartoons, Live8, Make Poverty History.

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