An estimated 225,000 people gathered in Scotland's capital from all over the UK and all over the world. Why did they come, and what do they hope to achieve?
With broadcast links between Edinburgh and Live 8 concerts all over the world, the world's attention is firmly focused on the messages of Make Poverty History.
Surely the world's leaders will hear our voices and act for justice!
Photo: Jon Stanhope/Tearfund
Backstage in the green room, Tearfund's Jo Hill collars some celebrities.
Daniel Beddingfield. Photo; Clive Mear/Tearfund
Popstar Daniel Bedingfield shares why music is a useful way of raising public awareness of the
Make Poverty History campaign.
'If people are buying my records and know who I am then there's a huge amount of energy I can channel to really worthy causes. I see this as a responsible use of the profile God has given me.
'Music is incredibly powerful and one of the most motivating things on the planet if you want to get people to do things.
'Nowadays, people look up to actors, sports stars and musicians and people form their opinions on public opinion. If this is the case, then we can use the power of celebrity for the advantage of something good.'
Eddie Izzard. Photo: Tearfund
One of Britain's most flamboyant and politically-versed comics, Eddie Izzard says, 'Edinburgh is the centre of the universe for
Make Poverty History. In my opinion, dropping the debt is the most important thing. Take Nigeria, for example, borrowed 5 billion, paid back 16 billion, now owes 32 billion - that's loan-sharking.
'Working together is a good economic principle. If we have a level playing field where everyone feels they have a chance, then there's justice, they can trade and get themselves out of their own problems, work hard and build their own lives.
'If people have no chance and no hope, it breeds terrorism. Instead of paying out for aid, you're paying for arms. We pay as much in one month for weaponry and arms than we do over 18 months in aid.'
Coming together, speaking with one voice
‘I was excited just at the thought of coming here,’ says Jocelyn Murura, Tearfund’s Children at Risk Facilitator for Africa’s Great Lakes region. ‘A lot of Christians in Africa are unable to challenge political systems because in our Christian upbringing we were brought up to keep quiet. This is very liberating for us!’
‘It’s very significant for me as a Scot that the G8 rally is in my home country,’ says Bruce Clark Tearfund’s Desk Officer for Afghanistan. ‘I feel a sense of pride and affirmation of all the work that’s gone into Make Poverty History and its culmination this weekend.’
A-level student Stephanie Cross, 17, is already a seasoned campaigner: trade justice in Brighton and London, and anti-Bush protester during the US president’s last visit to these shores. ‘I knew I wanted to come here as soon as they announced it. A lot of people from Edinburgh travel to London for marches so we should be prepared to come up here.’ She travelled up by coach from Bath, but mum and dad paid her fare. On arrival, a rucsac-laden Stephanie couldn’t find her campsite, but helpful staff at Barclay Church pointed her in the right direction.
Joanne Namuganga, from Uganda, is studying chartered accountancy in London. She’s working as a Tearfund volunteer for the weekend, selling t-shirts and handing out placards. ‘I feel very privileged to be here and experience the feeling the British people have for Africa and how they want to help, which is really very nice.’
I’m feeling on a slight high but I’ll probably suffer for it in the morning,’says Tearfund volunteer manager Richard Avery. It must be one of the understatements of the year; he’s just undergone a gruelling triathalon to get to Edinburgh on the eve of the rally.
Richard’s superhuman feat kicked off on Wednesday night by 2,000 metres swim in Liverpool’s Albert dock. This was followed by a 235-mile cycle ride to the outskirts of Edinburgh, and capped off by a seven-mile run into the city.
‘Make Poverty History has grown beyond our wildest dreams. I think it’s just amazing,’says Richard.
A voice for the voiceless
Friday night, 6pm, Barclay church in Edinburgh. From Bristol to Botswana people are gathering, excited about the events ahead. So why have they travelled so far? What are their hopes for the Make Poverty History rally tomorrow? And what do they want the G8 summit to achieve?
Jorge Cambinda is Tearfund’s regional advisor for Angola, Botswana and Mozambique. He says, ‘I think our presence here is a message in itself – we’re standing beside the poor. I know the rich world has got a lot – we could share and we would all still have a decent life. It’s time for rich countries to redistribute what they have accumulated. I hope they will hear this message.’
Beth Simmonds. Photo: Tearfund
Alison and Tony Green have travelled up from Cambridge. ‘We want to stand up for what we believe, we want to show the G8 leaders that we care about this issue,’ says Alison. ‘I think it’ll be exciting – a really fun day with lots of like-minded people. We’re hoping to meet up with some old friends, but I don’t know if we’ll find them in the crowd.’
Get on your bike and ride for justice
Margaret Hanson. Photo: Tearfund/Richard Hanson
Foghorns, whistles and Kazoos sound in Margaret and more than 200 cyclists riding into Edinburgh as part of a ten-day biking marathon.
Photo: Richard Hanson/Tearfund
Even though the journey ended on a sunny day, the cyclists have braved Britain’s fluctuating weather to cover the 550-mile trip. Margaret says, ‘We had rain bouncing off the road and back into our faces when cycling through Northumberland. It was the toughest, and yet most exhilarating, part of the experience.’
Hail and thunder, sore knees and bums have not deterred them, but the commitment to the MPH campaign has kept people going. Margaret says, ‘During the last 10 days of cycling, the number of people that have died of extreme poverty is the same as those who died in the Tsunami, around 300,000.’
Serial cyclist Margaret has recently returned from biking across Kenya to Tanzania. But this time the territory was more familiar, ‘When we arrived in Edinburgh I had a wonderful sense of achievement, of journey completed but job not done. We still need to campaign. This is an issue I can’t give up on.'