Tearfund celebrity-spotter Jo Hill spoke to those lending their support to the Make Poverty History campaign in Edinburgh.
Daniel Bedingfield. 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.'
Ally McErlaine, from rock-pop band Texas, says, ‘We really wanted to be involved, I mean why wouldn’t you? Anything you can do to make the world better. You’ve got to stand up to show that you actually care. That’s why so many people are here today. We’re here for the same reasons.’
Tearfund's in-house celebrity, Policy Director Andy Atkins - wearing his 'Terminator' sunglasses to guard against hayfever - shares how nervous he was speaking from the main stage.
‘It felt an enormous responsibility to be addressing tens of thousands of people.
I had a sense that everything I was to say has to be true and fair. I was thinking to myself, don’t let the crowd numbers or nerves make you say anything that you don’t believe.’
And on the main stage...
Pop stars, political thinkers, film stars and comedians shared Stage One as they reminded the crowds why we were all here.
Compére Jonathan Dimbleby dispels the criticism that protest marches and campaigns don’t change anything.
‘We have come to win the war on global poverty and that means at the same time winning the war on global warming. The two go together, they can’t be separated.
'The cynics say that you’re wasting your time being here. That it won’t make a difference. They say that there’s so much corruption about that it’s not worth doing things. Don’t listen to the cynics. If you listen to the cynics there will never be any change. Yes, there’s corruption in Africa, the rich rip off the poor. There’s corruption in the West and around the world.
'The real corruption is if we just heed that doubt – the real corruption is the corruption of our humanity.
Mexican superstar and Che Guevara actor, Gael Garcia Bernal gives it to us straight.
'Each and every one of us, as small as we may seem by ourselves, share the same struggle that has become a galloping horse around the planet.
'I come from Mexico, a country where more than half the population lives in poverty. It is not enough for us to be political every time there is an election or a rally. We have to remember that we can make a big change by bringing back politics where it belongs – with us, the people.’