During the month of October a number of events took place in Scotland calling on our Government to urge all rich countries to abolish world debt. An organisation called 'Jubilee Scotland' which is made up of representatives from charities, trade unions and church groups published a Campaign Newsletter bringing this issue to the forefront of the public domain.

"In a world where poverty kills 30,000 people every day, 2005 will be a year of unprecedented opportunity for rich countries to change the rules and practices of trade, cancel poor countries' debts and deliver more and better aid.

MAKE POVERTY HISTORY aims to be the most powerful coalition ever against world poverty. It calls for urgent action and is looking to our Prime Minister, as he hosts the G8 (at Gleneagles) and holds the presidency of the EU, to improve the lives of millions of people around the world who have to live on less than a dollar a day.

Last time the UK hosted the G8 was in Birmingham in 1998 when some 70,000 debt campaigners formed a human chain around the centre of the city campaigning for the cancellation of unpayable debt. This public pressure forced poverty onto the G8 agenda and brought significant debt relief for poor countries.

This time, plans are being made by Scottish campaigners, in co-operation with others from England & Wales and overseas, for thousands of people to take to the streets of Edinburgh, on Saturday 2nd July 2005, in advance of the G8 meeting. The campaigners will insist that the leaders of the world's richest nations should take up the challenge to MAKE POVERTY HISTORY.

John Harris Jubilee Scotland Convenor said " In 2005 the eyes of the world will be on events happening in Scotland, with the G8 a huge opportunity to Make Poverty History.

"For too long trade justice, debt and aid have been discussed but left on the 'too difficult to deal with' pile. That must not continue. The poor of the world deserve more than the crumbs from the Gleneagles table."

MAKE POVERTY HISTORY is already receiving widespread international support and today Archbishop Desmond Tutu said: "2005 is a year of great opportunity. We can really do something to change the world. The time has come to stop talking and start taking some action. If everyone who wants to see an end to poverty, hunger and suffering speaks out then the noise will be deafening. Politicians will have to listen."

For more on MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY visit www.makepovertyhistory.org