The campaign work was still going strong as 2005 came to an end. Thanks to all of you who helped us with the following events:
WESTMINSTER TRADE JUSTICE LOBBY ATTRACTS THOUSANDS
Campaigners gather outside Westminster
On the 2nd November over 8,000 campaigners descended on the Houses of Parliament in London to lobby MPs on Trade Justice ahead of the WTO summit.
Make Poverty History campaigners met with 11 MPs from Northern Ireland at Westminster. The MPs agreed to take the two main actions which the campaign asked for: to sign Early Day Motion 679 - 'Making Poverty History through Trade Justice' (an Early Day Motion is like a petition that MPs can sign to show their support for something), and to write to Alan Johnson (Secretary of State for Trade and Industry) asking him to use the UK government's influence within the EU to stop forcing poor countries to open up their economies, and to respect poor countries' right to decide on trade policies to help end poverty and protect their environment.
WHITE BAND DAY 3
EVENING VIGIL IN
BELFAST WHILE
RONNIE “SANTA” DREW PAYS A VISIT
TO BERTIE AHERN
In December the Make Poverty History Northern Ireland coalition held a trade justice vigil outside Belfast city hall to mark the final white band day of 2005.
People were able to sign the petition on trade justice which was going to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, light a candle for trade justice, and hang up their Make Poverty History white bands on a Christmas tree. Similar events took place in Derry, Dungannon, and in the Oxfam shop in Bangor.
Meanwhile in Dublin Ronnie "Santa" Drew of the legendary group The Dubliners made a special Christmas delivery to the Dáil.
