Freckleton making a stand against world poverty.

Campaigners, churches and even pubs in the Fylde village of Freckleton are coming together in backing the massive MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY campaign, ahead of the rally in Edinburgh on July 2nd.

On July 1st – global “White Band Day” – residents, churches and businesses including The Plough public house and Holy Family Catholic church, Freckleton, will show their support by literally wrapping a white band - the global symbol of support for MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY – around their houses and buildings. A large poster campaign is afoot also, as residents are asked to show their own dissatisfaction at the needless poverty that is thought to claim 20,000 to 30,000 lives everyday.

At Holy Family Church in Freckleton, an ecumenical MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY prayer vigil is to be held on the 26th June, and the following day 22 year old charity worker Michael Allman of neighbouring Warton, will begin cycling to Edinburgh with a group of campaigners from Manchester. Michael, a volunteer for Catholic overseas development agency CAFOD explained “We must all do what we can to get behind MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY to send a message to the members of the G8 summit, telling them that the scandal that is world poverty must end. It is great to see local people showing a real concern for the poor of our world, and it will be even greater to see Freckleton as part of the making of history”.

Many villagers will make their way to the MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY rally on July 2nd, armed with white bands and banners. Jo Wray, leader of a Freckleton coach group of 53 said “The response in the area has been magnificent, the whole local community will be represented in Edinburgh, young and old. It promises to be an unforgettable day.”

2005 has been singled out by supporting charities as the year to demand action on three fronts; the cancellation of un-payable third world debts, the reform of grossly unfair trade rules, and an increase in aid and its effectiveness.

MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY has received support worldwide; Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Bob Geldof, Lenny Henry, and rock star Bono, are among famous supporters of the campaign, and U2 front man Bono said “This could be something that your children, your children’s children, that our whole generation will be remembered for at the beginning of the 21st century. Think about it. Think about who you are, who you’ve been, who you want to be.”

More information on the MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY campaign can be found on the website www.makepovertyhistory.org.

For further information please contact: Michael Allman on 01772 633187

Original News Release (26Kb PDF)
MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY Flyer (40Kb PDF)
Vigil Poster (37Kb PDF)

News release - 28.06.05 (53Kb PDF)
New poster - 28.06.05 (98Kb PDF)

A coach from Freckleton will travel to Edinburgh to take part in a massive peaceful demonstration before the G8 Summit, to impress upon our world leaders that poverty CAN be eradicated.
Contact Jo Wray, tel no. 633140, to book a place on the coach.

You can also check out the MAKEPOVERYHISTORY web site at www.makepovertyhistory.org