Anti-poverty group to put "wrist-band" on Derry Walls
derry |
anti-capitalism |
news report 
Thursday May 26, 2005 06:10
by Joe C
Derry campaigners are to put an anti-poverty "wrist-band" around the City Walls next month in a gesture of solidarity with "Make Poverty History" demonstrations in Scotland.
The local group hopes that bands and street entertainers will perform at the "Band on the Walls" event on the afternoon of Saturday June 25th, as a white banner is wrapped around the parapet of the famous monument.
The event is part of the effort to pressurise the leaders of the world's richest nations, meeting on July 6th at Gleneagles in Scotland, to take decisive action to end poverty, particularly in Africa. A mass Make Poverty History (MPH) rally in Edinburgh on July 2nd is expected to draw huge numbers from around these islands and further afield.
The Derry group---the Derry MPH Committee---will be sending contingents to Edinburgh and also to a demonstration at Gleneagles as the leaders gather on July 6th.
Spokesman for the Derry group Eamonn McCann said yesterday: "There is a remarkably wide range of individuals and organisations working together on this issue in Scotland. NGOs and traditional anti-poverty campaigns have come together with a broad spectrum of political and cultural activists. We hope we can do the same here in the short time we have for organising."
"Already, a number of local bands have said that they will play on the Walls on the day. We also hope to have street entertainers, stalls of one sort and another and literature detailing the depth of the problem of poverty and the urgent need for radical action. We particularly hope that many young people will take part. We want to make a real impact and put the issue of global poverty and the demand for justice and equality before the Derry public directly.
"All support will be very welcome."
The group has invited everyone willing to become involved in Band on the Walls to attend a meeting at Badger's Bar, Orchard Street, at eight pm next Monday night, May 30th.