The Hindu : International : Mandela joins anti-poverty campaign

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Friday, Feb 04, 2005

International

International

Mandela joins anti-poverty campaign

By Hasan Suroor

LONDON, FEB. 3. The former South African President, Nelson Mandela, on Thursday came out of his recently announced retirement from public life to lend support to a new global campaign for abolition of poverty in the Third World ahead of a meeting of Finance Ministers of Group of Seven (G7) industrialised countries here at the weekend.

Thousands of people gathered under a murky sky at Trafalgar Square in central London — the scene of many famous anti-apartheid protests — to see and hear Mr. Mandela as he bluntly told rich nations that time had come to deliver on their oft-repeated pledge to help poor countries. "The world is hungry for action, not words,'' he declared calling for abolition of unjust trade barriers that denied developing countries access to Western markets.

Looking frail but determined, Mr. Mandela likened the campaign against poverty to the historic campaigns against slavery and apartheid. "Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and can be overcome by the actions of human beings,'' he said. Mr. Mandela, who would be meeting the G7 Finance Ministers on Friday, said "trade justice'' was the only way for the West to show its commitment to fighting poverty. He also called for more aid and debt relief for poorer countries. He summed up his message to leaders of affluent countries saying: "Do not look the other way. Do not hesitate.''

The rally was organised by a coalition of charities, faith groups, human rights organisations and celebrities who have come together to launch "Make Poverty History'' campaign, claimed to be the "biggest ever'' global effort against poverty. "Nelson Mandela's presence in London is a clear signal from one of the world's greatest heroes that 2005 is the year when we strike a huge blow against world poverty,'' said a spokesman for the campaign.

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