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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><BR><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Hi
Alice<BR><BR>It was good to see you again at the Democracy Cafe
today. As promised,<BR>here is a condensed version of the press
releases for the two events (one<BR>lunchtime and one evening, on the same day,
organised by the student group<BR>People and Planet) for the Sheffield launch of
the 2005 campaign "Make<BR>Poverty History".<BR><BR>PLEASE NOTE THAT THE DATE IS
NOW WED. 16th FEB., and not Mon. 14th or any<BR>of the other alternative dates
originally considered a while back.<BR><BR>Please circulate these details to as
many Sheffield Social Forum contacts<BR>as possible, and any others you know who
might be interested. I'm copying<BR>this to Kat Cousins of P&P and to
Steve Chapman, Chair of the Sheffield<BR>Make Poverty History committee, so that
they knows what's going on<BR>publicity-wise.<BR><BR>Best
wishes,<BR><BR>Oliver<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>1. 1.00PM: SINGING STUNT: OUTSIDE
SHEFFIELD UNIVERSITY UNION<BR><BR>"Change the world - make poverty history in
2005!". These are the lyrics<BR>and the<BR>message that students will be singing
at 1pm on February 16th, outside the<BR>Sheffield University Union.<BR><BR>They
will be performing their own version of the recent Band Aid single as part<BR>of
the Sheffield launch of the worldwide Make Poverty History campaign
for<BR>2005.<BR><BR>The stunt aims to raise awareness of the campaign and the
students have changed<BR>the lyrics to encourage people to get involved. The
enthusiastic group hopes to<BR>attract a large number of singers, many in fancy
dress.<BR><BR>They hope the audience will enjoy their jazzed up version and want
people to<BR>take home the message to get involved, either through the website
at<BR></FONT><A href="http://www.makepovertyhistory.org"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>www.makepovertyhistory.org</FONT></A><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> or by joining in locally.<BR><BR>The event has
been organised by students in the campaign group People & Planet<BR>but will
also involve students from many other societies.<BR><BR>Those interested in
finding out more can contact<BR></FONT><A
href="mailto:sheffieldmakepovertyhistory@hotmail.co.uk"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"
size=3>sheffieldmakepovertyhistory@hotmail.co.uk</FONT></A><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> or telephone 0114 2687817<BR><BR><BR><BR>2.
7.30PM: MAIN LAUNCH: SHEFFIELD UNIVERSITY ARTS TOWER<BR><BR>The Sheffield launch
of the worldwide "MAKE POVERTY HISTORY" campaign takes<BR>place on February 16th
at 7.30pm in the Arts Tower of Sheffield<BR>University. Three invited speakers
will present the key world poverty issues of<BR>Trade Justice, increased Aid and
Debt Cancellation. This will be a great<BR>chance<BR>to share ideas, meet
other people involved in this year's campaign and discuss<BR>the many events
happening locally and nationally. For more details, contact:<BR>0114
2687817.<BR><BR>Many people will now be aware of Make Poverty History through
the Vicar of<BR>Dibley's New Year's Day special or by noticing supporters
wearing the<BR>campaign's white bands.<BR><BR>In 2000, the governments of the
world promised to half world poverty by 2015.<BR>The 2005 campaign aims to
persuade the UK government to honour its promise by<BR>changing policies which
are harmful to those in poverty and by putting pressure<BR>on other governments
to do the same. With five out of the fifteen years already<BR>gone, serious
action is needed now more than ever.<BR><BR>People and Planet spokesperson
Kathryn/Kat Cousins said: "We all have a unique<BR>chance this year to make a
difference since, by sheer coincidence, it is<BR>Britain's turn to lead two of
the most powerful international organisations -<BR>as Chair of the "G8" group of
richest nations and as President of the European<BR>Union".<BR><BR>The Sheffield
group is encouraging residents to get involved in any way they<BR>can, whether
by registering at the website </FONT><A
href="http://www.makepovertyhistory.org"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>www.makepovertyhistory.org</FONT></A><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>
or by<BR>getting involved more actively in some of the events taking place over
the<BR>coming months. By coming to the the launch, people can get a
better<BR>understanding of the issues and how they can help.<BR><BR>"2005 is a
year of great opportunity. If everyone who wants to see an end to<BR>poverty,
hunger and suffering speaks out, then the noise will be
deafening.<BR>Politicians will have to listen": South Africa's
world-respected Archbishop<BR>Desmond Tutu.<BR><BR>"2005 is our chance to go
down in history for what we did do, rather than what<BR>we didn't do": Bono,
lead singer from U2.<BR><BR>For more information, the group can be contacted
at<BR></FONT><A href="mailto:sheffieldmakepovertyhistory@hotmail.co.uk"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"
size=3>sheffieldmakepovertyhistory@hotmail.co.uk</FONT></A><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> or telephone: 0114
2687817<BR><BR><BR><BR>NOTES:<BR><BR>P&P contact: Kathryn Cousins, email
</FONT><A href="mailto:fra03kec@sheffield.ac.uk"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>fra03kec@sheffield.ac.uk</FONT></A><BR><BR><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Groups involved in the Sheffield campaign include CAFOD, Christian
Aid,<BR>People & Planet, World Development Movement, Sheffield Campaign
against the<BR>Arms Trade,<BR>Women's International League for Peace and
Freedom, Greenpeace, Society of<BR>Friends and Oxfam.<BR><BR>MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY
brings together a wide cross-section of over 150 charities,<BR>campaigns, trade
unions, faith groups and celebrities who are united by a<BR>common belief that
2005 offers an unprecedented opportunity for global change.<BR><BR>For more
details see </FONT><A href="http://www.makepovertyhistory.org"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"
size=3>www.makepovertyhistory.org</FONT></A><BR><BR><BR><BR></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>