Famous global landmarks wear giant white bands

02 Jul '05

5 min read

The anti-poverty coalition is calling on people across the world to wear white wristbands, armbands and headbands, made out of white rags, ribbons and bed sheets, from 1st July until the G8 meeting ends, as an act of solidarity with the global campaign. By wrapping their homes, schools, places of worship and themselves in white bands, people across the world will underline that they are unprepared to accept simple rhetoric in the fight against poverty.

White Band Day 1 kickstarts a week of global action - or White Band Week - during which hundreds of thousands of people wearing white bands will turn out for the Live8 concerts in Johannesburg, London, Paris, Philadelphia, Rome and Berlin, supported by 2 billion more watching the concerts on television and descend on Edinburgh for a rally calling for an end to poverty. The week will culminate with hundreds of people making their way to Scotland, representing campaigns in developed and developing countries, as part of the 'Long Walk to Justice'.

GCAP Chair Kumi Naidoo said that G8 leaders could not ignore the worldwide call for action when they meet in Gleneagles, Scotland, from 6-8 July.

“Turning a blind eye to the plight of the world's poorest is an approach that the G8 has routinely taken. This time around, people in rich and poor countries are standing up to say that they will not accept inaction, indifference and timidity – it's crime against humanity”, said Kumi Naidoo.

“We will be saying to G8 leaders do not look the other way and do not fail millions of people across the world – the lives of 50,000 people who die of poverty daily depend on it” said Guy Ryder, a spokesperson for GCAP. ”We are stepping up pressure on G8 leaders to mark July's summit with a commitment to increase aid annually by USD 50 billion – necessary if the Millennium Development Goals and more are to be reached by 2015.”

More Textiles News - United Kingdom...