I had enjoyable day in Edinburgh on Saturday. It was great that so many people (~225,000) turned up. However, the goals of MAKE POVERTY HISTORY are about a useful in making poverty history as beating up policemen or trying to close down the G8.   If they do not understand that poverty flows from the wages system, that production is restricted to where it is likely to produce a profit for the few who own and control the means of production, how can they make poverty history?

Between 1990 and 2003 Sub-Saharan Africa's national debt repayments have fallen by 30%, to 2.2% of the GDP according to the World Bank. In real terms aid to Sub-Saharan Africa has increased. This is what MAKE POVERTY HISTORY want. But life expectancy in the region declined from 50 to 46. The number of malnourished people has increased between 1991 and 2002 by 24%. In a world of potential plenty all Make Poverty History can do is ask for EXTREME poverty to be halved in TEN years.

More than twenty years after Live Aid there are even more hungry people in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is highly likely that in twenty years time Bob Geldof, or someone like him, will be organising another concert for the hungry. Just as 'Make Poverty History' replaced 'Feed the World' they will have to come up with another slogan.

We have to stop believing that leaders and governments will ever act benevolently towards towards working people, they never have. We have to stop supporting capitalism to make poverty history.

Piers

PS Eliza Carthy was there and I offered her one my leaflets. She refused. Piers was very dissappointed.