Open letter for the Procession and Vigil 2005
At 4.30 p.m. on Saturday 10th December we will gather outside Lewisham
Library in Lewisham High Street for a Procession followed by a candlelit
Vigil at Lewisham Clock Tower. We will be campaigning for Peace and to
Make Poverty History.
Major causes of poverty around the world are war and unfair trade. It is
up to us to do something about this, because our country sends soldiers to
make war in far-away countries, because our country sells weapons, and
because our country combines with other rich countries to dictate the
terms of trade.
Our goals (well summarised by Oxfam) are a world where every person is: *
secure: with a sustainable livelihood, income and food security * skilled
and healthy: with access to basic social services such as health care,
safe water and education * safe: protected from disasters and conflicts *
heard: free to participate socially and politically * equal: especially
minorities, women, and marginalised groups * a global citizen: aware of
their responsibilities and roles in reducing poverty, suffering and
injustice
For the people of Iraq the war of occupation daily takes them further from
these goals. We invite all people in Lewisham and Greenwich to join us on
10th December to say 'end the occupation of Iraq - make trade fair and
poverty history'.