Will ‘Make Poverty History’ continue?

This e-mail has come to my attention (posh way of saying someone sent it to me):

Dear friends,

*******************************************************
THE FUTURE OF MAKE POVERTY HISTORY – WHAT DO YOU THINK?
*******************************************************

At the last Make Poverty History assembly it was clear that some agencies felt the MPH campaign should be looked on as a campaign that has ‘happened’. However, through informal discussion, some of us from TIDAL have found a very strong feeling amongst many organisations and individuals that the Make Poverty History campaign should continue in a modified, sustainable form. We are canvassing opinion to see how widespread this feeling is (see attached document). Please let us know if you and/or your organisation agree with the following statement:

“We believe that the Make Poverty History campaign, name, website and mailing list should continue into 2006 and beyond in a modified and sustainable form”

If you and/or your group/organisation agree, please let Joanna Brown know (email: jozart@fish.co.uk). Your name and/or group name and contact details will then be put on one of the lists in Appendix A of the attached document. Comments in support of this statement are also welcome (the comments will be made public but the name of the person will be kept confidential). The document will then be sent to the MPH Co-ordination Team (Appendix B).

Please circulate as widely as possible to individuals and groups that you think are interested in the future of MAKE POVERTY HISTORY.

Many thanks.

Kind Regards,

Joanna Brown

On behalf of Mary Keynes, Ben Margolis, Mahmood Messkoub and Bill Phelps from TIDAL

Dr Joanna Brown
TIDAL, JDC Board, MPH New Media Working Group and Leeds Fairtrade City Steering Group

I haven’t read the document in question as I am essentially just a nosey parker rather than an organisation. From what I can gather it looks as if Make Poverty History as a campaign will end at the end of theis year (?) but some of the smaller organisations at least are hoping that it will continue. I don’t know what should happen, all I know is that there has been a lot more going on behind the scenes within the Make Poverty History coalition than has been made public.

There was also a ‘behind the scenes’ programme about the Live8 concert on BBC one tonight. What I saw was quite illuminating. Part 2 is tomorrow I think.