MAKE POVERTY HISTORY - 2005

News Release

For immediate release: June 28, 2005

July 1 - International Day of Action to Help Make Poverty History

On July 1 (Canada Day), Canadians will be joining millions around the world for White Band Day, a global call for action against poverty. International White Band Day will see national landmarks wrapped in huge versions of the campaign's symbol - a white band.

"This international White Band Day is an opportunity to show the G8 leaders that the world is watching and wanting them to act to end poverty," says Gerry Barr, co-chair of the Make Poverty History campaign in Canada.

In Canada, as part of Canada Day festivities, Make Poverty History volunteers will be out in force across the country including: in Ottawa at the Byward Market, in Montreal at the Old Port , in Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Vancouver, BC.

St Andrew's Presbyterian Church on Wellington St. in Ottawa across from the Supreme Court (one of the main Canada Day celebration sites) will be hoisting at 20-foot Make Poverty History banner on June 30. The banner will remain in place leading up to the G8 meeting in Scotland July 6 to 8. Both the Cathedral (René-Lévesque) and Basilica (Old Montreal) in Montreal will also be wrapped in a white banner on July 1. On June 30, Trinity St. Paul's United Church in Toronto (at Bloor and Walmer) will be hanging a Make Poverty History banner.

Canada Day concerts will see performers such as the Barenaked Ladies, Tom Cochrane, Gordie Sampson, Matt Mays and El Torpedo, Sam Roberts, David Usher, and Amanda Stott wearing the white wrist band.

"Sometimes it is overwhelming when you see all the poverty around us. I saw firsthand, while recently traveling in Afghanistan, people living in extremely poor conditions without many necessities that I take for granted," says Amanda Stott who will be performing on Parliament Hill on Canada Day. "You ask yourself 'How can I help?' Well, it only takes one person at a time. It needs to start with someone - and that is why I am wearing my white band."

"July 1 will kick off one of the biggest weeks of action worldwide to make poverty history," says Maria-Louisa Monreal co-chair of Make Poverty History. "The July 1 White Band Day will be followed by the July 2 Live 8 concerts and continues with actions leading up to the G8 meeting in Scotland."

Canada Banner Events

Ottawa: St Andrew's Presbyterian Church - June 30, 8:30am
Contact Katia Gianneschi (613) 241-7007 ext. 311

Montreal: Cathedral of Marie-R eine-du-Monde - July 1
Notre Dame Basilica - July 1
Contact: Maria-Louisa Monreal (514) 871-1086

Toronto: Trinity St. Paul's United Church - June 30, 12:00 noon
Contact Laurier Brown (416)967-1611 ext. 222

International Highlights

Austrailia: Sydney Harbour Bridge wrapped in Make Poverty History banner
Mozambique: music festival in Maputo
United Kingdom: St Paul's Cathedral wrapped in Make Poverty History banner
Zambia: March past the G8 embassies

For more information contact:

Katia Gianneschi
Media Relations
(613) 241-7007 ext. 311
media@makepovertyhistory.ca