Over the years, I have campaigned to make poverty history, and I know that global poverty and injustice is an issue which concerns many people across South Swindon.

You might not have realised – but 3^rd February is in fact the fifth anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s historic speech in Trafalgar Square in 2005 where he urged us all “to be that great generation” at the start of the Make Poverty History campaign.

On this historic anniversary, I want to encourage you to visit the website www.globalpovertypromise.com and sign up to back the campaign to enshrine our aid promises in law. Please also tell your friends.

I’ve recorded a short video to explain why I think it is so important that we tackle global poverty. Follow this link to watch it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gq6X8o_M-BA

We have achieved so much already. The Labour government has led the world in its response. It has helped provide school places for 5.5 million children, bring treatment for Aids to 3 million people and supply clean water to more than seven million people in Africa alone. We have also led the way in cancelling the debts of the poorest countries. These are real lives - saved or changed for the better.

However, around the world there are still more than a billion people living in extreme poverty, forced to exist on less than 1 dollar 25 a day. There is much more that we must do.

Labour was the first party to set a date by which we will meet the UN target of investing 0.7 per cent of national income for development assistance – by 2013. Now we want to enshrine this pledge in law. Unfortunately - the Tories have refused to commit to introduce a similar law.

We want to show that people still care – and so I hope you will consider signing up to the campaign and encouraging others to do so.

The form below is a petition which you can print out and encourage others to sign, perhaps at your local community centre or place of worship. You can return it to me at:

Anne Snelgrove

Freepost RLXX-ZJXE-XKXR

7 Little London Court

Albert Street

Swindon

SN1 3HY

Download my Global Poverty Promise Petition