Don Stands Up Against Poverty

3.28.12pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 20th Oct 2006

Bath's MP, Don Foster, today added his voice to the Stand Up Against Poverty campaign by taking part in a world record attempt for the most amount of people standing up against poverty at the same time.

Don was joined by local Oxfam campaigners who stood up (literally) outside of the Oxfam shop on Argyle Street for one minute whilst he read a pledge. The pledge called on governments of wealthy countries to pledge more and better aid to poorer nations and called on governments of poorer countries to tackle inequality and govern fairly and justly.

Commenting Don said:

"I'm really pleased to be taking part in this huge event. I'm glad that Bath has been able to add to the one and a half million other people worldwide who have stood up against poverty over the last twenty-four hours.

"The Government must ensure that it meets its Millennium Development and keeps the promises it made at Gleneagles last year on debt cancellation and trade justice."

Stand Up Against Poverty is the penultimate event in the Global Call to Action against Poverty's 'Month of Action'. The month is an opportunity to keep up the pressure on world leaders to do more in the fight against poverty and culminates tomorrow (17 October) in the International day for the Eradication of Poverty.

Oxfam is one of a number of organisations supporting the month of action. Max Dibden, manager of the Oxfam shop in Argyle Street, said that anyone wanting to do more to help the campaign could call into the shop for further information on volunteering and campaigning.