NEIL BRADBURY PRUDHOE, NORTHUMBERLAND Sir: I read with amazement your front page headline "Now on to Edinburgh " (4 July). I am sure that the 225,000 people who had travelled from all parts United Kingdom and indeed the world to take part in the Make Poverty History rally and march on Saturday will be equally surprised. Their words are worth a thousand lyrics from Bob, Paul, Sir Elton and the rest. The attention given to Live8 (and even more barmy events such as Sail8) inevitably acts as a distraction from the less frivolous and deeper-rooted work of the Make Poverty History campaign. At Edinburgh, it was great to be able to listen to the voice of ordinary Africans. The media inevitably took the easy route and focused on the concert. In contrast around the same number of people stood in a park in London and watched a pop concert.
I was one of an estimated 225,000 people who came from across the country to march in Edinburgh for the well established Make Poverty History campaign. More than 550 million working people are counting on this "glib" campaign to pile enormous pressure on the G8 to lift them out of poverty. It extends the message of fair trade and better aid to people the campaign groups could never reach and it recruits them to the campaign. Instead of carping, Yasmin should welcome in everyone who will add strength to the pressure on the G8 leaders - and then engage with them to help them understand the complexities of the cause they have supported. ANTHONY MURPHY SHIPLEY, WEST YORKSHIRE Sir: The 30 UK trade unions that have signed up to the Make Poverty History coalition will have been shocked to hear that media pundits have cast this unique movement as nothing more than a shallow vehicle for celebrities and politicians to shed their guilt. Geldof et al are deeply embedded in a self-congratulating, narcissistic society of rich people and sycophants who have taken on a kind of messianic role in our culture. This event is a stark reminder that we are drowning in a media-generated celebrity culture.
DR PHYLLIS STARKEY MP (MILTON KEYNES SW, LAB) HOUSE OF COMMONS Sir: Yasmin Alibhai-Brown struck the right note about Live8. Unicef has understood this principle when it recruits celebrities as its goodwill ambassadors. In my constituency, Make Poverty History mobilised children from 29 schools to make a 3km paper-chain that encircled the shopping centre. It encouraged hundreds to take part in an event with speakers and exhibits from Africa and around the world; it has built the support that has made Milton Keynes declare itself a Fair Trade City Live8 is part of that wider campaign. When we fight them we are fighting to protect our security, but we are also fighting to protect the global ascendancy of our ideals.. Time for yet another decision, I'm afraid. It's a busy week, admittedly, but you're still going to need a view on this comet deeply impacted by Nasa on Independence Day to see what it's really made of.