Events and activities
Latest planned events and activities
The events listed below are organised by us, or by groups or individuals affiliated to us who have asked for their event to be included in this listing.
Up and coming events
WEEKEND OF SEPTEMBER 17th -19th
Support the United Nations Millennium Campaign
Celebrate the Great North Run & Salute the Runners!
This weekend is the weekend of action called by the United Nations Millennium Campaign (UNMC). It coincides this year with the Great North Run on Sunday 19th. So, we invite all to:
St Thomas' Church, Haymarket, Newcastle upon Tyne
Saturday 18th September, 4.30-5.15pm and 5.45-6.30pm
- 4.30-5.15pm - Hear about the Progress - and Call for More! With Nick Dearden, Director of Jubilee Debt Campaign, and others. (This part is not a meeting of religious worship)
- 5.15-5.45pm - interval with free refreshments
- 5.45-6.30pm - Service of Blessing for the Great North Run and the United Nations Millennium Campaign
More details of the event | Flyer for the event
GREAT NORTH RUN
And, of course, the Great North Run (19th September) would not be complete without the 50 or so runners who run under the banner (well, under the T-shirt) of MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY North East. See how the run went in 2009
This year, in his 70th year, David Golding, Development Co-ordinator for MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY North East is running for the first, (and last) time! You may wish to sponsor him.
Read about his appeal, and the reasons why to give. You can sponsor him by using this form or online at www.justgiving.com/david-golding.
MAJOR EVENTS
Two important global events are also taking place in the Autumn. MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY North East plans to encourage local people and local communities to take part. These are:
- Stand Up Against Poverty September 17th -19th. (See what we got up to with this campaign in 2008. We hope it will be even bigger this year.)
- Micah 2010 - a special campaign to focus on our promise to the poor, ten years after nations around the world committed to halve global poverty by 2015.
In particular, MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY North East invites all churches in the Region to support
- The United Nations Millennium Campaign on Sunday 19th September
- The 10.10.10 initiative of Micah Challenge on Sunday 10th October
AUTUMN ROADSHOW
We are currently planning our 2010 annual autumn roadshow. We are hoping to have events in locations throughout the North East. If you would like to be involved, please let us know.
(See what we got up to in our autumn roadshow in 2009 to give you an idea of what goes on and how you can become involved.)
LOBBY OF PARLIAMENT
Wednesday 20 October 2010, 11am-4pm
Organised by Christian Aid - Details and flyer here
The aim is to thank our Members of Parliament for protecting the Aid budget and urge them to put the fight against poverty at the heart of their plans for the future.
Book your train ticket now for cheaper fares, then register for the lobby online at www.christianaid.org.uk/campaigns
Up and coming Christian Aid events
Christian Aid have a number of events coming up soon in the North East. Details here.
Previous events and activities
The following gives a flavour of some events and activities that have gone on in the North East over the last year or so - in order of the most recent.
2010
1.4 Billion Reasons
The 1.4 Billion Reasons Summer Tour came to Newcastle - a tour of 15 cities across the UK aimed at catalysing the movement to end extreme poverty. Flyer here.
Local Hustings for the General Election - April / May
Various of our supporters put poverty related questions to prospective MP candidates at various hustings in the area. For example: Tynemouth | Jarrow | Newcastle | Wallsend
See a review of the Tynemouth hustings with some pictures and comment.
Annual general meeting
Date: Monday February 1st 2010
See the review of the past year, presented at the AGM here.
2009
Vote with your feet to stop climate chaos
London, 5th December 2009 - 'The Wave'
Organised by the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition
This was a massive event. Many people from the North East travelled down to join in.
Autumn Roadshow
For a full listing of these events see here.
Premier Regional Events included in the roadshows included:
"Climate Justice"
With the Bolivian Ambassador, a speaker from Equity Bangladesh, and Nick Dearden, Director of Jubilee Debt Campaign.
Newcastle, Monday 16th November, 6.00-7.30pm, Curtis Auditorium, Newcastle University
Poster and details here.
"Countdown to Copenhagen"
With Paul Brannen, Head of Campaigns at Christian Aid; Mark Dowd, Operation Noah; Gemma Bone, UK Youth Delegate to Climate Conference; and Revd Dr David Wilkinson, Principal St John's College.
Durham, Wednesday 18th November, 7.30pm, St John's College, 3 South Bailey, Durham
Poster and details here.
Other events....
A showing of the Climate Change film ‘The Age of Stupid’ at the Customs House in South Shields on Monday 16 November at 1.30pm and 7.00pm. Details here.
Poverty of Justice - A film about poverty from Amnesty International - Star and Shadow Cinema - 7.30 p.m. Wednesday 25th November. Details here.
Stand Up Against Poverty
Friday 16th - Sunday 18th October
A big thanks to all those in the North East who contributed to the record-breaking Stand Up action this year! And if you couldn't manage it this year, why not make a note to participate in 2010, a crucial year for the Millennium Development Campaign? This year, more than 173 Million People Gathered at "Stand Up, Take Action, End Poverty Now!" events, setting new world record for largest mobilization in history. Full details here.
September 20th - Great North Run
And for yet another year, the run was on a glorious, sunny, still and warm day - not bad for September. Over 40 competitors ran for various organisations affiliated to MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY North East.
A picture just before the run with a selection of the runners.
Some pictures at the end of the course with some tired but jubilant runners:
pic1 pic2 pic3 pic4 pic5 pic6 pic7 pic8 pic9 pic10 pic11 pic12 pic13 pic14 pic15 pic16 pic17 pic18 pic19 pic20 pic21 pic22 pic23 pic24
Meet your MEPs for a climate change Q+A
Friday 10th July, 11.00-12.30
St Thomas' Church, Haymarket, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Fiona Hall and Stephen Hughes agreed to come and meet their constituents, to exchange ideas about climate change in the run up to the UN Copenhagen Talks in December 2009. Organised by Christian Aid Campaigns Group.
***NEWS RELEASE 29th June 2009***
Cross-Party Support for NE Campaigners' Stance on Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and New Coal. Martin Callanan MEP (Conservative), Fiona Hall MEP (Liberal Democrat) and Stephen Hughes MEP (Labour) have indicated their broad support for the position adopted by Make Poverty History North East on CCS and new coal-fired power stations. Power stations such as that at Blyth would "fly in the face of reason" - without 100% CCS, they're "killers", says local MEP Fiona Hall. See here for details
As from March 2009....
North Tyneside is officially a 'Fairtrade borough'. Several strong supporters of MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY North East were on the Steering Group, including John Fleet, the North Tyneside's Town Centre Manager; Alastair Menzies, a Director with Divine Chocolate; and David Golding, development co-ordinator of MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY North East.
See details here.
Wind Farms in North Northumberland
On 27th May, Dr David Golding CBE, Development Coordinator of MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY North East, and Chair of PANiC Stations, gave evidence at the Public Enquiry into the application to build a number of wind farms in North Northumberland.
Read it here.
Age of Stupid
This film was shown twice on Saturday afternoon May 30 at the Tyneside Cinema in Newcastle. This is the acclaimed film with Pete Postlethwaite as a man living alone in the devastated world of 2055, looking at old footage from 2008 and asking: ‘Why didn’t we stop climate change when we had the chance?’
Website: www.ageofstupid.net.
'Just Say No'
To 'Factories of Death'
Bank Holiday Monday 4th May
2.30pm - 4pm, St Andrew's Church Hall, Cambois, near Blyth
Cambois has a position of great symbolical and practical importance in the fight against climate chaos. Although the power station planned to be built at Cambois would probably be the second to be built if the go-ahead is given, it would be a absolute monster – half as big again as the first, at Kingsnorth in Kent, and would belch out 20 million tonnes of CO2 each year! MPH-NE is determined to work with PANiC Stations to block it and to promote practical, sustainable alternatives – by peaceful, law abiding actions of course! Please come along.
More details of the event that was held on 4th May here.
See also what the Newcastle Journal said about the day.
Put People First
MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY North East supported the initiative of the national coalition 'Put People First'.
On Saturday 28 March 2009 thousands of people marched through London as part of a global campaign to challenge the G20 to put people first. See here for details. Representatives from the North East joined the march.
Hope for Planet Earth - details here
Annual General Meeting 2009
MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY NorthEast AGM:
Was held on: Monday 2nd February 2009
Click here for a copy of the annual review - ie what we did in the North East
Click here for a review of the year (2008) globally - ie what happened generally about:
- Trade justice
- Dropping the debt
- Providing more and better aid
- Curbing climate change
- Promoting Fairtrade.
Click here for a review of the year (2008) globally relating to HIV/AIDS
2008
Major Climate Meeting
Saturday 6th December 2008, 9.15am - 1.15pm
Durham County Hall
Main speakers, Tom Wright, Bishop of Durham, and Isabel Carter,
Director of Amberlinks (and Co-Founder of Jubilee 2000); plus workshops.
Please book in advance: (0191) 536 2300; secretary@archdeacon.eu
Details and flyer here
Stand Up Against Poverty - Fri 17th-Sun 19th October
NEWS RELEASE 24th October 2008
Regarding Stand Up Against Poverty
GUINNESS WORLD RECORD SMASHED TO SMITHEREENS!
See here for details
Various 'Stand Ups' were held throughout the region. Go to the official Stand Up website to find out what it was all about and to find events that occured all over the North East. Some are listed below to give a flavour of what went on in the North East......
NEWCASTLE - Events that included a 'Stand Up'
- Public Lecture by Paul Vallely - Friday 17th October
Details here - and photo.
- Prayer Breakfast - Friday 17th October
Details here
Pictures of some guests and speakers - here
- Lunchtime rally and Stand Up moment
Outside Students Union, Newcastle University.
pic 1 - pic 2.
HARTLEPOOL - Events that included a 'Stand Up'
- 18th October, coffee morning in St George's UR Church Hall
- 19th October, a One World Week United Church Service
- 19th October, morning worship at St George's United Reformed Church
- 19th October, St Luke's Anglican Church, morning service
October 5th - Great North Run
Yet again, the run was on a glorious, sunny, still and warm autumn day. Over 40 competitors ran for various organisations affiliated to MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY North East.
Some pictures just before the run with a 'non-runner' or two including Jonathan Edwards, one of our patrons, and Professor Chris Brink, the Vice Chancellor of Newcastle University:
picA picB picC picD
Some pictures at the end of the course with some tired but jubilant runners:
pic1 pic2 pic3 pic4 pic5 pic6 pic7 pic8 pic9 pic10 pic11 pic12 pic13 pic14 pic15 pic16 pic17 pic18 pic19 pic20 pic21 pic22
GCAP - General Call for Action Against Poverty
Their International Development Campaigning Forum day
July 17th
Kevin Haigh, a member of our committee, attended this day. See his report here
Stephen Byers MP - talk in Wallsend
July 4th
Stephen Byers gave a talk in his capacity as Co-Chair of the International Climate Change Task Force (ICCTF). See a resume and report of his talk here
Journey to Justice (Breaking the Chains of Global Debt)
Sunday 18th May
Photo credit - Joanna Brown
What a great day it was.....
Details of what the event was.... here.
Picture of North East Supporters at the start fo their journey to Birmingham here.
Picture of North East Supporters in the square outside the venue here.
Pictures inside the venue here and here.
And details and analysis of the event from the Jubilee Debt Campaign's website here.
Drop the Debt Fast
Saturday 12 April - Sunday 18 May
A 36 day rolling fast to demand debt cancellation for 36 poor countries. The fast began as the World Bank and IMF held their spring meetings and ended on 18th May to mark the 10th anniversary of the Birmingham G8 human chain.
Here in the NE, we had our own rolling programme to cover all 36 countries, and suggested that supporters in each Parliamentary constituency took one (or two) examples, details here.
Roadshow - winter or 2007/08
See a short report about the roadshow that we organised this past autumn/winter.
Inconvenient Truth Film Shown - February 13th
On Wednesday evening, 13th February, over a hundred people gathered in the Baptist Church, in Park Avenue, Whitley Bay, to see a screening of Al Gore's Oscar-winning documentary, 'An Inconvenient Truth', about global warming. This was followed by a lively session of discussion, chaired by Revd Paul Newman, with questions being put to Dr David Golding CBE, the Development Coordinator of Make Poverty History North East. More....
Annual general meeting - February 4th 2008
A lively meeting included a review of the previous year's events and activities. See a copy here.
CBE honour - January 2008
Dr David Golding, Development Coordinator of Make Poverty History North East, was honoured with a CBE in the 2008 New Year's Honours List. The award is to be given for "services to the world poverty campaign." Commenting on the honour, David said: "When I took up the cudgels for debt relief in 1997, first as a voluntary spokesperson for Tearfund and then on behalf of the wider Jubilee coalition, I was convinced nobody would listen to a word we said, despite the manifest justice of our case. 'It's us against the World Bank, the IMF, the US Treasury, etc.', I thought. 'What sort of contest is that?' Nevertheless, I knew I would not be able to live with myself unless I did everything in my power to support the campaign. More....
2007
Global Economic Justice Forum Meeting - December 11th
Members of the committee attended the meeting in London. Details here
Fairtrade Festival - December 1st - at Grainger Market
Various people and organisations affilated to MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY North East had stalls at this years Christmas market. Details here.
Road show October and November 2007
See a short report about the roadshow. Events that took place included:
2nd November - Auckland. Poster with details here
3rd November - Hartlepool. Poster with details here
3rd November - Cramlington. Poster with details here
24th November - Hexham. Poster with details here
26th November - Jarrow. Poster with details here
27th November - Birtley. Poster with details here
Global Debt Week - 14-21 October 2007
MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY North East joined with Jubilee campaigns in over 30 countries to take part in this week. Details of what we were up to can be found in the October newsletter.
Wed 17th Oct - Stand up and Speak out Against Poverty
Groups in Tyneside joined with over 38 million people in 110 countries to Stand up and Speak out Against Poverty. This international event was organised by the Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP).
Stand Ups on Tyneside varied from gatherings of many students at Newcastle
University and on the Millennium Bridge, to a group of seven in a beauty
salon and a Baptist church home group at which five people 'prayed out' for
the MDGs.
A Stand Up event at Newcastle University was organised by the Students'
Union. Katy Whitehouse acted as MC
and Nicola Martin led the crowd in 'speaking out' for each
of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in turn.
The new Vice-Chancellor, Professor Chris Brink, attended the event and
expressed his personal and the university's support and appreciation. He
recounted the proverb, "No one can sleep soundly when his neighbour is
hungry", because he is vulnerable to his neighbour's anger. He then
developed the idea by saying that "No one SHOULD sleep soundly when his
neighbour is hungry", because he has a moral responsibility to relieve
the situation if he can.
Dr David Golding addressed the crowd at the university - a copy of his speech is here.
After the Stand up event at the university, students joined with others at the millenium bridge. Nearly 200 joined in at the university and 143 at the bridge.
Some pictures from the university Stand Up event:
Pic 1 | Pic 2 | Pic 3 | Pic 4 | Pic 5 | Pic 6
Some pictures from the Millenium bridge Stand Up event:
Pic 1 | Pic 2 | Pic 3 | Pic 4 | Pic 5 | Pic 6
September 30th - Great North Run
On a lovely, sunny, still and warm September day, over 40 competitors of the Great North Run ran for various organisations affiliated to MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY North East.
Some pictures just before the run with a 'non-runner' or two including Jonathan Edwards, one of our patrons:
picA picB picC picD picE picF picG picH picI
Some pictures at the end of the course with some tired but jubilant runners:
pic1 pic2 pic3 pic4 pic5 pic6 pic7 pic8 pic9 pic10 pic11 pic12 pic13 pic14 pic15 pic16 pic17 pic18 pic19 pic20 pic21 pic22 pic23 pic24 pic25 pic26 pic27
August - Cut the Carbon March was in North East
This was an exciting event organised by Christian Aid. It was the longest ever protest march in UK history. Campaigners marched 1000 miles from Belfast to London to take the 'cut the carbon' message to companies and MPs.
The march passed through the North East in early August with various events in different parts of the North East attended by MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY North East supporters.
See how the marchers got on here. They finished in London on October 2nd.
8th June - Tony Campolo
Tony Campolo, a speaker of international renown, gave a special lunchtime address at Newcastle university. Details here. His talk was entitled "What in the world are you doing?" See a couple of photos of the event here and here and here.
2nd June - Your voice against poverty
Campaigners from the North East joined an estimated 10,000 others from all over the UK, from various organisations, at a gathering in London - prior to the annual G8 meeting.
See www.yourvoiceagainstpoverty.org.uk for details of this event.
See what the BBC had to say about it.
And see some photos of the event (of course, focussing on the North East bunch in the crowds!)
Pic1 | Pic2 | Pic3 | Pic4 | Pic5 | Pic6 | Pic7 | Pic8 | Pic9 |
And a photo of one supporter who did the return journey from Newcastle by bike!
19th April - Day of action on EPAs
See here how people from the North East contributed to this day of action when many events took place throughtout the country.
Saturday 24th March - Set all Free
Act to end slavery. Today 12 million people live in modern forms of slavery. This event coincided with the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade. It was a regional service in Durham Cathedral and was attended by several hundred people. Many supporters of MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY North East attended. Poster with details here.
January 12th - Visit of Hilary Benn to Newcastle
Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for International Development, was a guest of the University. Part of his visit was to attend an open meeting about Trade Justice issues. This meeting was attended by several hundred people. It was introduced by David Golding who gave a short resume of the issues. This was followed by Hilary Benn who gave a speech and then answered questions. An account of the event can be found here and here.
January 8th - Sage event - What a day!!!
Gordon Brown; Bob Geldof; H.E. Benjamin Mkapa (the former President of Tanzania); and other leading figures in the Make Poverty History campaign received honorary degrees from Newcastle University and took part in a debate on poverty issues. This was all in the magnificent setting of the vast Sage concert hall. The event was attended by over 1,200 people.
Read a review of the day here.
Read another review of the day here.
Read some press cuttings of the day here and here.
See the transcript of Gordon Brown's speech on the day here.
See pictures of the day:
Pic 1 | Pic 2 | Pic 3 | Pic 4 | Pic 5 | Pic 6 | Pic 7 |
2006
November 4th - Stop Climate Chaos Rally
Campaigners from the North East travelled to the I Count Rally in London to join about 25,000 others in Trafalgar Square. See what the BBC said about the rally here and here. And see some pictures of the event taken by some of us from the North East here:
Pic 1 | Pic 2 | Pic 3 | Pic 4 | Pic 5 | Pic 6 | Pic 7 | Pic 8 | Pic 9 |
September and October - Road Show
The Month of Action, 14th Sept – 17th Oct, organised by the international Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) was supported by MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY North East. During this month there was a ‘Road Show’ with events at Alnwick, Cramlington, Hexham, Newton Aycliffe, Hartlepool, Dunston, Wallsend, and Newcastle. For example, see a report of the Alnwick meeting here. The month of action was brought to a dramatic close by the 'Stand Up Moment - World Record Attempt' which was a great success. Read all about it
October 1st - Great North Run
It really is an annual event! Over 50 competitors of the Great North Run ran for various organisations affiliated to MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY North East.
Some pictures of a photo shoot the day before:
pic1 pic2 pic3
Some pictures just before the run with a 'non-runner' or two:
pic1 pic2 pic3 pic4 pic5 pic6
Some pictures at the end of the course with some tired but jubilant runners:
pic1 pic2 pic3 pic4 pic5 pic6 pic7 pic8 pic9 pic10 pic11 pic12 pic13 pic14 pic15 pic16 pic17 pic18 pic19 pic20 pic21 pic22
And a sight to spur on the runners at about 9 miles:
pic1
And read a report of the day and the experience of one of our runners!
July 8th - 'Drumming the Beat for Trade Justice'
This was an event organised by organised by Christian Aid and supported by MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY North East.
Find out more... and see some pictures of the event.
July 1st - Debt Freedom Day
One year on from the Edinburgh rally. A celebration of 18 countries receiving 100% cancellation of debt owed to the World Bank. Read more and see pictures...
January - Durham Cathedral
More than 1100 people attended a service of thanksgiving and recommitment for MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY North East.
Read more and see pictures...
2005
December - White Band Day III
Campaigners gathered at the Haymarket in Newcastle and walked through the city centre stopping off at various points to demonstrate their support for the third annual white band day. See flyer... and see pictures of the event
November - Mass Lobby at Parliament
On Wednesday 2nd November, over 8,000 campaigners from around the UK joined the lobby with a demand that the UK Government and its European Union (EU) partners stop pushing poor countries to open their markets in approaching world trade talks. It was the largest mass lobby in the history of modern British democracy with trade justice campaigners lobbying 375 MPs in a single day. A coach of campaigners from the North East travelled to London for the day. They successfully met with, and lobbied, several North East MPs. Click here for more details of the day. See some photos of some of the North East contingent...photo 1 ¦ photo 2
September - Great North Run
It is becoming an annual event! Over 50 competitors of the Great North Run ran for MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY. See a photo of some of the runners. If you would like to run in the Great North Run for MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY then contact us.
July - Edinburgh
Saturday 2nd July 2005 - what a day to remember! Over 225,000 people took to the streets of Edinburgh to call on world leaders to act at the G8 summit. 28 coaches were organised by the MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY North East committee which took over 1000 people from all over the North East to Edinburgh for the day. And many other people from the North East made their own way there. The national MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY website has a full overview of the day. The North East contingent were led on the rally by DrumDin - a North East band. See photo...
June - a rickshaw gets involved in the campaign
A rickshaw and flotilla of accompanying bikes goes to Edinburgh!! Find out more...
May - World Debt Day
World Debt Day started life as a North East proposal way back in
2002. By 2005 it was being observed by campaigners in many countries across the world. On World Debt Day, 16th May, supporters of MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY North East decided to put POVERTY where it belongs - into the (history) museum!
Find out more...
April - Global Week of Action on Trade
From 10-16 April 2005, more than 10 million people in 80 countries took part in the Global Week of Action on Trade. All were united in saying 'trade justice not free trade'.
Campaigners from MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY North East mounted what was probably the only real week of campaigning in the country, with a Vigil and Action at the Monument and St Thomas' Church in central Newcastle, from eight till eight, Sunday to Saturday inclusive (in rain, wind and a bit of shine!). Members of the public were encouraged to send postcards to the government to show their support for Trade Justice and over 3,000 were signed and sent off during the week!
See photos of the event...photo 1 ¦ photo 2 ¦ photo 3 ¦ photo 4
Other notable features included a rally at the Angel of the North attended by about 400 people, and another at the Monument addressed by Jonathan Edwards, the Olympic Gold Medalist, both on Sunday 10th. Read his speech here. Some North East supporters travelled to London on Friday 16th for an all-night vigil in Whitehall.
March - Launch
Launch meeting of the 2005 MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY campaign in the North East. About 500 people attended a meeting in the Curtis Auditorium, University of Newcastle. The meeting was addressed by Sir Colin Lucas, formerly Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University, and Chris Bain, Director of the relief and development agency CAFOD. See a photo.
2004
December - Meeting with Tony Blair
On Friday 10th December, a group of North East debt and
trade campaigners met with the Prime Minister
in his constituency in Trimdon, Co. Durham. Read more...
September - Great North Run
Nearly 60 competitors of the Great North Run ran for organisations affiliated to MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY. Between them they raised sponsorship money of nearly
£12,000, most of it for aid agencies of their choice, for the prevention of
HIV and the care of AIDS sufferers and orphans.
See some pictures...
The above are North East activities. See also what the national Jubilee Debt Campaign, what the national Trade Justice Movement, what the Fairtrade Foundation, and what BOND are up to! And the many organisations that were affiliated to the national MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY campaing of 2005 continue to work, act, and campaign!
