James5

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In case you haven’t heard anything…this Friday is the big Make Poverty History concert! I managed to score myself two tickets through volunteering at the Festival the next day, so I’ll be there with my soon to be wife. Tickets are all gone now, but if you still want to be part of the fun check out one of the live sites around Victoria.

And here’s what else is happening this week:

Make Poverty History Forum

Thursday 16 November 2006, 10.00am-5.45pm @ Melbourne Town Hall
This looks great, featuring lots of speakers from overseas. A great chance to explore and learn about the issues surrounding G20 and how to go about making a fairer world.

Make Poverty History Concert

Friday 17 November 2006, 6-11pm @ The Myer Music Bowl
Hilltop Hoods, Sarah Blasko, John Butler Trio, Evermore, Eskimo Joe and more. This is going to be a rocking concert. 25 tickets are available if you can think of the most creative way to display the Make Poverty History slogan to lots of people, do it, and send a pic and description of what you did to terrencer@oxfam.org.au before 9am Wednesday November 15. Or go to one of the live sites.

Make Poverty History Festival

Saturday 18 November 2006, 10am to 8pm
A wicked festival celebrating social justice. Bands, Fair Trade & Sustainable Living Stalls, Workshops, Global Beats Chill Zone, Speakers, Roving Performers, MPH info stalls, International Food, Children’s Activities. Get a taste for what’s out there by coming along.

Micah Challenge Ecumenical Service: God’s Prosperity for All

Saturday 18 November 2006, 5pm to 6:30pm @ St Paul’s, Cnr Swanston + Flinders St
The Micah Challenge is hosting the Archbishop of Cape Town (my home town!) Njongonkulu Ndungane. This should be a really great time to find out about putting faith into practice.

Wow. What an action packed week. I’m glad my exams finish on Wednesday so I can actually go to these gigs without feeling bad. Of course once you’ve had some fun and learnt some stuff, don’t forget to make your voice heard, email Peter Costello, learn more and tell your friends. Our generation has the possibility of making stupid poverty history, let’s not waste this opportunity.

Any additions, just email me

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Interesting article on AllAfrica about Cape Verde. The country is very poor but has virtually no corruption and is doing well on the Human Development Index and Millenium Goals. But strangely all the good stuff that is happening there makes harder for Cape Verde to get aid and debt relief which it needs to solidfy past accomplishments in poverty reduction!

The economic progress Cape Verde has made as a result of stringent financial management, sound economic policies, and zero corruption ironically may affect the country’s eligibility for continued high level of development assistance. For example, Cape Verde is not eligible for the recent programs for debt relief decided by the G8 because we have always honored and serviced our national debts. Because we honor our commitments, Cape Verde is now compelled to spend more on servicing past debts than it does on education or health.

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The Institute of Development Studies have just released a massive 45 page guide to finding development information on the internet. It’s organised according to

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