Christmas card's fair trade message for Ahern

People across the country were today urged to send an extra Christmas card this year – to Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.

The MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY group of 45 Irish charities and human rights organisations launched the campaign calling on citizens to urge Mr Ahern to ‘Make Trade Rules Fair’.

The Christmas Card will be distributed nationwide through The Body Shop, Nude Cafes, Hot Press magazine and a number of other outlets.

It will also be available online as an e-card at www.makepovertyhistory.ie.

The card asks Mr Ahern to give poor countries a chance to escape from poverty through fairer trade.

Broadcaster Joe Duffy, who launched the campaign, urged everyone to get posting.

“The card is a great idea,” he said.

“It is a simple but forceful way for everyone to take action to help make poverty history.”

The campaign was launched in advance of the upcoming World Trade Organisation ministerial meeting in Hong Kong this December.

Following the G8 meeting in Edinburgh and the UN World Summit in New York, Conall O’Caoimh from the campaign said this conference presents world leaders with their last major opportunity in 2005 to eradicate poverty.

“Trade justice is vital to tackling extreme poverty,” he said.

“We urge Bertie Ahern to seize this opportunity to address the needs of poor people by making trade rules fair.”

The Hong Kong ministerial meeting will take place from December 13 to 18 to deliver progress on the Doha Development Round of trade talks.

These talks are crucial to the prospects of achieving the Millennium Development Goals and giving millions of people a chance to escape from poverty.

The card is available nationwide and is also available as an e-card at www.makepovertyhistory.ie.