Thousands of campaigners went to Edinburgh to make poverty history. Photo: Christian Aid / David Rose / Insight Visual
'The G8 last met in the UK was in May 1998. They were greeted by 70,000 campaigners who took to the streets of Birmingham to urge them to drop the debt.'

On 2 July 2005, 250,000 people gathered in Edinburgh to tell the G8 leaders to make poverty history.

Below we have accounts of the various events that took place at the historic G8 rally in Edinburgh. You can also read more reports and watch videos from the day on the Christian Aid website.
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• G8 - the verdict

Why Edinburgh? Why the G8?

This year the UK has a unique role as Tony Blair hosts the G8 summit and the presidency of the European Union (EU). The summit - at which the G8 leaders will meet to discuss global issues such as poverty - will be held in Gleneagles, Scotland from 6-8 July.
• What is the G8?
• G8: What is Christian Aid calling for?
• How will the rally link up with LIVE 8?
• NEW: The cost of liberalisation report from Christian Aid. Click here to read more
• Email this page to a friend

New! G8 vigil
Thousands of people around the UK and Ireland will take part in a mass vigil to demand action from the G8 leaders.
• Find out more

• Memories of the 1998 Human Chain event in Birmingham

Reports from Edinburgh
Shirley Willcox of Herefordshire writes: My memories of human chain in Birmingham are of being directed in advance to take the coach party I had brought from Somerset to Ladywood, roughly three miles from the town centre. There was some traffic congestion once we left the motorway at Junction 3.

We were alotted a section of the Human Chain to occupy; it was not until after an alotted time that we were free to wander along the Birmingham canal into the centre toward St. Martins in the Bullring to hear speeches relayed from loudspeakers. We had to return to Ladywood to collect our coach for the homeward journey. The experience of being involved was electric an historic occasion being the first event of this type.

In Edinburgh we were impressed by the ease with which the coach
travelling form Malvern in Worcestershire arrived in George Street very close to The Meadows. Everyone appeared to be waiting to process around the streets of Edinburgh that had been sectioned off for the purpose.

Control

Although marching was staggered at hourly intervals there appeared to be little organisation about the crowd control, in the event that there was a surge for the gate from all directions when it was opened.

On reflection I wonder whether we should have been allotted a section of the Meadow and a time (on first come basis on booking) to process from a named colour coded area.

Loudspeaker announcements in the end eased the situation that could have been nasty. We missed the main speakers not realising that the Contemplation tent was in fact where we would have
heard them!

However despite this the experience of raising awareness by processing through the streets of Edinburgh was tremendous and well worth the 23 hours of travel.

David Golding from Newcastle upon Tyne writes: I took two coaches to Birmingham in 1998 and, obviously, felt a sense of
responsibility for everybody.

And yet, however much I told myself not to be so stupid, part of me was actually disappointed we managed to be there in time for the meetings, etc. Why wasn't every, even half-intelligent, Christian in the country trying to converge on Birmingham on that day? How could they bear to stay away?!

What I like about such occasions if the equality involved. Once we get there, I am of no more significance that the 12-year old, who's gone with his parents. It's like voting, but instead of a mark on a piece of paper, we vote WITH OURSELVES.

Commitment

On Saturday, I was impressed again with the commitment of our
supporters. Rev Michael Haslam, the former Chaplain at Newcastle University, travelled up from the West Country on an overnight coach; was going back on Saturday night the same way; and had services to take on Sunday.

A member of the North East Jubilee committee, in her 70's, walks with difficulty with a walking stick, yet she made it round the March.

I was struck by the comment of an African who was there, who was interviewed on Channel 4 News. What amazed him were the scores of thousands of elderly people (like me!), queuing patiently for hours just to start the March.

And it was for several hours - it started at 12 noon, and some people still hadn't got out of The Meadows at 4.30.

• Download campaigner's guide (329kb PDF)

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• More about Make Poverty History
• Visit Make Poverty History website