Minnie calls for trade reform to reduce poverty
Actress turned singer Minnie Driver tonight led the call for reform of the world’s trade laws to reduce poverty.
The 34-year-old Good Will Hunting star was speaking just before a charity gig organised by Oxfam and headlined by American rockers REM. To highlight the impact that trade barriers have on farmers in the developing world
Singer Jamelia, Irish band The Thrills, half-British half-Swedish combo Razorlight and comic Ricky Gervais were also appearing at tonight’s concert in London.
At a press conference at the Carling Apollo, Hammersmith Driver said that “Fair Trade was not the sexiest of campaigns”.
But the singer, whose new album Everything I’ve Got In My Pocket is about to be released said: “Musicians have a great platform to educate and encourage kids to take an interest what’s going on globally.
“I don’t think kids know poverty is the most preventable cause of death in this world and trades will go a long way to alleviate it.”
She said: “These are incredible causes that go over most of our heads most of the time, but it’s brilliant to actually do something, not just talk about it or put your name on a letterhead encouraging others to do something, but to actually get off your arse and do something is great.
“Most people don’t know about the vast inequalities that exist in this weird global economy that is run by a few privileged groups, where the neediest suffer for the people that have the most.”
The London-born Hollywood star added: “People who say ’I can’t be bothered’, I don’t know what world they are living in. They’re not living in the world where bombs are dropped on Baghdad everyday or where people are dying in Sudan without our help.
OXFAM is calling for richer countries to remove barriers to imports for all low income countries and an end to the practice of attaching conditions to IMF-World Bank loans which is says forces poorer countries to open their markets regardless of its impact.
Other speakers at today’s press conference included Jamelia, The Thrills, Razorlight and TV presenter Dermot O’Leary.
Jamelia, 22, said: “I truly believe in this cause. It’s a worthy cause to be supporting and if there are a few people who might go on the website and find out for themselves about this then that would be a good thing.”
Last year’s concert saw Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Noel Gallagher and Ms Dynamite take to the stage to campaign for Fair Trade.
