Scottish Catholic Observer

Eight pupils from St Charles Primary School in Glasgow today led a SCIAF campaign for the UK Government to do more to end global hunger.

The pupils met with Secretary of State for Scotland Michael Moore MP and International Development Minister Lynne Featherstone MP (above) at the headquarters of the International Network of Street Papers (INSP) in Glasgow.

The pupils handed the politicians 3000 Enough Food For Everyone IF campaign postcards from members of the public. Each pupil also held up a plate, with one holding up an empty plate showing how one in eight of the world’s population goes hungry every day.

SCIAF, an agency of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland,  is working with alongside 200 other faith and international development charities on the IF, campaign launched to coincide with the UK Government’s presidency of the G8 Summit being held next week in Northern Ireland.

Campaigners are calling on UK Prime Minister David Cameron to lead G8 heads of state to work together in stopping corporate tax dodging, land grabs evicting farmers from their livelihoods and continue to pledge international aid commitments to ending poverty.

The campaign is similar to 2005’s Make Poverty History campaign, which was also backed by SCIAF, launched in response to the 2005 G8 Meeting in Gleneagles.

Philippa Bonella, head of communications and education at SCIAF, praised the pupils for being examples of active global citizens.

“It was great to see young Scots demanding an end global hunger when they met Michael Moore and Lynne Featherstone today.” Ms Bonella said.

—The pupils are encouraging more members of the public to sign up to the Enough Food for Everyone IF campaign by going to www.enoughfoodif.org ahead of the G8 in Belfast next week