David Goulding appeals for support for the continuing campaign
November 2010
Our 4th Regional Campaign Roadshow programme holds promise of being our best
ever, with eleven events planned across the North East. We expect MPs to be
present at seven of these. This may well be the 'jewel in the crown' of our
grouping, unique in the UK. However, it's nothing without the involvement
of our supporters!
On Tuesday evening, 16th November, the Roadshow comes to Birtley (7.45 at St Joseph's), and on
late Friday afternoon, 19th November, to Durham (5.15 -6.30 at the Leech Hall, St John's College).
As far as the latter is concerned, I understand that this must seem like an odd time to hold such a gathering, but 'beggars' - those trying to get the ear of their MP - 'can't be choosers'! This just makes it all the more important that everyone who can attend does so - and brings a friend or two.
We would like to assure Roberta that the NE campaign, which has won so many
'battle honours' over the past ten years, is still 'alive and kicking'! [She
attended the service in Durham Cathedral in 2006.] Please join us if you
can, and encourage friends and family to do so as well.
Your collaboration will be greatly appreciated!
With every good wish
David
PS. People say to me, "But it nothing ever changes!" Twenty years ago, polio - a hideous disease - was rife in 125 countries, with 350,000 cases. Now debt relief and aid have reduced it to four countries with 1,600 cases.
In Bangladesh, vaccination for the common childhood diseases (it costs little more than a pound!) has gone from 10% to 70%, child mortality has been more than halved - and the fertility rate has been reduced by more than
50%! Ghana has made healthcare free for pregnant women, increasing the number receiving it by half a million each year.Since 2000, the number of children worldwide not in school has been reduced by 40 million, and treatment to prevent infection of babies with the HIV virus during birth (a fairly simple procedure) has risen from about 5% to over 50%. Nothing changes indeed!
But we still have far to go - e.g., nearly 400,000 babies are still being infected with HIV at birth each year - this is intolerable!
Events to be attended by MPs shown * -and all of these will include a climate feature
* Fri 12th Nov |
9.30-11.30am |
Sunderland |
S’land Minster |
Kevin Haigh (Cfd); |
Tues 16th Nov |
Pending |
Birtley |
St Joseph’s Ch |
Anne-Marie Hanlon; |
* Fri 19th Nov |
5.15-6.30pm |
Durham |
St John’s Coll’, |
Paul Brannen (CA); DWG |
* Fri 26th Nov |
2.00-3.30pm |
Saltburn |
Seafront Bldg |
Andy Welford (WDM) |
* Fri 26th Nov |
(Evening) |
Redcar |
Baptist Ch |
DWG; ? |
Wed 1st Dec |
1.00-2.00pm |
Newcastle |
St Thomas Ch |
DWG |
Contact: Dr David Golding CBE (d.w.golding@ncl.ac.uk)