ABOUT 150 people packed into a city church at the weekend to join the Make Poverty History campaign, to eliminate world debt and support more and better aid.
Green MEP Caroline Lucas was one of four speakers who addressed the meeting at Central Baptist Church in Devonshire Road.
She backed the movement's call to Southampton residents - lobby politicians to drop the debt of Third World countries.
Representatives from the city's Fairtrade shop in Shirley High Street were also present, alongside World Development Movement experts and Christian Aid spokesman Hugh Mason.
Rev David Masters, of Central Baptist Church, said: "Make Poverty History is about putting pressure on government as hosts of the G8 summit and chair of the European Union to tackle issues like trade justice."
The meeting also sparked the start of Fairtrade fortnight in Southampton.
Tomorrow, Fairtrade campaigners will be handing out free food samples at Asda in Chandler's Ford and on Wednesday Southampton will celebrate the first anniversary of becoming a Fairtrade city in Shirley.
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