Islamic Relief and the Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences are joining with Shaam, one of the UK’s leading nasheed groups, to support Christian Aid’s Cut the Carbon Rally in Birmingham on Monday 27 August 2007.
Directors from Islamic Relief, who have helped organise the rally, and the Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences will speak at the rally alongside Christian Aid representatives and other spokespersons calling for urgent action to address the damaging effects of climate change on the poorest people in the world.
Shaam, one of the leading exponents of Islamic nasheed music, will join Brit Award-winner Lemar in leading a celebrity line-up which also includes Glastonbury 'Best Emerging Talent' winners, The Epstein, and Birmingham poet Spoz.
The rally will celebrate the arrival in Birmingham of the longest-ever campaign march in UK history. It will take place at 1pm on Monday 27 August, at Millennium Point. The free event is being run by march organisers Christian Aid, Islamic Relief, and icount, the coalition on climate change.
The march, which has so far passed through Ireland and Scotland, will have covered over 600 miles by the time it reaches Birmingham on Monday, 27 August. The team of 18 core marchers includes walkers from developing countries such as Bangladesh, Brazil and Kenya, where Christian Aid works on climate issues.
Christian Aid and Islamic Relief are members of BOND, the UK’s broadest network of voluntary organisations working in international development. The two charities regularly work together including recently on the Pakistan earthquake appeal.
Muhammad Imran of Islamic Relief said, ‘Climate change is an urgent issue facing all communities of all faiths. Now is the time for partnership, to change habits and to repair the situation before it is too late for all of us.’
Paul Brannen, head of campaigns for Christian Aid said, ‘We are delighted to have Islamic Relief’s support in organising the Birmingham Cut the Carbon Rally. Climate change is the most serious threat to humanity. We need people of all faiths and none to lobby their MPs to take action now reduce the UK’s carbon emissions by 5 per cent year on year.’
The aim of the Cut the Carbon march is to pressure the Government and businesses to reduce the UK’s carbon emissions by 5 per cent year on year. It also hopes to encourage members of the public to make a commitment to reducing their own carbon footprint.
For media enquiries contact Kate Wills kwills@christian-aid.org 020 7523 2446 or Charlotte Marshall CMarshall@christian-aid.org 0121 200 2283
There are photos and video footage of the march available from Christian Aid. Please contact the Press office on 0207 523 2421 or email press@christian-aid.org.
The marchers will be in the West Midlands from the 23 August – 4 September. The key events and route are detailed below:
For further links go to:
http://www.christianaid.org.uk/stoppoverty/climatechange/march/
For further information on the route visit www.christianaid.org.uk/climate