Charity appeals to ‘generous’ Scots
28 April 2009
Bid to aid campaigns on sweatshops, tax dodges
The leading charity War on Want tomorrow (Wednesday) launches a new fundraising appeal to Scots' generosity to step up its campaigns against fashion sweatshops and its support of anti-poverty action in developing countries.
Last April a survey by the Charities Aid Foundation revealed that Scots are more likely to give money to charity than people elsewhere in Britain.
Mehmet Baylav, senior fundraising officer at War on Want, said: "Scottish donors have played a major role in our struggles to win justice with many of the poorest people.
"Now, as the international economic crisis hits the poor hardest, we hope more Scots will show their generous spirit by joining our fight for a fairer world."
War on Want contrasts retailer Primark's latest half-year profits, £122 million, with Bangladeshi workers producing its clothes for as little as 7p an hour for up to 80-hour weeks. War on Want has also revealed that employees making Asda clothes, as well as Tesco garment and wine workers, earn less than a living wage.
War on Want hopes its street fundraisers will sign up new donors who can give £10 a month to support the charity's growing pressure on the UK government to introduce regulation which stops this abuse.
War on Want is also pushing ministers to end tax havens and tax dodging which cost Britain £100 billion a year and developing countries £250 billion a year.
NOTES TO EDITORS
War on Want fundraisers will seek to recruit donors in the mornings and afternoons on:
• Wednesday in Buchanan Street in central Glasgow and Galashiels town centre.
• Thursday in Edinburgh's Princes Street and the main Kirkcaldy shopping area.
• Friday in Argyle Street, Glasgow, and Perth's town centre.
• Saturday in the main shopping districts of Falkirk and Stirling.
CONTACT: Paul Collins, War on Want media office (+44) (0)20 7549 0584 or (+44) (0)7983 550728
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