BOLTON people have booked a package trip to Cologne - to join a mass demonstration demanding justice for some of the world's poorest people.

Last May, as reported in the BEN, two coachloads of campaigners from Bolton had a hectic day with more than 70,000 demonstrators who linked hands in a human chain around the centre of Birmingham.

The event was organised by Jubilee 2000 - the campaign for the urgent cancellation of the unpayable debts of the world's poorest countries. The aim was to demonstrate to the world leaders who were meeting at the G8 Summit in Birmingham the large and growing demand for a breaking of the chains of debt which ruin the lives of so many people.

The campaigners want debts to be wiped off to celebrate the Millennium.

This year the G8 Summit will be at Cologne in Germany on June 18. Debt will be on the agenda and it is hoped that an even larger number of people will form a human chain around an area including Cologne's ancient cathedral.

Members of Germany's Jubilee 2000 Coalition say they are encouraged by their recent change of government and feel that real progress can be made at the summit.

Rev Sieghard Wilm, a campaigner from Hamburg, has sent a message to British supporters of Jubilee 2000: "Come to Cologne. We want to learn from your experience because you did such a good job. You made this great campaign visible to the whole world."

Bolton supporters - mainly from the local Oxfam and World Development Movement groups - will be taking advantage of cut price package deals for a three-day trip, including the Cologne human chain, for £87, staying at family-friendly hotels in Rhine Valley villages for two nights B&B, with en-suite facilities.

There are still places left and anyone interested should contact Norman Burnell as soon as possible on 0161 485 5047.

Chris Cresswell, Secretary of Bolton WDM/Oxfam Group, said: "If you can't go to Cologne but wish to support the campaign there are several things you can do, such as wearing a chain badge or helping with the petition now being circulated in 131 countries around the world."

Chris will provide more information on Bolton 301324."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.