AS LANCASTER'S local development educ-ation centre we had to think about our response to the tsunami, which raised interesting questions.

Like many people, I've been very affected by the disaster as the media has beamed out constant images of devastation, suffering and grief.

However, I have a personal connection because my family live in Phuket. And of course, it's the fact that so many Europeans have such a connection through family and tourism that there has been such media attention and such an international response.

But we must still remember the unsensational homeless, the unsensational sick and dying, the unsensational dead in other words the 30,000 people who die every day in the world because of extreme poverty.

It's hopeful to hear Gordon Brown proposing debt relief measures and a Marshall Plan' for Africa, but while we should support him we should also say it's not enough'.

Countries need debt cancellation, not just temp-orary relief from debt repayments. Countries need more than aid, they need trade justice.

The earth literally shifted with the tsunami, in time to herald 2005 as the Make Poverty History' year - the largest UK coalition ever assembled to fight against world poverty.

It is calling for trade justice, which means laws that stop big business profiting at the expense of people, ending export subsidies that damage the livelihoods of poor rural communities around the world and changing the trade rules so that governments, particularly in poor countries, can choose the best solutions to end poverty and protect the environment.

The visual symbol of Make Poverty History around the world is the white band a simple band worn around the wrist or arm to symbolise the need for global economic justice. They are available from Global Link and Oxfam or, for more news see www.makepovertyhistory.org Gisela Renolds, Global Link Development Education Centre, Lancaster.