Simon Topping
Encyclopedia
Simon Topping is a Methodist minister and faith leader based in Hucclecote
in Gloucester
, England
, known for his campaign work in favour of ending world poverty.
and his work on the British chapter of the Jubilee 2000 Drop the Debt
campaign. In 1998 he helped to initiate a human chain
around central Birmingham during the G8
meeting of world leaders in the city. The campaign resulted in the relocation of the G8 conference meeting to the outskirts of the Midlands
. In 2003 he co-founded the Saltley Gate Peace Group
, an inter-faith initiative, launched in response to the build-up to war
in Iraq
.
. The minister continued to campaign for the cause right through to Make Poverty History
.
, the international Make Poverty History campaign was climaxing with marches in Scotland
and Live 8
in London
. In support of the campaign Rev. Topping organised and took part in a 400-mile trek from Birmingham to Edinburgh.
Hucclecote
Hucclecote is an affluent and sought-after village in Gloucestershire , England situated on the old Roman road connecting Gloucester with Barnwood, Brockworth, Cirencester and Cheltenham...
in Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, known for his campaign work in favour of ending world poverty.
Background
Reverend Doctor Topping came to prominence during his time in BirminghamBirmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
and his work on the British chapter of the Jubilee 2000 Drop the Debt
Drop the Debt
Drop the Debt was a short-lived British NGO formed after the dissolution of Jubilee 2000. Using Jubilee 2000's best known slogan as its name, Drop the Debt existed to work in the run-up to the G8 Summit in Genoa, Italy, and ensure that debt relief was on the agenda at that meeting...
campaign. In 1998 he helped to initiate a human chain
Human chain
A human chain is a form of demonstration in which people link their arms as a show of political solidarity.The number of demonstrators involved in a human chain is often disputed; the organizers of the human chain often report higher numbers than governmental authorities.Notable human chains, in...
around central Birmingham during the G8
G8
The Group of Eight is a forum, created by France in 1975, for the governments of seven major economies: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In 1997, the group added Russia, thus becoming the G8...
meeting of world leaders in the city. The campaign resulted in the relocation of the G8 conference meeting to the outskirts of the Midlands
English Midlands
The Midlands, or the English Midlands, is the traditional name for the area comprising central England that broadly corresponds to the early medieval Kingdom of Mercia. It borders Southern England, Northern England, East Anglia and Wales. Its largest city is Birmingham, and it was an important...
. In 2003 he co-founded the Saltley Gate Peace Group
Saltley Gate Peace Group
The Saltley Gate Peace Group, is an inner city interfaith organisation based in Birmingham, England.-Background:The Saltley Gate Peace Group was initially formed as a joint Christian/Muslim peace initiative in response to the threat of war in Iraq as a part of the growing peace movement in Britain...
, an inter-faith initiative, launched in response to the build-up to war
War
War is a state of organized, armed, and often prolonged conflict carried on between states, nations, or other parties typified by extreme aggression, social disruption, and usually high mortality. War should be understood as an actual, intentional and widespread armed conflict between political...
in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
.
Drop the Debt
In 2001 Topping caused controversy when he designed a black poppy to 'highlight the problems of world poverty'. Members of the Royal British Legion were allegedly angered by the use of the poppy due to its connotations with Remembrance DayRemembrance Day
Remembrance Day is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth countries since the end of World War I to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. This day, or alternative dates, are also recognized as special days for war remembrances in many non-Commonwealth...
. The minister continued to campaign for the cause right through to Make Poverty History
Make Poverty History
Make Poverty History is the name of a campaign that exists in a number of countries, including Australia, Canada, Denmark , Finland, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Romania, the United Arab Emirates, Great Britain and Ireland...
.
Make Poverty History
In 2005, when the World G8 Summit returned to the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, the international Make Poverty History campaign was climaxing with marches in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and Live 8
Live 8
Live 8 was a string of benefit concerts that took place on 2 July 2005, in the G8 states and in South Africa. They were timed to precede the G8 Conference and summit held at the Gleneagles Hotel in Auchterarder, Scotland from 6–8 July 2005; they also coincided with the 20th anniversary of Live Aid...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. In support of the campaign Rev. Topping organised and took part in a 400-mile trek from Birmingham to Edinburgh.
External links
- G8 Summit walk Gallery - BBC Online, July 2005
- Gloucester minister helping to Make Poverty History - BBC Online, June 2005
- Interview by Richard Adkins - BBC Radio, June 2005
- Black poppy marks poverty - BBC News, November 2001