Interview

One minute interview

Mike Rowson is director of Medact

What is the campaign about?

Medact is a UK charity for global health, and undertakes education, research and campaigning on the health effects of conflict, poverty and environmental degradation.

How long have you been going?

Over 50 years! Not many people realise that Medact’s first ancestor, the Medical Association for the Prevention of War, was set up during the Korean War in 1951. Our other ancestor was the massive and highly successful Medical Campaign Against Nuclear Weapons which was active in the 1980s. Medact was formed by a merger of these two organisations in 1992, and took on other critical global health issues.

Who is involved?

1700 health workers from around the UK – but we need more!

Your biggest success?

Stimulating the formation of the coalition against landmines in 1993 was hugely important, as was our work on Third World debt with the Jubilee 2000 Coalition – the campaign elicited promises of $100bn of debt cancellation. ‘Big’ successes are hard to come by for small organisations with broad mandates, but we feel we play a crucial role in working with others (and emphasising the health implications) of these important global issues.

Your biggest failure?

Failing to get world leaders to keep to their promises on Third World debt. But at least the promises are there (after 20 years of campaigning) and politicians can be shamed by them.

Your most immediate concern?

Our most immediate concern is the war on Iraq. In November, Medact launched its Collateral Damage report on the likely health and environmental effects of war in Iraq in 14 countries. Press response to the report has been enormous and it is being used in advocacy worldwide. But it is shocking that there is not much more public debate about the likely humanitarian costs of war.

What would help the most in achieving your ends?

I have a feeling that addressing inequalities in power and resources would be crucial for many areas of our work: there would be more money for the poor and social tension and conflict would probably decrease. Beyond that, better and more humane global governance would also be essential.

And how can readers get in touch?

Medact

601 Holloway Road

London N19 4DJ

info@medact.org

www.medact.org

t 020 7272 2020

f 020 7281 5717