On Saturday June 18 2005 a vegetarian lunch and film show was held at the Friends Meeting House, Clarendon Park, organised by the Leicester-Masaya Link Group in solidarity with the Make Poverty History campaign. Lots were drawn to decide who had a "rich world" four course lunch and who had a "poor world" meal of bread and soup.

The main speaker was Matt Follett of Leicester Green Party, who told the gathering: "One of the depressing consequences of globalisation is how wealth is concentrated in the hand of the few while many live in poverty. We must end the scandal of millions living and dying in poverty. Hanging over our heads is also the threat of runaway climate change. Warmer and wetter weather could trigger unprecedented levels of disease and reduce food yields. Governments waste billions on war. Instead, let's spend money where it's needed."

"Fortunately", he concluded, "the Make Poverty History campaign is pulling together many of these concerns, such as trade justice, debt relief and the need for more and better aid.

Since 1987, when Leicester was officially twinned with Masaya in Nicaragua, the Leicester Masaya Link Group has worked with numerous organisations in Masaya, Nicaragua. The aim is to support a range of projects that promote sustainable development, create effective partnerships to achieve practical results and bring real benefits for the people of Masaya. In Leicester the Link Group raises awareness on these issues by running development education projects in schools as well as public events for groups from all sectors of the community.

The film, "The World Stopped Watching", documented what had become of Nicaragua now that its people and country were no longer in the media spotlight.