Doug Naysmith MP joined Peter Gabriel at the launch of the Phones4Africa campaign to call on the public to donate their old, unwanted handsets to African countries.

Every hour 1,712 mobile phones are upgraded in the UK alone after around 18 months of use, despite having a lifespan of around 10 years.  If each mobile phone user in the UK were to throw away their handsets we would be sending around £650,000 of silver to land fill sites each year.

Doug Naysmith MP said: “sending your unwanted mobile phones to developing countries can not only help protect our environment from hazardous waste and toxic chemicals, but can help people in developing countries to do business and keep in touch with their families.”

Singer/Songwriter Peter Gabriel who was invited as a special guest to the launch said “Phones 4 Africa is a brilliant idea.  With all the things to be pessimistic about in the world, mobile phones are a great reason to be optimistic.  Mobiles have been adopted faster in the developing world than in the developed world.  They have the capability for improving lives.”

Wider access to communications in Africa has proven to be an important element in tackling poverty.  Having a phone means having a voice and that is one of the ways in which we can help people out of poverty.

Poor infrastructure in roads and transport in African countries means that having a mobile phone can be vital to the lives of individuals.  Fishermen are able to call around to find the best prices for their stock; children can keep in touch with their parents and more importantly in emergency cases where the nearest hospital is 90 miles away, people can call for help and diagnoses, making the difference between life and death.

People in the private sector in Africa are often poor – farmers, shopkeepers and business managers – and they are also the people who need the most support.  It is important that we in the UK help them help themselves.

For more information please contact Doug Naysmith MP on 0207 219 4187.