SOLIHULL MP URGES CONSTITUENTS TO DONATE OLD MOBILE PHONES TO AFRICA

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 23rd Oct 2006

Solihull's MP, Lorely Burt is urging constituents to donate old mobile phones to help families and business in Africa.

Lorely Burt MP said:

"At least 75% of us own a mobile phone and every hour 1712 mobile phones are upgraded in the UK alone. Despite having a lifespan of 10 years we usually keep them for 18 months on average. Africans do not have the same luxury.

"If all mobile-users in the UK threw their old phones in the bin we'd be land filling £650,000 worth of silver a year, not to mention the toxic chemicals that would leak into the environment.

"That is why I am getting involved in Parliament's latest action campaign to donate unwanted mobile phones to Africa.

On October 18th 2006 the All Party Parliamentary Groups on Communications and Nigeria launched a campaign encouraging MPs, Peers and individuals to donate their old phones to help protect the environment and improve mobile communications in African nations.

"I am happy to receive old mobile phones at my advice surgeries and in my constituency office at 41 Warwick Road, Olton Hollow, to forward for the phones4africa campaign," added Lorely.

Alternatively, constituents can send their old, unwanted mobiles to the freepost address - FREEPOST Fonebak Vodafone Africa