Are we on 3 yet? I can't remember it's been so long, what with bombings and everything. So apologies ot anyone who has been waiting with bated breath for this latest installment.

First of all though, can I just say how disappointed I am that G8 have not done more. The current situation in Niger is an absolute disgrace. Leaders, remember we are watching you. We have the luxury of voting you out if we feel you aren't delivering. What exactly is it going to take for the G8 leaders to realise that unless you address the major issues, which of course are

AIDS medication: Unless it's freely available, preferably free, you are going to lose a generation, so it wouldn't matter how much money or relief you threw at any of the other issues, this would set you back every time.

Malaria medication and nets: Control the spread of this one and you'll save millions. Let's work at control rather than eradication. My stepmother lost her brother ot this one, so it's important to me.

Clean Drinking Water: Enough said - helps the AIDS medication work and stops some diseases

Transport Infrastructure: Improve this, and you can improve telecommunications, reduce costs etc etc. (How much better would it be for our soldiers to be doing this rather than fighting in Iraq?)

Vaccination: Let's vaccinate all children against the major disease - then we see a reduction in childbirth rate as fewer children die

Obstetrics and Gynaecology: Help save the mothers' lives and you keep a healthy adult in the population caring for kids and making a contribution to society.

Education: Give kids a trade and a chance. That's their future and ours. Educated people question and make a difference.

Trade: Review the tariffs now - reverse the current climate until we're all on a level playing field. If we don't do this, they can't get themselves out of poverty by improving their own economies.

Debt: I still think it obscene that after the original debts have been paid, they're still paying off interest. Not on people! We should not be profiting from others' misfortune and we are.

Anyway, that's that I think. Can I suggest that people get hold of Make Poverty History, the Commission for Africa and the Rough Guide to Ethical Shopping? These books all give great suggestions and ideas on how people can help. Small things as well as big changes. Number 3 is chocolate!

One: The vast majority of chocolate in this country certainly is inferior. It's more sugar than cocoa. maximising profit margins anyone?

Two: Like coffee, the more cocoa beans a company buys, the more it controls the price, forcing it down.

Three: After the middle men take their cut of the unprocessed bean (yes folks, cos it costs more to export the finished product than the raw ingredient), your producer gets little of that.

And I doubt that's the whole picture either.

So what can we do today to make a difference?

You already know, but I'll say it again - buy Fair Trade! I personally love Green & Blacks Maya Gold - the original (and best??!!) but the Co-op own brand fair trade chocolate range is pretty good as well. And there are many more companies that do this, I can't list them all. This chocolate tastes better and hopefully some of that feel-good glow is down to the good works that we do by buying and eating it! Have a look at the Green & Black's recipe book, which not only has recipes, but featured communities and how chocolate is made!!

And that's the small change you can make today that helps to make a difference and make poverty history. And this one you'll enjoy!

PS If you're a fan of hot chocolate or cocoa powder, keep your eyes open as most of the big fair trade people do those as well.

Please pray for my mother who will be undergoing major surgery a week from today in her fight against cancer.