Hello friends!
How are you going? Hope you're all well. Make Poverty History (www.makepovertyhistory.com.au),
together with other coalitions that support the Global Call to Action
Against Poverty ( www.whiteband.org), is organising a worldwide event
that aims to set the record for the most people to ever stand up
against poverty. If you feel strongly about any of the following
issues, please contribute to this worthy cause by spreading the word,
participating and even organising a group to stand up against poverty
and for the 8 Millennium Development Goals. I'm encouraging you to pass
the information on by telling other friends, making it known in your
community groups, posting on your work bulletins/intranet, etc. There
are endless possibilities if you believe in the cause.
Thanks heaps!
Denisse
The Eight Millennium Development Goals
1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.
2. Achieve universal primary education.
3. Promote gender equality and empower women.
4. Reduce child mortality.
5. Improve maternal health.
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases.
7. Ensure environmental sustainability.
8. Develop a global partnership for development.
What is STAND UP?
STAND UP is a global advocacy effort to set an official Guinness World
Record - the greatest number of people ever to STAND UP Against Poverty
and for the Millennium Development Goals - on October 15-16 2006.
Within a 24-hour period, a minimum of 10,000 people must physically and
symbolically "STAND UP" to communicate their desire to fight poverty
and to hold their governments and leaders accountable for promisesto
end poverty by 2015. The purpose of this action is to raise awareness
of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and to publicly demonstrate
to policy makers the growing global support for the achievement of the
MDGs andfor the strengthening of development policies in both Northern
and Southern countries.
STAND UP is a mobilisation initiative designed to coincide with global
mobilizations around the International Day of Poverty Eradication and
theWhite Band Day of the Global Call to Action against Poverty. It
relies fully on citizen participation in that it mobilizes all
individuals, everywhere,to take part in local, group events around the
world through which they use their bodies (rather than their voices) as
concrete symbols of MDG advocacy.To ensure the inclusion of those not
physically able to stand up, a symbolicact of raising a hand, wearing a
white band (the symbol of the global fightagainst poverty), or holding
up a banner with the "Stand Up Against Poverty"message will also be
counted.
What are we doing in Australia?
In Australia, we will be having lots of local actions - in schools,
universities, workplaces and churches around the country. There will
also be a large-scale lunch-time event in Martin Place, Sydney, which
is being coordinated through the Sydney working group. Updates will be
added to the Make Poverty History website on a weekly basis to see
where the local events will be taking place.
How can I get involved?
Monitored by Guinness World Records the STAND UP challenge will take
place between 8pm (AEST) 15 October to 8pm (AEST) 16 October. During
this time thousands of people will be standing up all over the world.
In schools, universities, offices, churches, town halls and at sporting
events and concerts. Either join one of these events or gather your
friends, colleagues and family and create your own STAND UP event. Visit the website to check what's already being organised.
What if I’m not in Australia?
No worries. As previously mentioned, this is a global effort and
various Stand Up events are being organised worldwide. Visit
www.whiteband.org to check what’s happening in your city and contact
the relevant organisations involved.
For more information, please visit www.makepovertyhistory.com.au
