Stand Up, Take Action 2008

Stand up against poverty image 2008

More than 116 million people – one per cent of the world’s population – took action against poverty on October 17-19. Thank you to all those who were part of this historic event

Huge global events highlighted the demands that governments meet their promises made at Millennium Summit in 2000 and deliver on their promises to wipe out extreme poverty - to achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.

By standing together on this historic day you could be the first generation to end one of the greatest injustices and human rights violations in history: extreme poverty

Desmond Tutu

The three days of action saw huge concerts in Lagos, Singapore, Togo, Manila and Nairobi. From Pretoria, Harare and Delhi, there were vast campaign marches and mass mobilisations.

Historic day

Archbishop Desmond Tutu said: “By standing together on this historic day you could be the first generation to end one of the greatest injustices and human rights violations in history: extreme poverty.”

Other events included a countrywide caravan rally in Togo focusing on specific MDG goals, hundreds of mosques "standing up" in a statement of solidarity and, in Indonesia, a ‘Stand Up and Take Action’ Rap Contest for community youth groups in Manila,

In Belgium there was a football event mass campaign while, in Germany, Bianca Jagger presented video messages from members of the World Future Council.

Schools across the world also took part from Malta to Palestine, where 500,000 pupils organised debates. There were cinema screenings, mass signings, marches, and ant-poverty actions across the globe.

The event was initiated by The Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) an alliance of more than 100 national coalitions/platforms, with support of the United Nations Millennium Campaign.

GCAP is calling for action from the world’s leaders to meet their promises to end poverty and inequality. In 2007 more than 43 million people Stood Against Poverty.

Stand Up Take Action

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The CAFOD-funded National Federation of Fishworkers organises fishermen to defend their rights [Nithila Mariampillai/HUDEC]

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Published on 17/10/2008, last updated on 23/10/2008

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