Title: Millions of activists for a day: Stand up campaign seeks to garner public support to fight poverty.

POPLINE Document Number: 314823

Author(s):

Mutume G

Source citation:

Africa Renewal, 2007 Jan;20(4):10-11.

Abstract:

In October, more than 23 million people -- some 3.6 million of them in Africa -- set a world record by literally standing up to bring attention to persistent global poverty and to prompt world leaders to act on their promises to eradicate the scourge. The message of the Stand Up Against Poverty campaign, coordinated by the New York--based UN Millennium Campaign, reached people at more than 11,000 events in over 80 countries -- cricket fans in Jaipur, India, music lovers at a concert in Harare, Zimbabwe, children in school in Lebanon and soccer supporters in Mexico. Organizers timed the global campaign to coincide with other events marking the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. "Together, we sent a clear message to our political leaders that we are going to keep pushing them to deliver on aid, on debt cancellation, on trade justice and to provide good and accountable governments," said Mr. Kumi Naidoo of the Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP). An alliance of community organizations, faith-based groups, trade unions and campaigners in over 100 countries, GCAP was one of the organizations supporting the Stand Up campaign. (excerpt)

Keywords:

Developing Countries
Progress Report
Evaluation
Policymakers
Low Income Population
Campaigns
Poverty
UN
Goals
Development Policy
Administrative Personnel
Organization and Administration
Social Class
Socioeconomic Status
Socioeconomic Factors
Economic Factors
Communication Programs
Communication
International Agencies
Organizations
Political Factors
Sociocultural Factors
Planning
Policy