Will you stand please?

From Australia to Malawi to the Philippines, people seeking an end to global poverty are preparing to ‘Stand Up Against Poverty’ on 15 and 16 October. Will you join them?

The  ‘stand up’ action, organized by GCAP, the international campaigning network for which Make Poverty History was the UK platform, takes place from 11:00 am BST on Sunday 15 October to 11:00 am BST the next day.

To join in, groups are asked to rise  from a sitting or kneeling position to a standing one and remain standing for one minute while an official “Stand Up” pledge is read. All can participate; if physically standing is difficult or impossible, a symbolic action, such as raising a hand or waving a flag, can be substituted.

The aim is to get large numbers of people standing together in solidarity so that world leaders can see that global poverty is still an issue that people care about.

Churches can incorporate the action into a service or make it a special event. If you participate, please count the number of people standing and email the numbers to be included in the UK total. For full instructions for participating, as well as resources for a “Stand Up” service, go to the campaign web site or call CCOW, on 01865 378059.

Maranda St John Nicolle is the co-ordinator for CCOW

The Pledge

Could I ask you all please to Stand Up Against Poverty.
(People stand)

We stand here proudly as members of the generation that intends to defeat extreme poverty.
We cannot stay seated when a child born in a poor country today will die 30 years earlier than a child born in a wealthy one: when tens of thousands of people die unnecessarily every day.
And we stand up because we are asking not for charity but justice – we know, that in our names, world leaders have made mighty promises to bring this to an end – they are called the Millennium Development Goals. What is needed is the political will to achieve and exceed these goals - so we are on our feet to say -  
To the leaders of the wealthy countries – be great - fight to keep your promises – debt cancellation, more and better aid, and trade rules that help fight poverty – you know what needs to be done – do it.
We also stand before the leaders of poorer countries to say – be great – make it your first responsibility to save the lives of your poorest citizens. We ask you to achieve real transparency and accountability in how money is spent, to tackle inequality, to root out corruption. You know what needs to be done. Do it. 
We wish to set a record today of the number of people standing up to demand action on poverty – but the record we really want to break is the world’s record of breaking promises and just ignoring the poor. We don’t want record numbers of people dying of poverty every year for the rest of our lives.
(Insert local message here)
We are six billion Voices.  We want justice now.  No more excuses. We will not stand for them.

Mind the gap this October

There is still time to support One World Week this year from 22 - 29 October. Resources this year take the theme of Mind the Gap - between winners and losers.

The charity hopes the information and activities for its One World Week challenge will help change people’s minds and shrink the gaps that our own lifestyles and the actions of those with power threaten to create. As usual the week encompasses United Nations Day on 24 October.

A spokesman said: ‘One World Week is your opportunity to join a worldwide movement of people who believe we can do something about global poverty. The charity builds relationships of mutual respect that cross boundaries, so that all may enjoy fullness of life and justice in our shared world.’

The 2006 Action Kit contains information, stories, pictures, games and activities to help groups and individuals take action for a fairer world.

To find out more see the One World Week website  or telephone 0118 939 4933.

The charity is sponsored by the members of the Churches World Development Network and is a member of the Development Education Association.