October 16 – 18, millions of people gathered at over 3000 “Stand Up, Take Action, End Poverty Now!” events in more than 120 countries calling for an end to one of the most troubling issues facing mankind – poverty.
This mass gathering of people – 173 million – has been certified by Guinness World Records as the largest mobilization of human beings in recorded history.
The call on governments to eradicate extreme poverty should not come as a surprise as we live in a world with one billion people suffering from hunger; and 500,000 women losing their lives each year as a result of pregnancy and childbirth, many of these deaths which could be prevented.
In Africa, six million children die each year from malnutrition before their fifth birthday, raising a question of what our generation is doing to prevent the deaths of our future leaders.
The gathering at the weekend will serve as a wake-up call for governments take proactive steps against poverty and to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
“The more than 173 million people who mobilized this weekend sent a clear message to world leaders that there is massive, universal, global demand for eradicating poverty and achieving the Millennium Development Goals,” Salil Shetty, Director of the United Nations Millennium Campaign, was quoted as saying on Standagainstpoverty.org.
Sylvia Borren, Co-chair of the Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP), said: “These are the voices of young
people, women and men demanding the eradication of poverty, and new answers to the food, economic and climate crises. We will carry this overwhelming message forward in the weeks and months ahead to influence both the Copenhagen climate discussions and next year’s MDG review.”
The Millennium Development Goals are eight international development goals that 192 United Nations member states and more than 20 international organizations have agreed to achieve by 2015. The goals include reducing extreme poverty, reducing child mortality rates, fighting disease epidemics such as HIV/AIDS, providing universal primary education and developing a global partnership for development.
A statement from United Nations Secretary-General BAN Ki-moon on the Millennium Goals Web site read: “Eradicating extreme poverty continues to be one of the main challenges of our time, and is a major concern of the international community. Ending this scourge will require the combined efforts of all, governments, civil society organizations and the private sector, in the context of a stronger and more effective global partnership for development.”
For more info:
· Guinness World Record Shattered By Citizens Across Globe Demanding That Their Leaders End Poverty
· UNICEF Executive Director Ann Veneman Says “the cycle of intergenerational poverty must end”
· KCS’s Star-Studded “The Black Ball” Benefit Honor Bill Clinton, Richard Branson, Youssou N’Dour
· “We Have Got To Reach Higher Heights,” Congressman Cummings Said At The CBCF “Economic Recovery Forum”
· Maryland State Officials and Business Leaders Gather To Discuss New Business Strategies
· Ross: We Need To View Security As An Investment In Our Mission’s Success
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I want to be part of change… We need to help Mama Africa.