Press Release – for immediate release - 16 October 2008

New Zealanders ‘Stand Up and Take Action’ against poverty

Tomorrow, to mark the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, hundreds of New Zealanders will join an estimated 100 million people worldwide to ‘stand up and take action’ against poverty in the developing world.

Mission Green Earth, Stand Up and Take Action will be held in Civic Square from 11.30am-1pm on Friday 17 October. The event − ‘Stand Up’ for short − has been organised by the Art of Living Foundation, in association with the United Nations Millennium Campaign.

‘Stand Up’ is part of a global event programme coordinated by the United Nations Millennium Campaign. The campaign aims to mobilise the public to stand up, take action and influence governments do more to eradicate poverty in the developing world.

‘Stand Up’ will feature music from local reggae band IROOTZ and speeches by MPs Charles Chauvel, Stephen Franks, Sue Kedgley and Keith Locke. The public will have the chance to get up close and personal with politicians when MPs serve up free soup, donated by the Salvation Army, from 11.30am. MPs will serve the soup from the Sallies’ van.

Event organiser Meena Satishkumar says “Because we are less than a month out from a New Zealand general election, people want to hear from candidates − what is their party’s policy on poverty eradication? The speakers should be making these positions clear at ‘Stand Up’”.

“While ‘Stand Up’ will be lively and fun with a vibrant atmosphere − we will be conveying a serious message. The New Zealand Government needs to work harder to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) − eight global poverty eradication targets that world leaders agreed to at the UN Millennium Summit in 2000”, says Ms Satishkumar.

Stand Against Poverty events will take place across five continents on 17-19 October 2008. (see www.standagainstpoverty.org for more details).  Over 100 million people are expected to take part worldwide.

At ‘Stand Up’, Kiwis will take a pledge, read by Charles Chauvel, to help end poverty by 2015.

This event is supported by World Vision, Amnesty International, Save the Children, Council for International Development, The Salvation Army, Trade Aid, Oxfam, Dev-Zone and the Peace Foundation.

‘Stand Up’ will feature colourful and educational stalls where people can learn more about poverty and development, and why these issues are important to people in New Zealand.

“We will also be running a colourful photo petition, where people can have their photo taken whilst holding up a personalised message to be delivered to our leaders” says Ms Satishkumar.

 
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