Make A Stand Against Poverty Here

[Helen]

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.

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.

We are six billion Voices. We want justice now. No more excuses. We will not stand for them.

[Guest]

The village i live in and the family are standing up today

 

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.

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.

We are six billion Voices. We want justice now. No more excuses. We will not stand for them.

 

WE are 18 people today in Zambia. I hope we can all be counted. We have al stood up. I see every day what poverty can do, and i have also seen what debt cancellation can do. Make the stand everyone.

[Steve]

Since comments with pledges were invited, I'd like to say thanks and well done to mundia, for conceiving and driving the online standup.

 

And thanks also to the many guests who visited and made the pledge (as well as FSF members of course!). Especially to those who have visited from Iraq - we hear so much terrible news from your country that knowing you still have the time and energy to think of others is quite remarkable!

 

And now to my pledge:

 

 

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.

 

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.

 

We are six billion Voices. We want justice now. No more excuses. We will not stand for them.

[Guest newcastle]

As part of the generation that demands an end to poverty, I stand up:

- for the 30,000 children killed by poverty today

- to insist that governments keep their promises to the poor

- to reach the Millennium Development Goals and aim even higher

- for action, not excuses

- for justice and equality

I stand up against poverty.

[mundia]

The 'Make a stand against poverty' world record attempt has now come to a close. The FSF official count up (including people who stated that there was more than one person) is 115. A very big thankyou to the 115 people who 'stood up', and joined in the fight to end poverty in this generation.

It was especially great to see people from as far apart as New Zealand, Zambia and Iraq.

If you have news of events in your setting or photos to add then plase continue to add them

here

 

Whilst on the theme of thanks, Id like to thank Steve for agreeing to go greyer overnight, and making this all possible.

 

Well done evryone!