http://www.makepovertyhistory.com.au

What is STAND UP?

STAND UP is a global event to show world leaders that it's time for them to take a stand against poverty.

STAND UP will raise awareness of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), an eight point plan to halve global poverty, and publicly demonstrate the growing global support to Make Poverty History.

STAND UP will send a strong message about ending poverty to the

leaders of the world economy, the G-20, who are meeting in Melbourne in November 2006.

STAND UP coincides with global activities around the International Day of Poverty Eradication. The Make Poverty History coalition is coordinating the event in Australian businesses, schools and churches and internationally it is coordinated by the UN Millennium Campaign.

STAND UP aims to break the official Guinness World Record for the most number of people ever to STAND UP for a cause - be part of it.

When can I STAND UP?

You can STAND UP any time between 8pm AEST Sunday 15th October and 8pm AEST Monday 16th October.

How will STAND UP work?

Before the event

REGISTER your event - email us at mph@acfid.asn.au to tell us aboutthe STAND UP event you are planning. Make sure to include the location, date, time, brief outline of the event, and how many peopleyou expect to STAND UP.

At the event

STAND UP and take the pledge against poverty. Encourage everyone whostood at the event join the campaign to Make Poverty History.

After the event

RECORD how many people stood up at makepovertyhistory.com.au

Wait for the announcement

The STAND UP count will take place from 8pm AEST on October 16. Therecord will be announced by Guinness World Records at 11am AEST on 17 October, in New York. The final numbers will be published online at makepovertyhistory.com.au along with a collection of national and global photographs of the event.

How to STAND UP

Make Poverty History

http://www.worldvision.com.au/seekjustice/article.asp?sectionID=12

What is the best-known campaign in the world?

Make Poverty History.

What’s it all about?

It’s about you. Australians like you joined more than 31 million people from around the world in the global call to action against poverty. Our goal? To halve extreme poverty by 2015. 

Here’s how you can be part of its work in 2006.

1. Sign up, keep up-to-date and help change lives.
2. Wear your White Band. Lost it? Need one for a friend? Order one today!
3. Decipher clues. Race against time. Fill the aidometer and give the treasurer our dream aid package. Yep, you can do all this when you take part in Make Poverty History's Treasurer Hunt held nationally on April 2. Find out more.

What did Make Poverty History do in 2005?

Back in July LIVE 8 rocked the world. The leaders of the world’s richest countries met five days later and promised more than $50 billion more aid each year by 2010. AIDS drugs to all those who need them and care for all AIDS orphans. Debt cancellation for 18 countries.

More than 800,000 Australians wore White Bands in support of Make Poverty History and its goals to increase aid, cancel unpayable debts and ensure that global trade rules are fair.

Tens of thousands Australians sent Make Poverty History postcards to the Prime Minister. Then, he announced that Australia would increase its level of international aid investment to $4 billion by 2010.

What’s the impact of that?

In the next five years alone, this money could save the lives of at least 22,000 children a year in the Asia Pacific region. 33,000 more children could go to school and 6 million more people could have access to safe drinking water.

…This stuff works! Don’t stop! Be part of Make Poverty History in 2006…

Who is involved in Make Poverty History?

In Australia, Make Poverty History is a coalition of over 50 aid agencies including World Vision, as well as churches, community groups and celebrities. Faith based organisations are involved in the related campaign, MICAH Challenge.

The campaign's aim

The Make Poverty History is set to be the biggest push ever to take action on the causes of poverty.

The campaign calls world leaders to honour their commitments to the Millennium Development Goals, an eight-point plan for tackling poverty.

Can we halve poverty by 2015?

Yes.

In 2000, member countries of the United Nations, both rich and poor, committed themselves to achieving the Millennium Development Goals. All 191 countries have agreed.

The MDGs are significant because they do not merely express our aspirations for a better world - they actually are achievable.

Leading economists, including the Director of the UN Millennium Project Jeffery Sachs, have shown that they can be realised by 2015 – if we act now.

What are we asking our Government to do?

Make Poverty History is urging the Australian government to:

• Give more and better overseas aid that focuses on the rights and needs of the world's poorest people
• Advocate for fairer trade to help developing nations help themselves.
• Forgive debt so that poor countries can spend that money on essential services such as health and education

At last, the world has the knowledge and the resources to make poverty history. We even have an agreed global plan. All we need now is the will.

…Buy a White Wrist Band…

http://www.makepovertyhistory.com.au/whiteband.html

https://www.worldvision.com.au/secure/mph_whitebands_form.asp

The symbol of the international campaign is a simple White Band worn around the wrist, your arm - in fact anywhere you like that it can be seen by everyone!

White bands wrapped around your dog, home or any local landmark are a great way to promote the campaign. If you've already wrapped a building, how about wrapping all the trees in a park, or all the lampposts in a street? Make your own white bands out of old sheets or put up posters.

ANYONE who believes in eradicating poverty should wear the White Band. By wearing one you are part of a unique worldwide effort to work towards ending extreme poverty.

Wear the White Band everywhere, every day.

…The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)…

at a glance.....

1.  Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

2.   Achieve universal primary education

3.   Promote gender equality and empower women

4.   Reduce child mortality

5.   Improve maternal health

6.   Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases

7.   Ensure environmental sustainability

8.   Develop a global partnership for development - including through fairer trade, debt relief and better aid.

As an example….

In a world where…..

Over 2.4 billion people lack access to proper sanitation facilities and one billion lack access to drinkable water.  Forests are disappearing at unprecedented rates globally.  MDG 7 aims to ensure environmental sustainability.