Getting Ready for the MDG Summit

Sphere: Related Content

The main focus of this blog these days has been on attempting to organize a "local" effort, for the truly global effort of the 2010 UN Millennium Campaign whose byline is "This is our year. Let's make it happen."

There seem to be two legs to this effort. One to raise support through the Stand Up Take Action Campaign and the other to address issues through the UN Millennium Campaign. This blog is interested in both efforts

Their main focus is now on the upcoming 'MDG Summit on 20-22 September 2010 in New York' (High-level Plenary Meeting).

The UN General Assembly has decided to convene a 'MDG summit' this September, with the objective to accelerate progress towards all the MDGs by 2015. The summit will review successes, lessons learned, obstacles and gaps, challenges and opportunities, “leading to concrete strategies for action”. [more]

The primary means of doing this is keeping interested civil society stakeholders informed on the latest developments related to the MDG summit process.These are the professionals, people who have made this their life work. You can visit the dedicated website.

Links to U.N. Hearings are provided at this blog's related wiki as information on the themes and participants and respondents taking part in the hearings.As part of the preparatory process for the ‘MDG summit’, the UN General Assembly requested and the President H.E. Dr. Ali Abdussalam Treki convened informal interactive hearings with NGOs, Civil Society and the Private Sector. To assist him in preparing the meeting, the GA President formed a ‘Task Force’ of representatives of civil society and the private sector to advise him on the format and participation at the Hearings. The President of the General Assembly, in close consultation with the Task Force, as well as UN Member States, and using the recent report of the Secretary-General as guidance, established specific themes and selected speakers for these four sessions.

Earlier this month the professionals or civil society organisations were given an opportunity to have their say at the Hearings of the General Assembly – a part of the official process - that convened from 14-15 June 2010 in New York. Links to U.N. Hearings are provided at this blog's related wiki, as is information on the four themes with links on either the participants and respondents taking part in the hearings or the organizations with which they work. The four themes are an attempt to highlight key aspects of the Millennium Declaration and the MDGs, while also emphasizing the interrelated nature of the MDGs and the international development agenda more broadly.

Milestones for a New Millennium

• New Page June 14 and 15 UN Informal Hearing on the Millennium Development Goals
• New Page Participants and Respondents at 14 thru 15 June Informal Hearing on the MDGs

The Stand Up Take Action Campaign is implementing the on-the-street (and on the web) activism, whether those streets be dirt, paved or virtual, around the world-wide efforts.

A tremendous amount of effort by the UN Millennium Campaign is being made through numerous organizations and it is an effort to get one's head around the scope of this truly world-wide effort.

It still does not seem though that the Stand Up advocacy efforts are as well focused or are as near to reaching a tipping point needed to go beyond last year's impact even. Though understandably it is still all coming together and a great deal is going on at the various related websites and on Facebook. They have now have modified the landing page for the newsletter for 2010. I am still waiting for them to have sign-ups for online 2010 events and not just the 2009 widget.

Here are some more resources, I am still endeavoring to find the best way to organize all of this.

• ‘Keeping the Promise’; UN Secretary-General Releases His MDG Report
• 2010 High-level Plenary Meeting Modalities Resolution
• 2005 World Summit Outcome
• MDG Targets and Indicators
• UN Gateway on the MDGs

For a closer look at the numbers

Sphere: Related Content

Still more from the Stand Up event from two weeks ago. While I was able to participate online in the event, I was not able to follow up in a timely manner due to real life/day job demands. Part of me simply wants to move on to other issues, but some review needs to be made to make sense of things.

This also came from the Stand Up End Poverty organization giving a wrap up of the events impact. They put a nice spin on the outcome, which is to be understood. There is however the concern that this campaign is beginning to plateau. A basically 50% increase is impressive, but there were exponential increases in past years. There is mention of North America sharing in the largest percentage increase, but if the number starts small that is not a high hurdle to get over. My point is not to cease the efforts, but rather start concentrating on increasing overall numbers work on strengthen the connections that have been made.

GUINNESS WORLD RECORD SHATTERED BY CITIZENS ACROSS GLOBE DEMANDING THAT THEIR LEADERS END POVERTY

More than 173 Million People Gather at "Stand Up, Take Action, End Poverty Now!" events, setting new world record for largest mobilization in history

A Guinness World Record shattered [this weekend] when 173,045,325 citizens gathered at over 3,000 events in more than 120 countries, demanding that their governments eradicate extreme poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). "Stand Up, Take Action, End Poverty Now!", now in its fourth year, has been certified by Guinness World Records as the largest mobilization of human beings in recorded history, an increase of about 57 million people over last year.

"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," said Salil Shetty, Director of the United Nations Millennium Campaign. "In particular, we have seen citizens determined to show their governments that they will hold them accountable for keeping their promises to end hunger, improve maternal health and abolish trade-distorting agricultural subsidies. They will not accept excuses for breaking promises to the world's poorest and most vulnerable people, who have already been hardest hit by the global food, economic and climate crises they had no role in causing."

The numbers from around the world:

• Asia 101,106,845
• Africa 37,848,412
• Arab region 31,394,459
• Europe 2,102,121
  
• Latin America 229,371
• North America 191,535
• Oceania 172,582

The mobilization was organized globally by the United Nations Millennium Campaign, in partnership with a range of organizations including the Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP).

For a closer look at the numbers

Asia and Africa, which is where the largest numbers of poor people reside, continue to be the two regions where the maximum number of people Stand Up for the MDGs. Asia saw the biggest increase in absolute numbers and Europe, the Arab Region, North America and Africa saw the biggest increase in percentage growth.

The top two countries in terms of numbers mobilised this year are Philippines and Bangladesh, with Philippines continuing to mobilise in force despite the typhoons and devastating floods.

India and Nepal showed big jumps in spite of the dates clashing with Diwali and 3 million Indonesians joined the Stand Up mobilization even as the country was reeling from a major earthquake.

The mobilization in Africa this year was simply spectacular, Nigeria is still numero uno with huge increases in Ethiopia, Uganda, Ghana, Kenya and several other countries.

And in the Arab region, Egypt saw a massive jump again, Yemen entered the mobilization in a big way.

GET YOUR OFFICIAL STAND UP WORLD RECORD CERTIFICATE!

GET IT NOW >

SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE

Tell us how you stood up and took action to end poverty

Tell your story now >

VIDEOS, PHOTOS, FACEBOOK

Watch videos, see photos and connect with Stand Up from all over the world

• Watch videos >
• See photos >
• Connect on Facebook >

Thank You for Standing Up

Sphere: Related Content

My real life/day job has been heating up lately, so I missed out on blogging about the October 24th 350.org events or any follow up after the October 16 thru 18 Stand Up event though I did get to participate on line this year. This is a part-time amateur effort so one does what one can. This is what the folks at Stand Up sent me after the event.

The global people's movement for the MDGs is stronger than ever, over 173 million people have answered the call - you made it happen!

Dear Fellow Campaigners,

Your passion, commitment and determination have once again inspired a global movement which continues to grow beyond all expectations. You stood up in your cities, towns and villages, in your churches, mosques and temples; you stood in your colleges, schools and homes, on town squares and street sidewalks, you stood together as a global community, not only to shatter the Guinness World record but also to send a powerful message to leaders at the local, national and global level which cannot now be ignored:

"We are more determined than ever to see the Millennium Development Goals become a reality and to end poverty now!"

We know from experience that a significant proportion of activities and events do not get registered in time as many of them take place in remote rural locations with limited internet connectivity. Despite these constraints, over 3000 events spread across 121 countries were registered and more information on the scale of this mobilisation continues to flood in through phone calls, text messages and faxes! More details are at the bottom of this email and on the website www.standagainstpoverty.org.

On behalf of the United Nations Millennium Campaign (www.endpoverty2015.org) I want to thank every one of the thousands of organisers across the world at the local and national levels - social movements, faith groups, NGOs, youth organisations, women's groups, trade unions, civil society coalitions campaigning for the MDGs, local and national governments and the even larger number of volunteers, local groups and individual citizens who made this year's Stand Up and Take Action a resounding success.

We also want to thank the UN system at all levels as well as many of our global partners including the Global Call to Action Against Poverty, Art of Living Foundation, Micah Challenge, Skype, UStream, the ONE Campaign, major media partners at the global and national levels and so many others who played a pivotal role in this unprecedented mobilisation.

Together we have the power to make a difference ...

Now in its fourth year, we have seen the impact that Stand Up is making in people's lives and improving the MDG policies and practises of governments. Providing the space and platforms for ordinary citizens to have their voices heard on issues that matter to them at the national and local level. In both rich and poor countries, citizens have come together, to put the priorities of the poor and excluded groups, firmly on the political agenda and get their own governments to address them. Once again an overwhelming majority of the people who stood up were from poor countries. And as their voices grow louder, they can no longer be ignored. The sharp focus on women's rights, hunger and maternal health (in poor countries) and the elimination of trade-distorting agricultural subsidies (in rich countries) and the specific targeting of Parliamentarians made the Stand Up 2009 messaging more impactful. An outstanding example was the leadership of the Speaker of the All-Party Parliamentary Group in Bangladesh which mobilised citizens in large numbers and joined the Prime Minister in taking an oath to achieve the MDGs by 2015.

We will continue to Stand Up every day until promises to end poverty and achieve the Millennium Goals are delivered ...

Next year in September, world leaders will gather at the UN to review progress on the MDGs. With the strength of over 173 million people telling their leaders that their commitments are being closely monitored, we will take this commitment to those decision makers with renewed energy to convert the strength of these numbers into concrete policy and practice changes in our own local and national contexts. We challenge Heads of State to come to the 2010 MDG Review Summit not just with generalised statements of intent but concrete national action plans for MDG implementation that are focussed on the rights of the poor and excluded, particularly women, to meet the 2015 deadline.

To us, Stand Up once again showed the power of the MDGs in really unifying the different parts of the UN for one common cause and the extent to which the MDGs and the UN system enjoy the confidence of the public at large.

Warmest wishes and once again congratulations on this massive show of people power against poverty and inequality. I hope you will closely follow up with all the partners, organisations and individuals that you helped to mobilise and inspire them further to join our on-going campaign for the MDGs from now to 2015.

Warmest wishes

Salil Shetty

Director

Millennium Campaign

United Nations

salil.shetty@undp.org

Copyright © 2009

Some Speak Out to End Poverty Now Some Sing!

Sphere: Related Content

When I learned about these "Stand Up" concert events being planned, I decided to grab some YouTube videos to give a taste for those of us participating online:

In Nairobi, Kenya, they held the anti- hunger concert dubbed Free the Hungry Billion, Stand Up and Take Action, bringing together development-conscious musicians from across the African continent, including

Oliver Mutukudzi (Zimbabwe),

Susan Owiyo (Kenya)

Professor Jay (Tanzania)

Didier Awadi (Senegal)

Ntsiki Mazwai (South Africa)

Carlou D (Senegal)

Nameless (Kenya)

and Wahu (Kenya) Video .

Food donations will be collected from attendees.

In Nigeria, thousands of people attended various concerts over the three-day mobilization by performers including

Sarah Mitaru
Sarah Mitaru - Stop The War

Francis | MySpace Video

and Femi Kuti,

who will honor the life and work of renowned African musician/AIDS activist Fela Kuti.

The performers will explore the MDGs and the issues of social injustice, exclusion and poverty through song and dance. They will also sign a petition demanding accountability and transparency in their governments in order to achieve the MDGs.

Voices from across the globe call out to End Poverty Now!

Sphere: Related Content

Citizens attempt to break another Guinness World Record by showing their governments they won't stand for broken promises to world's poorest. Here are some voices from around the globe.

This is the last day of the Stand Up Take Action End Poverty campaign. Here are some of the voices that have spoken up at BloggersUnite for Stand Up Take Action End Poverty Now!

Hal786 is a Muslim girl from the United Kingdom. My introduction to her was through my other blog at Blogging about Hardship to Ease and Other Paths Showing the Way From Hardship to Ease. Her perspective on Stand Up Take Action End Poverty Now!

In Islam, we believe that giving money to charity is a very blessed action. Muslims believe that there are 3 actions in this world which will grant us rewards even in the grave!! Yes, that’s right, 3 things which you will be blessed for, given rewards by God for even when you are dead. One of the things is giving money to charity. ‘Ongoing charity’ .

From asimplicity of [small.simple.life] we got Stand Up Now Against Poverty and Inequality.

Connect with your fellow humans on a global scale and let it be known that we care, we know and that we want an end to poverty and inequality. Change can be achieved!!!

More ways to Take action against poverty from Moansters Incorporated

Small actions can make a big difference, so choose yours and take a step to making poverty a thing of the past. Because poverty is not just being too poor to buy a glow-in-the-dark bat, or a pumpkin-shaped candy bucket.

I already introduced two bloggers from the Philippines in my post Today is the Day Stand Up and Be Counted to support World Food Day and End Poverty! One post from Ang Sa Wari Ko who wrote Ang silbi ng 45 pesos at ang isyu ng kahirapan [English Translation]

Since 2004 data provided to me by UNDP and until now 33% from the population of the Philippines is experiencing they call extreme poverty in which they budget in one day is less than 1 Dollar or 45 pesos to the money we .That the only standing only value is specific for only a few pieces of noodles, rice and half papaladin are there with a few pieces of dry, eggs and soap depends also how to budget it, but how the pagsisiksikin these needs if the family that bu-budget are less than five members?

The other from 2Rivers who wrote Can We End Poverty In Our Generation.

Imagine yourself living in an isolated village surrounded by barren fields and wilted crops, with the seasons bringing nothing but drought and mosquitoes carrying malaria.“This is a story about ending poverty in our time,” says Jeffrey D. Sachs, director of the U. N. Millennium Project, in his landmark The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities For Our Time. “More then 8 million people around the world die each year because they are too poor to stay alive.”

It’s time to end this madness. Here’s how.

I will leave the last words to those who have helped lead this campaign with a few links added.

"With just six years left until the deadline by which heads of state have pledged to eradicate extreme poverty and its root causes, 'Stand Up' will be a stark reminder that citizens will not accept excuses for governments breaking promises to the world's poorest and most vulnerable citizens," said Salil Shetty, Director of the United Nations Millennium Campaign.

"This year's mobilization will place particular emphasis on telling world leaders that their track record on women's rights, maternal mortality and hunger is unacceptable. Citizens refuse to accept the fact that 70 percent of the people living in poverty are women and children [ENDING POVERTY—Why Empower Women and Girls? pdf] and 500,000 women continue to die annually in the process of giving life, and they are demanding urgent action from their leaders.

"Millions of people are standing up against poverty, while politicians are sitting on their hands," said Adelaide Sosseh, Co-Chair of the Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) based in The Gambia. "The combined effects of the economic, climate and food crises are affecting people of all ages and stations in life, in all countries - especially women -- but those already living in poverty are the hardest hit. Given the amounts found to bail out banks in just a year, we know the resources are not lacking. It´s this lack of political will to tackle poverty that remains the biggest motivation behind Stand Up participation."

People can still Stand Up virtually and be counted towards what organizers hope will be a new Guinness World Record by clicking on the Stand Up Now button in the Today Stand Up and Be Counted widget in the right hand column of this blog.

TO DO FOR THE DAY - EVENT ORGANIZERS – ITS TIME TO ADD YOUR COUNTS

Sphere: Related Content

This morning I woke up and checked my email and saw the email from Stand Against Poverty. Today is the last day to make statement about ending poverty on our planet and more importantly to let everybody know about it by submitting the numbers. The most elaborate and heartfelt demonstrations don't mean anything if they don't get counted. The online event BloggersUnite for Stand Up Take Action End Poverty Now! has 6 bloggers submitting so far including me, more on that in another post. I have reminded everyone that they need to submit before 5 pm Pacific Time or 4 pm to be safe. Anybody who did not get around to writing a post can still be counted by clicking on the Stand Up Now! button at the right hand column of this blog or by going to http://standagainstpoverty.org/.

EVENT ORGANIZERS - ITS TIME TO ADD YOUR COUNTS.

Attention Stand Up Organizers,

There is just one day left in the global event to end poverty now. People of all walks of life and in all corners of the globe are standing up, taking action and demanding governments do what is necessary to put an end to poverty in our lifetime.

We noticed that you have not added your counts yet.

As this global action is officially counted by the Guinness Book of world records, it is crucial as a show of momentum, that each and everyone of us who has hosted an event completes our registration forms before the deadline of 23:59 on Oct. 18th.

TO ADD COUNTS:

1) Just login to http://standagainstpoverty.org/user/register

2) Click on each of your events

3) Click the edit tab

4) Go to step 5 of the event registration process

5) Add your counts and hit save. YOU ARE DONE!

If you have completed an event but have not registered yet, or were having any problems with previous numbers submission, then you may use this one time simple form here: http://standagainstpoverty.org/content/alternative-event-numbers-form

Thanks for taking part in this momentous event to end poverty!

The Stand Up Take Action Team

www.StandAgainstPoverty.org

Speaking Out Against Poverty For the Young By the Young

Sphere: Related Content

Today is the second day for Stand Up End Poverty! and for another two BloggersUnite events that reflect the purpose of the day, the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty and Stand Up Against Corruption and Poverty. All three strive to meet the same challenge, but take different pathways. Besides having the struggle against poverty as their primary focus, they are all related to the United Nations. What they demonstrate is that there is more than one pathway to the same destination. The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 2009 is giving voice as CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SPEAK OUT AGAINST POVERTY.

In recognition of the upcoming 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child the 2009 observance of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty focuses on the plight of children and families living in poverty and the need to fulfill children's rights in partnership with them and in keeping with the Convention.

The pathways, however, have a tendency to cross and converge. This Facebook sponsored cause the Power of Dignity features the following video.

This is the same video that inspired me start along this pathway more than a year ago when the goal was to go over 100 Million For The Millenium Goals. We surpassed that goal and now are trying for a new record. I have learned a good deal more and made a number of connections since then, including a number on Facebook.

Facebook sponsors many pages for causes like the Power of Dignity, which are created by organizations such as SustainUS: U.S. Youth for Sustainable Development. As the World Wide Web is the territory of the Millenniums, it only makes sense that the presence of the young would be strongly felt in these efforts.

SustainUS is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization of young people advancing sustainable development and youth empowerment in the United States. Through proactive education and advocacy at the policy-making and grassroots levels, we are building a future in which all people recognize the inherent equality and interdependence of social, economic, and environmental sustainability.

Here is a Facebook cause to which I do belong.

UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

Bulletin Posted by Seth Werfel

U.S. foreign aid has not undergone serious reform since 1961. Sign the petition to ensure poverty reduction and that the Millennium Development Goals are core objectives of U.S. foreign aid. It takes 30 seconds! Please pass along to friends, this is a grassroots campaign. From the petition site.

Tell Congress to prioritize extreme poverty in U.S. foreign assistance.

Before signing an online postcard to Congress, please visit the links generously shared by RESULTS to learn more about foreign aid reform and the UN Millennium Development Goals and visit this link to learn more about the S. 1524, the Foreign Assistance Revitalization and Accountability Act, which can bring the needed reform.

Today is the Day Stand Up and Be Counted to support World Food Day and End Poverty!

Sphere: Related Content

The moment has finally arrived. The Stand Up Take Action global event has officially begun. So began the message that greeted me this morning. This blog is part of the Online Campaign of Stand Up Take Action Now! at BloggersUnite for Stand Up Take Action End Poverty Now! There are already two posts from the Philippines at the Bloggers Unite event created especially for this cause. You want to start there if you want to contribute a blog post to this effort. One post from Ang Sa Wari Ko Stand Up and Take Actions Now! Ang silbi ng 45 pesos at ang isyu ng kahirapan [English Translation] and the other from 2Rivers Can We End Poverty In Our Generation. I will post others as they come in.

The challenge has been stated by World Hunger Notes.

• The world produces enough food to feed everyone.
  
• Poverty is the principal cause of hunger.
• An estimated 982 million poor people in developing countries who live on $1 a day or less (World Bank, Understanding Poverty, Chen 2004).
  
• Conflict as a cause of hunger and poverty.
  
• Hunger is also a cause of poverty.

Today is also World Food Day, which is also being celebrated by BloggersUnite. The FAO or Food & Agricultural Organization of the United Nations is one of the primary global organizations addressing this issue.

The Objective: World Food Day is annually held on Oct. 16 to commemorate the founding of the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

One concern of paramount importance today in order to achieve Millennium Development Goal 1. End Hunger is FAO Reform:

In November 2007, the Conference welcomed the report of the Independent External Evaluation of FAO (IEE) and passed a resolution on the Follow-up to the IEE. This included the establishment of a time-bound Committee of the Conference (CoC-IEE), open to all FAO Members, and tasked with preparing proposals for an immediate plan of action to be considered by a Special Session of the Conference in the latter part of 2008. Based on the work of the CoC-IEE, the Special Session of the Conference adopted Resolution 1/2008: the Immediate Plan of Action for FAO Renewal and extended the CoC-IEE to further develop outstanding aspects of follow-up and report to the FAO Conference in 2009.

Here are some ways of getting involved with FAO's mission. It is of particular concern to the UN MILLENNIUM CAMPAIGN's to get the G20 to address this need in the current economic crisis, despite the valiant $42.6 million, three-year immediate plan of action by the FAO in November of 2008. These two efforts seem to be different sides of the same coin. One appealing to primarily the emotions of others and their capacity for compassion and collaboration, the other appealing to science, technology, and management skill sets. My natural tendency is to discount "showboat" demonstrations and focus on "hard nose" numbers and demonstrable programs, but I now believe that there is an important role to be filled in getting others to be part of this effort on an emotional level as well. We can't all be experts, but if we can't get most of the people in the world to care at some basic level, no matter how many campaigns FAO tries to put together it won't End Poverty! Below are some past posts dealing with the FAO.

• Making Hope Last Longer Than Hunger
• FAO not Schwartz part 1 - Global Plan of Action Addresses a Global Challenge Hunger

New Stand Up Video Launches!

Sphere: Related Content

New Stand Up Video Launches

"You Can End Poverty", launched on YouTube this week, focuses on a powerful truth: We are the first generation with the power to end poverty. Each one of us holds tremendous power to effect real change like never before. Our collective mobilization can send a clear message to world governments that we refuse to be silent in the face of ongoing poverty and inequality. We can achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals and end poverty 2015. Learn how we can do it.

Checklist for Stand Up Organizers - an online version

Sphere: Related Content

As of the writing of this post there are 5 day 16 hours and some minutes and seconds left until the Stand Up Take Action event.

This blog is leading a registered Online Stand Up event through BloggersUnite for Stand Up Take Action End Poverty Now!! There are, according to the organizers, over 135 events registered in Canada and the United States, with more being planned every day throughout the world. That makes this blog a small voice in a global movement to raise our collective voice against hunger and poverty -- and break another Guinness World Record for the event (October 16, 17 and 18). Even though this is an online event, I still checked out the advice on planning the event.

PLANNING YOUR EVENT: As my main connection with this effort is through this blog, it made sense to start my own online event and see if I could get people to participate virtually. One piece of advice was to promote your event across your networks and encourage others to participate. I have done this through my Facebook page, my Ning account at United Actions Global Network, and the Orkut page which I help moderate and which recently got changed to Let's Facebhookh (a globally inspired play on words). It also suggested that I find materials at the "Event Center" at www.standagainstpoverty.org and provide their brochure for study, translation and make it available for print. The Google translator connected with this blog makes translation easy.

DURING COUNT AND CAPTURE YOUR EVENT: Counting should be easy as so far 7 people are participating in this online event. In my case it is more symbolic than physical bringing up issues of slacktivism, but as people could participate by simply clicking the widget and I have basically accepted my slacktivistic status, I won't worry about that. The organizers also want to ensure that we have a witness who is independent to verify the event. In my case, that should not be a problem as this is online and therefore easily verifiable and part of BloggersUnite.

They also want to make special NOTE that Stand Up and Take Action events or in our case blog posts should only happen from October 16 to October 18 to count towards the Guinness World Record challenge. Now comes the part were bloggers should shine. Tell us your stories! No matter how large or small your event is, we want to hear from you. Tell us how Stand Up is making a difference in your life (e.g., how you met new community members; what motivates you to work on poverty issues, etc.). The want us to document our stories at: http://standagainstpoverty.org/stories

AFTER REPORT YOUR EVENT: They want the numbers reported at www.standagainstpoverty.org as soon as possible, actually immediately, but as this is online blog posts or widget clicks (the height of slacktivism, but they still count) are due in by Monday 5:00 am Pacific time, which is where I live.

Here is a bonus that they provided Get the Stand Up iPhone App!

The Stand Up iPhone application is now available for FREE. It allows iPhone users to see a countdown to the event and take part in our online Stand Up. See: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=330103926&mt=8

Register for Stand Against Poverty! October 16-18

Sphere: Related Content

This is straight from the Stand Up Take Action End Poverty center. The online event I registered at the Stand Up site is here BloggersUnite for Stand Up Take Action End Poverty Now! The BloggersUnite event that I set up is BloggersUnite for Stand Up Take Action End Poverty Now!

.

STAND WITH US - REGISTER NOW!

On October 16, 17 and 18th, millions of people around the world will "Stand Up and Take Action" against poverty and for the Millennium Development Goals. The mobilization will send a clear message to world leaders that we refuse to be silent in the face of ongoing poverty and inequality. Stand Up & Take Action, coordinated by the UN Millennium Campaign and the Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP), is a global event in which citizens urge their leaders to keep their promises to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

We heard from organizers around the world about the many Stand Up events planned. These events include concerts, silent vigils, tree plantings, campus rallies and many more creative event ideas. Last year 116 million people participated, breaking the Guinness World Record for the largest mobilization around a single-cause event in recorded history.

NEW WEBSITE WWW.STANDAGAINSTPOVERTY.ORG:

The relaunched Stand Up Website has a number of interactive and inspiring features, such as a STAND UP MAP showcasing events happening around the world, powerful personal stories from people whose lives Stand Up has motivated and influenced positively and an EVENT CENTER where you can download design prints such as banners, posters, buttons, T-Shirts, logos and brochures in different languages.

ORGANIZING AN EVENT:

If you would like to organize a Stand Up event, just register at www.standagainstpoverty.org and describe your event - large or small. In order to be counted for the Guinness World Record, remember to report back after your event, the number of people who participated. Your event has to take place between October 16 -18 2009 and you have time to upload the number of participants until Sunday October 18, 23:59, your local time zone. Please make sure to take photos and videos of your event, and upload it to the website in order for your event to be featured.

To find a "Stand Up" event close to you, visit the website and click on "STAND UP MAP" and you'll find a global map with events in your area. If you can't join a "Stand Up" event in person, you can participate virtually from October 16 - 18, 2009 by going to the website and clicking register-just like you would for any other event. Once you verify your email, just check the box that says "Online event" in Step One of the Event registration process. At the end of the registration, you'll get an embed code to use on your website. That's it!

Be a part of the global movement to end poverty - STAND WITH US!

www.standagainstpoverty.org

Copyright © 2009

BloggersUnite for Stand Up Take Action End Poverty Now!

Sphere: Related Content

As of this writing the Stand Up Take Action End Poverty Now! Global Event is less than 17 days 20 hours and 16 minutes and some seconds away. For more information on this important event see the right hand column of this blog.

Finally got registered at the Home Page | Stand Against Poverty Take Action End Poverty Now! site and submitted the Bloggers Unite event created especially for this cause.

Here is the event at the Stand Up site. BloggersUnite for Stand Up Take Action End Poverty Now!. The widget they provided takes you to additional information and has an e-mail reminder.

So far there are 5 bloggers, besides myself participating, but I hope for more. I will also be blogging for other similar events going on at the same time - World Food Day , The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty and Stand Up Against Corruption and Poverty. This way I and anybody else can get at least twice the bang for their posts. The more people that participate, by whatever means, the more the United Nations Millennium Campaign gets to count.

Anybody who wants to needs to part of BloggersUnite.

Here is a Map showing where other Stand Up events across the globe will be going on.

Take a Stand Against Poverty by Investing in Women to Save the World

Sphere: Related Content

This year's actions taking a stand against poverty are also focusing on women's issues. According to the Stand Up and Take Action event on 16 taking place through 18 October 2009.

This year, Stand Up will once again provide an energetic, high impact platform for people to raise the profile of MDG- related issues relevant to their region, country or community. However, this year Stand Up will begin on October 16th, World Food Day, and on this one day the focus on food security and on hunger will be greater. As always, the policy demands will be determined at the national and local levels by participants. But in recognition of the fact that many of the MDGs directly linked to the status of women are not doing well, campaigners are encouraged to give this year’s Stand Up a clear focus on holding governments accountable for improving the status of women and their rights.

In honor of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty on October 17, CARE is encouraging us to stand in solidarity with poor and marginalized women around the world.

Two steps, first:

VOICE YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE
ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN

In July, a large bipartisan group of senators introduced the GROWTH (Global Resources and Opportunities for Women to Thrive) Act; if passed, it will revolutionize the way U.S. foreign aid is directed.

The GROWTH Act promotes the economic empowerment of women and proposes concrete steps that the United States can take to play a positive role in improving the lives of the world's poorest women and their families. In short, this bill will create a chance to lift up the 1 billion people in the world who live on less than a $1.25 a day.

Please join by sending a personalized messageto your own senators.

Step two, learn more by reading:

"Half the Sky" shares poignant tales of women's struggles and triumphs in the face of poverty and discrimination. Through the compelling stories, the authors brilliantly illustrate the connections between women's empowerment and social and economic progress.

The work of Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn has been featured in the New York Times.

Investing in women to save the world

Half the work force of many developing nations is marginalized because of their gender, write Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. Yet microfinance lenders and other nonprofits are hoping to change that by focusing their efforts on women, helping them start businesses and receive education that can transform their whole communities. The New York Times, (8/17)

Start a conversation with your book club, women's group, alumni chapter or family and friends about the challenges and opportunities women and girls face, or particpate in a blogging action with BloggersUnite with STAND UP and TAKE ACTION against Poverty and The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty and take action together with CARE!

Check out "2009 Stand Up Take Action is next month" on United Actions Global Network

Sphere: Related Content

I am still trying to get the word out about the Stand Up Take Action Against Poverty Event on October 16th, 2009 through various online communities. One of the online communities that I have become involved with through my FaceBook page is the Ning Social Group

United Actions Global Network Don't wait for solutions; create them Brian Dowling Check out '2009 Stand Up Take Action is next month' Link: 2009 Stand Up Take Action is next month About United Actions Global Network Connect to United Actions Global Network and shape our world for our generation and for the generations to come. 271 members 105 photos 76 songs 27 videos 11 discussions 60 blog posts

Here is an invite to both the group and the event.

Brian Dowling Brian Dowling has invited you to the event 'Stand Up Take Action Against Poverty' on United Actions Global Network! Check out "Stand Up Take Action Against Poverty" on United Actions Global Network Brian Dowling Time: October 16, 2009 at 6pm to October 18, 2009 at 7pm Location: World Wide Organized By: United Nations Millennium Campaign Event Description: This year on October 16, 17 and 18 help break the record yet again and send a LOUDER message than ever - Achieve the Millennium Developments Goals by 2015. See more details and RSVP on United Actions Global Network: http://unitedactions.ning.com/events/event/show?id=2932281%3AEvent%3A6502&xgi=2eYlkqhYW0QW4w About United Actions Global Network Connect to United Actions Global Network and shape our world for our generation and for the generations to come. 271 members 105 photos 76 songs 27 videos 10 discussions 60 blog posts

Sphere: Related Content

Upcoming Stand Up Events

Here is more on what is happening around the world re-blogged from an United Nations Millennium Campaign email.

With less than 40 days left until "Stand Up, Take Action, End Poverty Now" in 2009, the excitement and energy behind this global anti-poverty movement is building rapidly. From Uganda to Canada and Poland to Nepal, people all over the world are sharing their stories and creativity with us, telling us about the incredible events that they have planned for "Stand Up" this year.

World leaders will hear the "Stand Up" pledge echoing from the highest point in the world when anti-poverty campaigners climb to the top of Mount Everest. Some incredible people in Nepal are planning this high-profile mobilization. In neighboring India, there are plans to host a creative writing competition around "Stand Up" for young people in Patna. A short boat ride across the Indian Ocean in Uganda, there are plans to host 5,000 students at a public debate about the MDGs -- along with a music concert with gospel singers and prominent speakers at an event for over 15,000 people. Continents away in Edmonton, Canada, a very enthusiastic group of college students are coordinating a campus-wide initiative wrapping hundreds of trees in white 'Make Poverty History' bands and with their University President delivering the "Stand Up" pledge. A member of the Canadian parliament will speak at the event on behalf of the Canadian Government. Down south in sunny California, 1,200 people are ready to parade onto a soccer field where they intend to form a large peace sign with their bodies prior to 'Standing Up'. This will be followed by a number of youngsters staging a Kite Fair (based on the book The Kite Runner) to raise funds for impoverished students in Afghanistan and in support of women entrepreneurs in Guatemala. In Europe, an MDG lecture series at colleges will lead up to two prominent Polish musicians taking the stage in Warsaw to anchor a large "Stand Up" event.

Stand Up events and actions are coming to us from all over the world in all shapes, colors and sizes. Share your ideas and plans with us. Let us know how you are doing your part to call out to politicians and ask them to bring an end to extreme poverty. Find out more on www.standagainstpoverty.org.

Update on UN Millennium Campaign Newsletter - STAND UP special

Sphere: Related Content

I am reblogging some of the latest information from the United Nations Millennium Campaign.

Last year, more than 116 million people - nearly two percent of the people on earth - participated in "Stand Up and Take Action" at events around the globe to demand that world leaders keep their promises to end poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. The MDGs are a set of 8 goals to eradicate extreme poverty and its root causes that 189 world leaders pledged to achieve in the year 2000.

After breaking the Guinness World Record for the largest mobilization of human beings in recorded history last year, we plan to make "Stand Up, Take Action, End Poverty Now" bigger and better than ever before this year. Nearly 2% of the world's population stood with us in 2008, and with your continued help and support we can grow that figure.

Today we are launching a brand new and very exciting "Stand Up, Take Action, End Poverty Now" song and video.

Other Blogging Efforts For the Same Cause Ending Poverty

Sphere: Related Content

Now that the Millennium Milestones Wiki is finished, I am going to start to focus on another project related to this effort and that is working with

I have participated in their blogging events before, but this is the first time that I have tried to promote a BloggersUnite event myself in support of the Stand Up Take Action End Poverty Now! campaign. I have to admit that so far the participation is limited to only two other bloggers (who are greatly appreciated).

Part of the problem may be competition. Seems that October is the month of actions against poverty and hunger. Below are other BloggersUnite actions taking place in October of this year. I have decided to take "the-more-the-merry" approach to this, figuring we are all supporting the same basic cause and have joined up with each. I have also included them on the calendar at the Milestones for a New Millennium wiki. My hope is that people participating in each of the events will take the same approach.

• World Food Day

• World Food Day is annually held on Oct. 16 to commemorate the founding of the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

• International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

• Wherever men and women are condemned to live in extreme poverty, human rights are violated.

• Up Against Corruption and Poverty

• To Support the Millennium Development Goals

Of course another part of the problem is that I have not done a good enough job of promoting the event on BloggersUnite or other venues. That will be one the the next things on my to-do list to support the Millennium Development Goals.

Related (Somewhat) Posts:

• Making Hope Last Longer Than Hunger
• Refugees Across the Globe - A Millennium Problem
• FAO not Schwartz part 1 - Global Plan of Action Addresses a Global Challenge Hunger
• FAO not Schwartz part 2- Opposing Pathways to Ending World Hunger and Malnutrition
• FAO not Schwartz part 3 - A World Tragedy Too Long

From the Millennium Campaign: ECONOMIC CRISIS IMMINENTLY THREATENS ECONOMIC SURVIVAL OF POOR COUNTRIES

Sphere: Related Content

This is basically a complete re-blog of a post emailed to me by the UN Millennium Campaign Newsletter. I have inserted some additional links.

UN Millennium Campaign Newsletter

ECONOMIC CRISIS IMMINENTLY THREATENS ECONOMIC SURVIVAL OF POOR COUNTRIES

Ahead of G-8 summit, United Nations Millennium Campaign warns that developing countries will be forced to slash desperately-needed expenditures for the poor; Campaign calls on G-8 leaders to urgently provide financial resources to poor countries

The United Nations Millennium Campaign is warning that the ongoing economic crisis is likely to bring the economies of many developing countries to the brink of collapse and threatens the very survival of their citizens. According to the African Development Bank, countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Kenya could run out of foreign reserves to purchase goods necessary for survival in a matter of weeks. At the same time, countries including Laos, Senegal, Uganda, Cape Verde and Sudan are cutting expenditures on poverty alleviation for desperately poor citizens. Experts predict that spending on core development, including the Millennium Development Goals, could decline by $200 billion as a result of the crisis.

"When world leaders break a promise, it is a sin - but when governments break a promise to the poorest people on the planet, it is nothing short of a crime," said Salil Shetty, Director of the United Nations Millennium Campaign. "All over Africa and Asia, governments might have no option but to cut expenditure which the poor need to survive. Given that leaders of rich countries have found $18 trillion to bail out financial institutions over the past year - nine times more money than they have given in aid over the past 49 years - we know that finding financial resources is possible if the political will is there. G-8 leaders must not turn their backs on the world's most vulnerable in L'Aquila."

G-8 leaders must urgently announce timetables for meeting their existing aid commitments. The UN Millennium Campaign is also calling for new resources tailored to address the challenges caused by the economic crisis. These sources must be additional to existing commitments and must not come with conditions which hamper effectiveness or increase indebtedness.

The quality of aid must also improve. Earmarking aid runs counter to the agreed aid effectiveness agenda; donors should be aligning their aid with developing countries' priorities and programs.

Finally, the majority of the world's poor live in rural areas and depend on agriculture. Rich countries continue to spend exhorbitant amounts of money to subsidize the agricultural products of their own farmers, at the expense of farmers in poor countries with no other means of subsistence. This practice must stop.

Specifically, the UN Millennium Campaign is calling on G-8 leaders to:
• Announce transparent and predictable timetables for the delivery of aid committed at Gleneagles in 2005, clearly spelling out precise schedules of annual increases for each country.
• Provide additional financial resources to poor countries - not repackaging of existing commitments -- which do not increase their indebtedness or contain harmful conditions.
• Issue a moratorium on debt repayments from poor countries.
• Improve aid quality and avoid earmarking aid for specific purposes, as this is counter to the principle of aid effectiveness and does not allow countries to define their own priorities.
• Immediately eliminate trade-distorting agricultural and export subsidies, given that existing trade tariffs make it difficult for poor countries to compete and the economic crisis has further reduced their export markets.

Visit our online special at www.endpoverty2015.org

About the Campaign
The UN Millennium Campaign was established by the UN Secretary General in 2002. The Campaign supports citizens' efforts to hold their governments to account for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. The Millennium Development Goals were adopted by 189 world leaders from the north and south, as part of the Millennium Declaration which was signed in 2000. These leaders agreed to eradicate extreme poverty and its root causes by 2015. Our premise is simple: we are the first generation that can end poverty and we refuse to miss this opportunity. For more information, visit www.endpoverty2015.org

Take Action

What Do You Want G-8 Leaders To Do To Achieve Millennium Development Goals?

On July 8-10, leaders of the G-8 countries -Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States - will meet in Italy. Their meeting comes with less than six years until the 2015 deadline for meeting the Millennium Development Goals, as a mounting economic crisis threatens to reverse the progress that has been made so far. The UN Millennium Campaign and Al Jazeera English are hosting online debates. We'd like to hear from you: what would you would like world leaders at the G-8 to do at the summit in order to get back on track towards achieving the Goals?

Visit us:

- Join us on Facebook
- Get updates on Twitter

4th of 8 days 8 Goals Personal Stories behind the Millennium Development Goals

Sphere: Related Content This is the fourth of the 8 videos provided by the Facebook Group United Nations Millennium Campaign on the Millennium Development goals. We are making up for some lost time but has I said in the last post it still provides a great visual in making the case for the Millennium Development Goals. I did some gripping and the people at the Facebook Group United Nations Millennium Campaign responded immediately which is a hallmark of a concerned effort. The "first" day video is here. The second day video is here. Third day video here.

This is the fourth of the 8 video special by United Nations Millennium Campaign on the Millennium Development goals. This captivating video focuses on the personal stories and struggles around achieving Goal 4 - Child Health

Somewhat Related Post:

• End Poverty 2015 - Millennium Development Goals

3rd of 8 days 8 Goals Personal Stories behind the Millennium Development Goals

Sphere: Related Content This is the third of the 8 videos provided by the Facebook Group United Nations Millennium Campaign on the Millennium Development goals. Yes, it is out late but still provides a great visual in making the case for the Millennium Development Goals. The "first" day video is here. The second day video is here.

This captivating video focuses on the personal stories and struggles around achieving the United Nations Millennium Campaign - Goal 3 - Gender Equity

Seems to me that the Girl Effect posts are the best done on this effort by this blog.

Related Posts:

• Talking about the Girl Effect at Davos on YouTube

• Change Initiative to Empower Adolescent Girls Investing in the Girl Effect

• The Girl Effect