MORE THAN 116 MILLION PEOPLE – NEARLY 2% OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION including more than 73 million from Asia - STAND UP AGAINST POVERTY
GUINNESS WORLD RECORD FOR MASS MOBILIZATION
CITIZENS DEMAND THAT WORLD LEADERS KEEP THEIR PROMISES TO ACHIEVE THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS AND REDUCE INEQUALITY
Bangkok, Thailand: Over 116 million people, nearly two percent of the world's population, in 110 countries, have broken the Guinness World Record for the largest number of people to "STAND AGAINST POVERTY".
The Guinness citation reads:
"The record for most people to 'Stand Up Against Poverty' in one week was set from 17 to 19 October 2008 for the United Nation's Millennium Campaign during the Stand Up Take Action events and involved a massive total of 116,993,629 participants in 7,777 events around the globe."
This is the largest single coordinated movement of people to 'Stand Against Poverty and for Millennium Development Goals' and was coordinated by the United Nations Millennium Campaign and the Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP).
"In what was undoubtedly the largest mobilization since Guinness began keeping records, citizens around the globe put their leaders at the national and global level on notice that their commitments to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 have to be met – no more delays or excuses are acceptable," said Salil Shetty, Director of the United Nations Millennium Campaign. "Already, world leaders are responding. Mass mobilizations have the power to change the course of history, and we will not stop mobilizing and advocating for action until the Millennium Development Goals are achieved for the poorest people in the world."
"World citizens have acted and committed to keep the pressure on governments to achieve and exceed Millennium Development Goals. Asia has seen the biggest mobilization, and now it is time for Governments to act to deal with the development emergency that we are faced with and honor their commitments," Said Minar Pimple, Deputy Director, Asia, of the United Nations Millennium Campaign.
Key "Stand Up" events from South Asia and Asia:
In the Philippines, more than 35 million people (1/3 of the population) stood against Poverty at events across the country. The campaign was a result of concerted efforts of the UN agencies in the Philippines, local government units, civil society organizations including GCAP, Universities and government agencies, including the National Anti-Poverty Commission and the Department of Education. Thousands of fishermen also took to the streets with GCAP Philippines on the morning of October 17 to demand a government programme for food sovereignty and sustainability.
In India, more than 14 million people all over the country stood up to demand an end to poverty and for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The Art of Living Foundation (AOL), under the guidance of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji mobilized over 6 million people to stand up in 26 states in India under the 'Mission Green Earth Stand Up Take Action' campaign, in partnership with the UN Millennium Campaign and the Ministry of Environment & Forests (Government of India). In one of the events organized by the Art of Living Foundation in New Delhi, more than 6,000 people Stood Up on the perimeter of Parliament on 18th October, including some of the richest and poorest families in the country.
In Nepal, over 1.5 million people expressed their solidarity through the Stand Up and Take Action Campaign including at a convention of women members of the Constituent Assembly and other events focusing on deepening participatory democracy as part of building a poverty and hunger-free Nepal by the Citizen's Campaign for Democracy and Social Transformation and other civil society partners. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, 'Pranchanda', issued a public statement on October 17, committing the government to the achievement of the MDGs and encouraging the Nepali people to join the movement of building a new nation.
In Bangladesh, over 13. 3 million people stood up and arranged unprecedented campaign events and innovative programmes across the country with a wide range of partners, including the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, the National Federation of Youth Organisation, and Dhaka City Cooperation. The events included an MDG Road Show and a policy seminar to engage key political leaders in the upcoming national elections.
In Pakistan, 390,000 people were mobilised through the network of civil society organizations and local governments with the active involvement of youth groups and members of district, provincial and national assemblies.
In Indonesia, over 7.3 million people Stood Up; in Jakarta and other cities of Indonesia, more than 450,000 Muslims in 1,500 mosques joined the Stand Up after the Friday prayers on October 17. Khatibs (preachers) explained the responsibilities of Muslims in accordance with the Islamic values to fight against poverty and call for more effective actions by governments and the people.
In Thailand, over 290,000 people Stood Up; the Royal Thai Government represented by the Ministry of Interior and the United Nations jointly pledged their commitment to stamp out poverty and inequality by launching a 180-day Roadmap for Poverty Eradication.
The number of people who "Stood Up and Took Action" in each Asia is as follows:
Afghanistan - 87,200
Bangladesh - 13,389,059
Cambodia - 145
China - 1,168
Hong Kong - 685
India - 14,295,849
Indonesia - 7,386,624
Iran - 309,059
Japan - 22,505
Laos - 9
Malaysia - 13,636
Mongolia - 1,040
Nepal - 1,573,608
Pakistan - 389,259
Philippines - 35,264,652
Republic of Korea - 18,797
Singapore - 14,514
Sri Lanka - 84,376
Taiwan - 5,000
Thailand - 290,462
Viet Nam - 4,200
Total Asia 73,151,847
Key "Stand Up" Global events:
In New York, H.E. Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann, President of the UN General Assembly, and Deputy Secretary General Asha-Rose Migiro joined 837 people who Stood Against Poverty after performances by the cast of the Broadway production "A Tale of Two Cities."
In Milan, Italy, more than 400,000 people Stood Against Poverty in the Italian Parliament and at an event attended by Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini and Letizia Moratti, Mayor of Milan. In Germany, Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul joined the Stand Up event in Berlin, encouraging civil society to increase pressure on the government to stick to their promises. With hundreds of events across the country, more than 100,000 people demanded more and better aid and the implementation of fair world trade rules to realize the MDGs.In Egypt, millions of people visited two sailboats which made stops along the Nile to educate Egyptians about the Millennium Development Goals.
In Madrid, Spain, 40,000 people gathered to march against poverty on October 17 under the "Rebélate contra la Pobreza" initiative. Simultaneous anti-poverty protests occurred on October 17 and 18 in 50 other Spanish cities, including Palma de Mallorca, Sevilla, Zaragoza, Donosti, Bilbao, A Coruña, Badajoz, Cuenca and Valencia.
In Jigawa, Nigeria's poorest state, the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Sa'ad Abubakar III -- the most powerful and respected traditional ruler in West Africa -- joined 20,000 people who Stood Against Poverty on October 18, in a Summit where they called on the government to empower women and other marginalized groups through skill acquisition programs, empowerment schemes and access to micro-financing.
In Rwanda, President Kagame joined 10,000 people to Stand Against Poverty at the Rubavu Stadium, in the Western Province. The President called on Rwandans to use their hard-won peace and stability as the foundation to fight poverty, create wealth and drive development for the well being of the entire population. In Uganda, the entire Parliament stood on October 17, and members of the Parliamentary Committee on the Millennium Development Goals helped to clean the Kisenyi slum outside Kampala.
The number of people who "Stood Up and Took Action" in each region is as follows:
Africa - 24,496,151
Arab States - 17,847,870
Asia - 73,151,847
Europe - 951,788
Latin America - 211,250
North America - 123,920
Oceania - 210,803
Total - 116,993,629
To view activities arranged in Pakistan visit http://standagainstpoverty.org/en/events/map/172
To download photos, visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/standagainstpoverty/.
To download footage, visit http://video.un-kampagne.de/ and enter the username "video" and password "uploads."
Asia
Minar Pimple, Deputy Director, Asia,
United Nations Millennium Campaign
Email: minar.pimple@undp.org
Cell No. : +66 84700 2265 or +91 9967 656590
For further information:
Fatimah, UNIC Islamabad
Tel: 92 51 2270610/ 2821012 Ext 16
Cell No: 03315378343
Fax: 92 51 2271856
Asia Press Note
22nd October, 08
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