Thursday, October 15, 2009

"Stand Up, Take Action" begins tomorrow

The annual "Stand Up, Take Action, End Poverty Now!" worldwide event begins tomorrow. For the fourth year in a row, demonstrations will take place throughout the world to show support and raise awareness on the Millennium Development Goals. Over 116 million people participated last year to show their support for fighting poverty.

This years "Stand Up Take Action" runs from October 16th to 18, to find an event near you, go to the Stand Up website that features an interactive map that pinpoints all the demonstrations.

From All Africa, reporter Abimbola Akosile sets up the "Stand Up" effort taking place in Nigeria.

As the countdown starts tomorrow, all Nigerians have been called upon to fully participate in this year's 4th annual global 'Stand Up, Take Action, End Poverty Now' mobilisation, which comes up from October 16 to 18.

The period coincides with the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, when millions of people across the country are expected to call on the nation's decision makers at the local, state and national levels to eradicate extreme poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Making the appeal in Lagos during the week, the Executive Director of Nigeria Network of Non-Governmental Organisations (NNNGO) Ms. Yemisi Ransome-Kuti, said this year's mobilisation coincides with the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

In 2008, the mobilisation campaign recorded global participation by 116.9 million people, majority from poor countries like Nigeria, and thus breaking the Guinness World Record for the largest mobilisation of human beings in recorded history.

She explained that with just six years left until the 2015 deadline by which world leaders have pledged to achieve the MDGs, "Nigerians are demanding that our leaders deliver on the promises they made in the year 2000 to eradicate extreme poverty and its root causes."

"The MDGs commitments relating to women's empowerment, including the promise to reduce maternal mortality by three-quarters by the year 2015, have seen the least progress", she lamented in an information provided by Mr. Kunle Idowu, NNNGO's media consultant.

1 comment:

Awareness Dates Blogger said...

It is always inspiring to see events like this growing in their support every year.