Stand Up and Make a Noise to eradicate poverty

Media Release

Monday 13 September 2010

Stand Up and Make a Noise to eradicate poverty

Residents of Hobart are being urged to be part of a global effort to help eradicate poverty this month.
The Make Poverty History (MPH) coalition is urging people around Australia to get involved in ‘Stand Up’ – a global event involving ordinary people taking a stand to tell world leaders to do more to eradicate poverty.
The theme of this year’s event is Stand Up and Make a Noise for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – global goals to halve poverty by 2015.
Stand Up is being held between September 17-19, just before world leaders meet in New York to discuss how they can increase their efforts to ensure the MDGs are met.
Significant improvements in health, education and access to clean water have shown that effective aid is making a real difference in poor people’s lives, however more needs to be done.
“We are asking for people in the Hobart area to come and be part of Stand Up and show their support to eradicate global poverty. Standing Up against poverty is something we can all do”, said local event organiser Joseph Thompson.
“The people of Hobart will be joining with millions of people of all ages and walks of life around the world, calling on our leaders to keep their promises to take action against global poverty. The more people who attend, the louder the message to our leaders”, Jo said.

Where: Parliament Lawns, Salamanca, Hobart
When: Saturday 18 September, 10.30-11am
What: ‘Survive to 5 Stunt’, as can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x45Zd4MTmTQ and the Stand Up pledge

In the year 2000, 191 heads of government around the world agreed on eight Millennium Development Goals, each with specific targets and indicators directed at halving global poverty by the year 2015.

The Millennium Development Goals include eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, achieving universal primary education, promoting gender equality, reducing child mortality and combating diseases such as HIV, AIDS, malaria and TB.

However, progress since the year 2000 is slowing and will slow even more unless urgent action is taken to get the process back on track.
“Stand Up and Make a Noise is a simple yet powerful idea to give ordinary Australians the opportunity to let our leaders know that we support Australia doing its fair share to halve global poverty by 2015”, said Jo. “The best way to do this would be to commit, as most rich developed nations have done, to increase Australia’s overseas aid spending to 0.7% of our national income.”
Log on to www.makepovertyhistory.com.au/stand-up/ for further info on Stand Up.
For more information on the event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=156272524389440&ref=ts#!/event.php?eid=156272524389440&ref=ts
Laura McIlhenny Promotions Coordinator Live Below the Line Tasmania