PEOPLE
OF PAKISTAN STAND UP AND SPEAK OUT AGAINST POVERTY
17 October 2007
17 October 2007: In 2000, world leaders made a commitment at the United Nations to do everything in their power to end poverty, by agreeing to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015, what is lacking is the political will. These Goals will not be achieved at the United Nations but by citizens and Parliaments holding their own political leaders to account. This year marks the halfway point to this deadline and still almost a billion people live on less than a dollar a day.
The "Stand Up and Speak Out" record attempt took place over 16th and 17th October and was jointly organised by the United Nations Millennium Campaign (UNMC) and the Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) with a wide range of other partners. The challenge saw millions of people physically and intentionally standing up against poverty, inequality and in support of the Millennium Development Goals. They spoke out to demand a more urgent political response to the growing crisis of global poverty.
United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, who led a stand up action at UN Headquarters in New York, said "Today tens of millions of people are making their voices heard by standing up and speaking out against poverty and for the Millennium Development Goals. They are sending messages that call on their leaders to keep their promises. They are calling for the actions of citizens to be matched by the actions of Governments, in developing and developed countries alike, to demonstrate the political will required to end the scourge of poverty once and for all."
Over 43.7 million people, in 127 countries have broken the Guinness World Record - set last year at 23.5 million - for the largest number of people to "STAND UP AGAINST POVERTY" in 24 hours. From Overall more than 3.5 million people from Pakistan showed their commitment at individual and organizational levels for the eradication of poverty through physical, symbolic and virtual Stand Up and Speak Out participation in the campaign.
United Nations system in Pakistan also observed the moment of Stand Up and Speak Out against poverty and inequality in support of the Millennium Development Goals in collaboration with Roots School System and electronic media i.e AAJ TV and FM100 in Islamabad, also marking the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
According to the 24 hour time span for the stand up activity, which was between 02:00 a.m 17 October to 02:00 a.m 18 October (according to Pakistan time) around 6,470 people including students from Roots School System, Govt. officials, staff members from United Nations, NGOs, general public and members from civic society observed the activity in respective schools and through virtual campaigns.
Physical Stand Up:
In Schools: Around 40 branches of the Roots School System in the country
observed the event on 17th. Almost six thousands students, teachers, management
and staff observed the Stand Up moment in the morning assembly gatherings
in their respective branches. However, the main event was held at the Roots
School Roots School, F-7/1, Islamabad where students and teachers observed
the moment, followed by a colorful programme including poems, reading out
the pledge and releasing of gas balloons marked as "GOOD BYE POVERTY
FROM PAKISTAN". Radio channel FM100 and Aaj Tv covered the event for
their channels.
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Mr . Atta Muhammad, Raja, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Planning and Development shared his views and informed about the initiatives taken for the eradication of poverty in the country. Dr. Khalif Bile Mahamud, Acting Resident Coordinator, United Nations Pakistan in his remarks explained about the root causes of poverty. He also explained to the students that "You should feel out and speak up against poverty - as you are the future of the nation". He said that the United Nation is committed to support and assist the government and people of Pakistan to fight against poverty, according to the national priorities.
In UN Offices: Staff of the United Nations system in Pakistan stood in their respective offices highlighting the importance of the MDG's and participating in the Stand UP and Speak OUT campaign
Virtual Campaign:
TV: A virtual campaign was launched through a private television
channel 'Aaj TV' on the 17th. The viewers were requested to send in an SMS
to vote & show their commitment for the eradication of poverty. Every
SMS received between 02:00 a.m. 17 October to 02:00 a.m. 18 October, 2007
was counted as a vote in the Stand Up Speak Out campaign.
Radio: Another campaign was also launched all over the country in some programs of a popular private radio channel 'FM100' .
(Although the transmission was crowded with eid festivities and political news they encouraged listeners to participate in the campaign and SMS their votes to show their commitment for the eradication of poverty.)
Further details and pictures of events by the title of Goodbye Poverty have
been uploaded on the website www.standagainstpoverty.org/events/pk