Millions Stand Against Poverty in 24-Hour Global Rally

[babylonsister]

Millions Stand Against Poverty in 24-Hour Global Rally
by Haider Rizvi


UNITED NATIONS - Anti-poverty activists Wednesday organized thousands of meetings and demonstrations across the world to highlight the plight of the downtrodden and the poor.

Organizers said about 39 million people joined the international anti-poverty campaign during the 24-hour period, setting a new Guinness World Record for participation in mass rallies against poverty.

People participated in more than 6,000 rallies in 110 countries in support of the campaign called “Stand Up and Speak Out.” This year, the event coincided with the 20th International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

From workers to peasants to students, those who joined the global campaign against poverty urged governments to fulfill their commitments on achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.

The MDGs include a 50-percent reduction in poverty and hunger; universal primary education; reduction of child mortality by two thirds; cutbacks in maternal mortality by three quarters; the promotion of gender equality; and the reversal of the spread of HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases.

“Every day 50,000 people die needlessly as a result of extreme poverty,” said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in a statement, noting that the gap between rich and poor is getting wider.

more...

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/10/19/4684/

[GeminiProgressive]

1. I wish MoveOn.org or the Democratic Party itself

would call for rallies concerning things like this.

[knitter4democracy]

2. I'd have done it, if only I'd known.

I didn't get any e-mails about this beforehand or see anything here. Huh. It's a good idea, too.

[babylonsister]

3. My first thought, too. I never heard a word about this. I guess that

speaks volumes about Americans' priorities.