116 million people Stand Up Against Poverty
World record shattered as nearly 2% of world population joins anti-poverty campaign
Campaigners in Johannesberg display the total
the total number of people mobilized.
(Credit: Hannelie Coetzee)
22 October 2008
Anti-poverty campaigners announced that more than 116 million people - nearly two percent of the world population - mobilized at events in 131 countries on October 17-19 as part of the worldwide "Stand Up and Take Action" campaign. End Water Poverty campaigners took part in anti-poverty events across the globe to demand that governments keep their promises in meeting the Millennium Development Goals.
The mobilization, which was ratified by Guinness as breaking the world record for the biggest mass mobilization on a single issue, sent a clear message to world leaders that citizens will not stay seated while promises to end poverty remain unfulfilled. At least 5 million additional people - many in Africa and Latin America - Stood Up at events not submitted before the Guinness deadline.
Salil Shetty of the UN Millennium Campaign said "in what was undoubtedly the largest global mobilization against poverty in living memory, 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,"
Desmond Tutu, Archbishop of Cape Town and Chairman of The Elders, added "this is a wonderful statement of global determination and commitment to end the injustice of extreme poverty."
To read more about the campaign and about what happened around the world visit the Global Call to Action Against Poverty's website (opens in a new window).
See photos from events around the world (opens in a new window).