Media Release 13th October 2009

Thousands of New Zealanders to Stand Up Against World Poverty

This week New Zealand schools, churches, streets and universities will resound with the sound of thousands of Kiwis standing up against global poverty.

New Zealanders taking part in Stand Up, Take Action events from Friday 16th − Sunday 18th October will ask our government to “walk the walk” over its promise to help achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The goals are eight global targets which New Zealand signed up to in 2000 that, if achieved, would halve extreme poverty by 2015.

Last year, more than 116 million people – nearly two percent of the people on earth – took part in Stand Up Take Action − breaking the Guinness World Record for the largest mobilisation of human beings in recorded history.

This year Kiwis from Invercargill to Whangarei will add their faces to the global event. New Zealand will be the first country in the world to Stand Up and Take Action and we aim to smash the previous world record for the most people to Stand Up for a global cause.

Top five New Zealand events:

• St. Kentigern College stands against poverty, Pakuranga, Friday 16th
• Auckland University Stand Up in the quad, 12.45 – 1.15pm, Friday 16th
• Sacred Heart Girls School sound the alarm on poverty Lower Hutt, Friday 16th
• Wellington free concert in Civic Square 10am − 2pm, Saturday 17th
• Villa Maria College Stand Up on the field, Riccarton, Christchurch Friday 16th

Why are thousands of Kiwis taking a stand against global poverty when there is a recession in New Zealand? “New Zealanders pride ourselves on being good global citizens. In the wake of the Pacific tsunami, the public gave around $2 million in disaster relief, on top of what the New Zealand government gave – evidence of a commitment to aid giving.” says Bridget Pipe-Fowler, coordinator of Stand Up, Take Action New Zealand.

There is no lack of resources to end world poverty, just a lack of political will. That is the message that Stand Up Kiwis will be sending to all world leaders this week. “We have the resources to meet the MDGs, just look at the US $18 trillion found last year to bail out banks and financial institutions − nine times what developing countries have received in aid since 1960. We need world leaders who will use these resources to address global poverty – the source of many of humanity’s greatest problems.”

Stand Up, Take Action is coordinated globally by the United Nations Millennium Campaign. For more information visit www.standagainstpoverty.org and look for New Zealand events on the Stand Up world map. Alternatively, check out www.standup.org.nz for more information about the New Zealand campaign.

ENDS

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