This Friday, stand up against poverty

History taught us a valuable lesson. Even when individuals stood up and made themselves heard, they were able to change the course of mankind. Jesus Christ, Mahatma Ghandi, Martin Luther King and Mother Teresa were people who spoke on behalf of the oppressed. Nowadays large movements are following the example of these individuals.

In 1992, the United Nations officially designated October 17 as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. One of the main aims for this commemoration is to make the voice of those who live in poverty and are oppressed heard. A growing movement of people are no longer prepared to stay seated or silent in the face of those who live in poverty and oppression and cannot speak. As a sign of solidarity with such people, a worldwide initiative is taking place between Friday and Sunday entitled 'Stand Up and Take Action' www.standagainstpoverty.org.

The National Platform of Maltese NGDOs (SKOP) in collaboration with 'Stop Poverty' is appealing to all schools, governmental and non-governmental organisations, firms in the private sector, organisations, institutions, social groups and families to perform a one-minute 'stand up' to highlight the urgent need to eliminate further violation of human rights and extreme poverty around the world.

SKOP is asking everyone concerned to spare one minute and literally stand-up as a group and reflect ways how poverty can be eradicated and ways to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. Following this, text the number of people who performed the stand-up and the name of the organisation or group to mobile no. 7984 2015 between Friday and Sunday or send an e-mail message with these details to standupmalta@gmail.com, including a photo or video if possible.

The texts and e-mails of these stand-ups will be forwarded to the international movement and to be added to all the others received from around the world in an attempt to break the Guinness World Record of stand-ups. Last year 15,942 people in Malta, mostly teachers, pupils and members of NGOs, performed this stand-up. Help us break the world record so we can break the record of broken promises.

The texts and e-mails will also be exhibited at the second Maltese Millennium Development Goal Conference, which will be held at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta on Friday between 9 a.m and 4 p.m. Admission is free.

National Platform of Maltese NGDOs campaign officer.