Stand Up and Take Action and GCAP

Press Release

1 September 2009

The Global Call to Action Against Poverty is a global civil society response to poverty and inequality. In South Africa, Stand Up and Take Action aims to mobilise 2 million people to Stand Up and Take Action on 17th October. To date, SAYM, ACESS, NWF, SACC, Art of Living Foundation, SANGOCO, Black Sash, and SPII have joined the call to Take Action on International Day for the Eradication of Poverty and on Friday, 28 August, GCAP co-chair Kumi Naidoo has given his support for Stand Up and Take Action in South Africa for 17th October 2009.

If you would like to get involved in Stand Up and Take Action, please email: standupsa@gmail.com

Stand Up and Take Action is a global campaign for citizen action against poverty and for the MDGs. This global campaign has grown in recent years attracting world wide citizen participation. In October last year, 116 million people in 131countries – an astounding 2% of the world’s population – came together to remind world leaders that their first priority is to act decisively to end poverty and inequality. This year millions will come together again as part of the Stand Up and Take Action initiative to act on the changes they want to achieve locally, and to outline the agenda for development that they want to see implemented globally.

The Campaign

Stand Up and Take Action provides us with an opportunity to add our voices and actions to the call for an end to the devastating effects of the financial, food and climate crises. It is a time for us to engage ourselves and our political leaders in building a great country, together.

We will act together, as a nation of citizens and civil society, to engage government and create a resounding call for world leaders to invest in people first: in education, health, jobs and infrastructure, sustainable agriculture and enterprise, in initiatives putting forward positive climate policy and promoting mainstream gender participation.

We will act together to engage and work with our government to ensure that the steps needed to protect the survival and livelihoods of the poorest are taken. This includes meeting and exceeding the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Stand Up and Take Action represents a unique and effective medium to raise awareness and build action around key issues related to poverty and inequality. In many countries Stand Up and Take Action has been used as a strategic opportunity to engage policy makers, involve politicians directly, build nationwide citizen support, and engage with the media on these key issues. Stand Up and Take Action in South Africa will engage schools, universities, communities, faith based groups, local government officials and other interested across all nine provinces of South Africa to effectively unify the voices speaking out and willing to take action against poverty and for the MDGs.

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT -- STAND UP AND TAKE ACTION AGAINST POVERTY AND INEQUALITY.

We invite your ideas and suggestions for activities on 17th October 2009 in your local community.

For more information and details on how you can get involved contact
Watson Hamunakwadi: GCAP Coordinator (Volunteer)

Tel: 011 403 1915 Fax: 011 403 1879 Email:standupsa@gmail.com

www.whiteband.org/regions/africa/zaf