Whiteband Day is back!
In 2006, over 23 million people around the world joined a global call to action against poverty and set a new Guinness World Record as the largest ever single co-ordinated movement of people to stand up against poverty.
Despite this unprecedented call for action, world leaders have yet to deliver on all their promises:
- Over 1 billion people live on less than $1 a day
- Every year six million children die from malnutrition before their fifth birthday
On 17 October 2007, Whiteband Day is back, and this year it’s going to be even bigger. We want you to help break the world record set in 2006 so the message rings even louder. Every person counts – stand up and speak out!
Stand up
On 16 and 17 October, people in villages and cities around the world will come together for a Stand Up and Speak Out moment - where they sit or kneel down and then STAND UP in unison and SPEAK OUT against poverty. Stand Up and Speak Out will be the largest ever movement demanding an end to poverty and you can take part by attending an event, or by organising your own.
Speak out
Join Oxfam in telling the UK Government to put pressure on the World Bank - the international financial institution that makes loans to poor countries - in protest at the damaging economic conditions attached to its loans and debt relief.Email Douglas Alexander, Secretary of State for International Development, and ask him to withhold part of the UK Government's funding for the World Bank until it changes its harmful policies. Your emails to Mr. Alexander will form part of an unprecedented global lobby, with campaigners putting pressure on decision makers in every continent to take action to end poverty and injustice.
Stand Up and Speak Out around the world
On 17 October 2007, people in every corner of the world will stand up, speak out and express their passion to end poverty in a variety of ways.
Challenging the world record
Thousands of events will take place around the world as part of Stand Up and Speak Out. From children in refugee camp schools, to online virtual stand ups, people will Stand Up, Speak Out, and be counted. Find out about the huge number of events going on around the world by visiting the Stand Up and Speak Out website.
Speaking out against poverty
Coalitions in more than 100 countries are organising events, big and small, on and around 17 October – all demanding an end to extreme poverty. People will be calling for an end to poverty by:
- Harnessing the power of the Internet by taking part in online virtual stand up events
- Creating giant Banners Against Poverty to creatively express their demand for the world to take action
- Speaking out through song by taking part in the Poverty Requiem - a piece of music written especially for Whiteband Day and which will be sung in at least 23 countries and 5 continents!
If you’re interested in finding out more about what’s happening around the world, or if you want inspiration for your own event, visit the Stand Up and Speak Out website and see how you can join the call to action against poverty.
