General

	ASU staff and friends STANDING UP against poverty on Monday, October 16, 2006

Join workers who will STAND UP against poverty on October 16

This Monday, October 16, the ASU National Office is hosting a local STAND UP event, much like thousands of other such events going on all over Australia and the rest of the world. Show everyone that trade unionists are active against poverty - come to our STAND UP event on the corner of Cardigan & Queensberry Streets, Carlton South at 10am.

STAND UP against poverty is organised by the MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY organisation as a consciousness-raising event. There are solutions to world poverty out there. Politicians just need to be told by the people that we want those solutions implemented!

The ASU event on October 16 at 10.00am is a brief morning tea out the front of the ASU building to make sure as many people as possible see that we believe POVERTY SHOULD BE HISTORY. An ASU member will read the pledge and some light refreshments will be available.

There is no need to RSVP - just come!

Other events around Australia can be found here: http://www.standagainstpoverty.org/events/global/au and http://www.makepovertyhistory.com.au/standUpEvent.html

What is STAND UP?

STAND UP is a global event to show world leaders that it's time for them to take a stand against poverty.

STAND UP will raise awareness of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), an eight point plan to halve global poverty, and publicly demonstrate the growing global support to Make Poverty History.

STAND UP will send a strong message about ending poverty to the leaders of the world economy, the G-20, who are meeting in Melbourne in November 2006.

STAND UP coincides with global activities around the International Day of Poverty Eradication. The Make Poverty History coalition is coordinating the event in Australian businesses, schools and churches and internationally it is coordinated by the UN Millennium Campaign.

STAND UP aims to break the official Guinness World Record for the most number of people ever to STAND UP for a cause - be part of it.

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

In summary, the MDGs are:

• Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
• Achieve universal primary education
• Promote gender equality and empower women
• Reduce child mortality by two thirds for children under five
• Improve maternal health
• Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
• Ensure environmental sustainability
• Develop a global partnership for development

To find out more details about the MDGs, visit the Oxfam website at: http://www.oxfam.org.au/campaigns/mtf/povertyhistory/goals.html

More information:

ASU STANDS UP against poverty on October 16 http://www.asu.asn.au/media/general/20061004_poverty.html

MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY: http://www.makepovertyhistory.com.au/

STAND UP website: http://www.standagainstpoverty.org/