General

	Click the image above for more info on Stand Up in Australia

Stand up and take action to MAKE POVERTY HISTORY on 16-18 October

As a member of the MAKE-POVERTY-HISTORY (MPH) coalition, the ASU is encouraging members and friends to either host a Stand Up event sometime during 16-18 October, or attend one of the public events being put on by MPH. These are not just symbolic actions - they tell our politicians that their constituents want them to deal with poverty seriously. The more people get involved, the more the politicians listen, so don't think your action in standing up won't matter. It will!

What is STAND UP?

Stand Up is the world's largest mobilisation. It is a worldwide initiative seeking to end poverty, address its causes and achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

When the Australian Prime Minister signed on to the Millennium Declaration, he and all other world leaders declared that,

"We will spare no effort to free our fellow men, women and children from the abject and dehumanising conditions of extreme poverty, to which more than a billion of them are currently subjected."

In 2008, 117 million people worldwide joined together through Stand Up (a Guinness World Record), including ASU members and staff. The 2008 Stand Up participation led to direct action and policy changes in many developing countries, where leaders saw that people in their country were passionate about ending poverty. However, many more steps need to be taken.

You can find more information about STAND UP here.
 

How to STAND UP?

Stand Up is all about getting a group of people together to take a pledge to act against poverty, and registering your participant numbers once you have held your event. If you don't register your event, your event numbers won't count towards the global total (the organisers don't just make the numbers up!).

This year Stand Up is happening on the weekend of 16-18 October 2009. Again, to count towards the global total, your event needs to be held on these days.

Beyond these parameters you can embellish your event however you want! The ASU has a morning tea with white iced biscuits to complement the white bands of the MPH campaign and we draw MPH bands on the footpath outside our office.

To register, visit http://www.standupagainstpoverty.com.au and fill in your event details under the 'Register' section.

A pamphlet on how to host a Stand Up event in your workplace can be downloaded below - it contains the pledge as well.
 

Major public STAND UP event - Melbourne Federation Square

Of course, you don't have to run your own Stand Up event, you can attend one of the public events and have your action counted there.

This year the major national event is in Melbourne. Free All Ages Event Address: Federation Square, Melbourne Time: 11am - 1pm Saturday October 17 Performances by: Hip Hop Duo DIAFRIX (former African refugees), Electronic crossover outfit METALS, DJ Matt Radovich. Speakers including: Tim Costello, Brooke Satchwell, Minar Pimple (Deputy Director United Nations Millennium Campaign), Christopher Woodthorpe (Director United Nations Information Center Australia Pacific)

Other public STAND UP events around Australia

You can find information about other public events here.
 

Anti-Poverty Week

The related Anti-Poverty Week campaign runs from October 11-17 with numerous events of all different kinds running around the country.

The main aims of Anti-Poverty Week (APW) are to:

• Strengthen public understanding of the causes and consequences of poverty and hardship around the world and in Australia;
• Encourage research, discussion and action to address these problems, including action by individuals, communities, organisations and governments.

Everyone who is interested in helping to reduce poverty and hardship here or overseas is encouraged to organise their own activities during APW or join in some being organised by other people.

You can find more information about Anti-Poverty Week and events here.

In addition to registering your Stand Up event at the website listed above, you can register it on the APW website too.

Related Documents: