• Australia participates in world’s largest mobilisation event
Friday October 16 to Sunday October 18, 2009

• Australia’s largest Stand Up event to be held at Melbourne’s Federation Square - 11am Saturday 17 October

• Challenge to beat Guiness World Record of 117 million registered “Stand Up” participants around the world in 2008

Stand Up, the world’s largest annual social-action mobilisation event, takes place from October 16 to 18. Australians will once again be urged to stand up and be counted in this global campaign to end poverty.

At events being organised across Australia over these three days, people of all ages and walks of life will join millions around the world to call on world leaders to keep their promise to take action against global poverty.

The largest event will be held at Melbourne’s Federation Square from 11am to 1pm on Saturday 17 October, to mark the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Entertainment will include Melbourne hip-hop duo and former African refugees, Diafrix, with speakers including actor Brooke Satchwell and special guests Christopher Woodthorpe and Minar Pimple from the United Nations Millennium Campaign. The more people who attend, the louder the message to our leaders.

As celebrity ambassador for the Make Poverty History campaign, Brooke Satchwell said recently, “Whilst we conduct our daily business with freedoms both rightful and relative, there are others in the world dealing with torment and injustice; injustice that you can only hope would be addressed if the shoe was on the other foot.”

In the year 2000, 191 heads of government around the world agreed on eight Millenium Development Goals, each with specific targets and indicators directed at halving global poverty by the year 2015. The Millennium Development Goals include eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, achieving universal primary education, promoting gender equality, reducing child mortality and combating diseases such as HIV and AIDS. These goals will be achieved through more and better overseas aid, fairer trade, cancelling debt, and support for good governance.

However, progress since the year 2000 is slowing and will slow even more unless climate change is also urgently addressed. Only one country is on track with its commitment, and unfortunately it is not Australia, despite our government having taken some important steps.

Stand Up Against Poverty is a simple yet powerful idea to give ordinary Australians the opportunity to let our leaders know that we support its actions in keeping Australia’s promise to do its part to halve global poverty by 2015. The campaign simply involves individuals attending an event, standing up together and being registered in the official count which is submitted to governments around the world.

Last year, 117 million people worldwide joined together in the official Stand Up count. This Guiness World Record achievement included over 207,000 Australians who participated in Stand Up events around the country.

This year, Australians can be counted by organising their own gathering anytime from October 16 to 18, registering the event at www.standupagainstpoverty.com.au, and submitting the final number of participants to info@standupagainstpoverty.com.au by Monday 19 October.

The total number of participants who are formally registered in the count will be a powerful message to the government that Australia wants action on fighting poverty.

Events can be large or small, and may be as informal as a morning tea at the office, a picnic with family and friends, or even a community sporting event. To be counted, the organiser of each event simply needs to read out the Stand Up pledge and submit their final number of people who ‘stoop up’ by 19 October.

Make Povery History is part of the Global Call to Action Against Poverty, a coalition of members from more than 100 countries, calling on leaders to keep their commitment to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. In Australia, Make Poverty History is a coalition of over 60 aid agencies and community groups.

www.standupagainstpoverty.com.au


‘Stand Up Against Poverty’ Media Enquiries :
Amaya Courtis
Publicist, Mollison Communications
Phone: (03) 9694 5221 / 0438 904 149
Email: amaya.c@mollison.com



HOW TO STAND UP AGAINST POVERTY

To participate in Stand Up during October 16-18, you can:
1. Create your own Stand Up event:

• Register the approximate number of people you think will be standing up with you online at www.standupagainstpoverty.com.au
• Hold your event (picnic, school class, disco, house party, church group) and count the people who turn up to Stand Up.
• Submit your participant numbers by email to info@standupagainstpoverty.com.au no later than 6pm EST Monday 19 October to ensure you are accounted for in the Guinness World Record attempt.

2. Head to an event in your city that has already been organised:

• Melbourne is leading the way on Saturday October 17th from 11am to 1pm at Federation Square, with Melbourne hip hop duo Diafrix playing on the main stage, celebrity ambassador Brooke Satchwell speaking out about making poverty history and special guest Minar Pimple from the United Nations Millenium Campaign heading up the formalities.
• Go to www.standupagainstpoverty.com.au to find out about events in your city.

3. Download the FREE ‘Stand Up’ iPhone Application at the App Store and Stand Up over your iPhone by pressing the button!

Public can also support Stand Up by attending these events:

Melbourne - Federation Square, Saturday October 17th 11am- 1pm

Sydney – MacQuarie University, Friday October 16th 12.30pm

Canberra – Parliament House Lawns, Sunday October 18th

Adelaide – South-East corner of Hindmarsh Square, Friday October 16th 12.30pm

Perth – Forrest Place, Saturday October 17th 2-5pm

Gold Coast - Fresh Fest, Saturday October 17th

For further information or to find out what’s happening in your city go to: www.standupagainstpoverty.com.au