Blitz the Ambassador – E.N.D P.O.V.E.R.T.Y

On Friday 13th August, Make Poverty History held a public forum in the federal electorate of Wentworth, to allow the public to hear their candidates views on global poverty, foreign aid levels and the Millennium Development Goals.

In attendance were:
Malcolm Turnbull (Lib)
Steven Lewis (ALP)
Matthew Robertson (Greens)
Andrew Hewett (co-chair of Make Poverty History and Executive Director of Oxfam Australia)

September 17th -19th, 2010: Three days of mobilization enabling all constituencies and anyone wanting to be a part of the mobilization to organize and participate in a wide range of events, relevant actions and initiatives to show their support for the achievement of the MDGs and have their voices heard articulating their demands for delegations attending the Summit. Go to http://www.standagainstpoverty.org

Entry into the Robin Hood Tax film competition. This film explores the idea that a small amount from some can make a big difference to others. Written, Produced and Directed by Charlotte George, Photography by Ben Chessell and Charlotte George, Music composed by Charlotte George (on Garageband).

When world leaders gather at the United Nations for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Review Summit in September, the voices of their citizens will follow them, telling them, loudly and clearly: “We will no longer stay seated or silent in the face of poverty and the broken promises to end it!’

The demands and expectations of citizens across continents and countries, made visible and audible throughout 2010, will culminate in the “Stand Up 2010″ mobilization. Stand Up 2010 will take place over three days beginning Friday September 17th, through Sunday the 19th.

The MDG Review Summit offers us a unique opportunity to leverage and even influence the political and media focus surrounding the lead up to the meeting and the meeting itself. Moving Stand Up forward to the weekend before the Summit will allow us to drive our activities throughout the year towards a high-profile Stand Up mobilization with a direct link to and with the specific intention of impacting on the proceedings at the Summit itself. It will also allow us to focus our activities and work in 2010 towards a specific policy moment and to articulate clear and relevant policy demands based on what we want our various governments and delegations to do leading up to the Summit and what we expect them to achieve at the Summit itself.

Every minute 17 children die of easily preventable diseases. What is the response from many of the sitting members and aspiring candidates from the two major parties? Watch this video to find out.  If you think Australia can and should be doing more to Make Poverty History, then watch the following video and take action by writing to your national political leaders.

If you believe Australia can and should be contributing its fair share and increase our aid commitment to 0.7% of GNI (just 70 cents out of every $100 that Australia earns), please write to your leaders now. (The letter below will go to the Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott, Minister of Foreign Affairs Stephen Smith and Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop.)

Every minute 17 children die of easily preventable diseases. What is the response from many of the sitting members and aspiring candidates from the two major parties? Watch this video to find out.  If you think Australia can and should be doing more to Make Poverty History, then watch the following video and take action by writing to your national political leaders.

If you believe Australia can and should be contributing its fair share and increase our aid commitment to 0.7% of GNI (just 70 cents out of every $100 that Australia earns), please write to your leaders now.

Diarrhoea kills 4,000 children every day. That’s more than AIDS, malaria and measles put together. It’s time to ‘dig toilets, not graves’. Visit http://www.digtoilets.org/ to find out more.