Guinness record for Stand Up, Speak Out

20 October 2007

New Delhi, India: Over 38.8 million people, in 110 countries have broken the Guinness World Record � set last year at 23.5 million - for the largest number of people to �STAND UP AGAINST POVERTY� and SPEAK OUT for Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 24 hours. This goes as a largest single coordinated movement of people in the history of human kind. In addition to breaking our Guinness Record set last year, the attempt this year has been more to break the record of broken promises.

In India, more than 13.77 million (over 1.37 crores) people all over the country stood up to demand an end to poverty and for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The local NGO National Conference of Dalit Organisation (NACDOR) organised a march of 20,000 Dalits highlighting the issues of land rights and the MDG progress for Dalits in the state of Madhya Pradesh. The Government of the Madhya Pradesh also organised an event to rally over 7 million people from various sections of society, including cabinet members, senior officials and civil society organisations to pledge their support for the Stand Up and Speak Out Campaign.

The State of Chattisgarh and Rajasthan reported a figure of over 1 million and 7.75 Lakh. Moreover, the United Nations Millennium Campaign, in collaboration with Art of Living (AOL), mobilised 6.5 millions of people to stand up in more than 26 States in India and 35 countries across the globe.

Apart from this National Institutions, Schools and Universities like National Service Scheme (NSS), Navodaya Vidayalaya Samiti (NVS), Dayanand Anglo Vedic (DAV); Jamia Millia Islamia University; Kashmir University and Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education also participated in Stand Up and Speak Out campaign in big numbers making it a mega success.

The �Stand Up and Speak Out� record attempt took place over 16th and 17th October and was jointly organised by the United Nations Millennium Campaign (UNMC) and the Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) with a wide range of other partners. The challenge saw millions of people physically and intentionally standing up against poverty, inequality and in support of the Millennium Development Goals. They spoke out to demand a more urgent political response to the growing crisis of global poverty.

United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, who led a stand up action at UN Headquarters in New York, said �Today tens of millions of people are making their voices heard by standing up and speaking out against poverty and for the Millennium Development Goals. They are sending messages that call on their leaders to keep their promises. They are calling for the actions of citizens to be matched by the actions of Governments, in developing and developed countries alike, to demonstrate the political will required to end the scourge of poverty once and for all."

The mass mobilisation provided a platform for global civil society seeking more active involvement in the current aid architecture debate, debt cancellation processes, trade negotiations and public accountability monitoring. The largest numbers of people who took part in this mobilisation came from developing countries.

Kumi Naidoo, Chair of the Global Call to Action Against Poverty said: "The confirmation of the new Guinness record coupled with the political dimension to this year�s action, tells us we are a growing movement of people holding our leaders to account for tackling global poverty and inequality. The impressive efforts of our brothers and sisters in developing countries through new lobbying actions like delegations to politicians on this date, shows the poor are watching how resources are allocated and want to have a say how policies are made. It now falls on rich countries to fulfil their side of the bargain too.�

The UN Millennium Campaign�s Executive Coordinator Eveline Herfkens said: �Together we have broken the incredible record for the largest number of people standing up to demand action on poverty. But the record we really want to break is the world�s record of breaking promises and ignoring the poor. We don�t want to record numbers of people dying of poverty every year. This is the great issue of our times, let us become great by dealing with it decisively.�

�More than one third of the Global record comes from India which shows peoples aspiration for Government to deliver on their promise to achieve MDGs by 2015. We hope Government of India and all the state governments will respond and respect the people�s call demonstrated through this large participation of Indian citizens in Stand Up and Speak Out against poverty and for MDG,� said Minar Pimple, Deputy Director, Asia, United Nations Millennium Campaign.

�Stand Up� regional overview of World record numbers:

Africa: 7,473,057
Arab Region: 2,546,885
Asia: 27,612,061
Europe: 144,931
Latin America & Caribbean: 734,105
North America: 109,828
Oceania: 117,333

For further details and country breakdowns please visit www.standagainstpoverty.org/press

Country Highlights

� In Bangladesh just under 850,000 people stood up with the main event held at Dhaka City office and led by the Mayor followed by a high profile concert. People called for cancellation of debt servicing to eradicate poverty and at the end 1,000 candles were lit to express solidarity with the GCAP movement.

� In Afghanistan, over 200,000 people gathered in Kabul and flew kites from Maranjan hills, with each kite displaying anti-poverty messages.

� Pakistani campaigners mobilised over 3.5 million including thousands who helped unfurl a 10 km�long banner in Bahawalpur carrying one million written messages. Pakistan was one of 25 countries across the world using giant banners to form a white band, the symbol of the global anti-poverty movement.

The UN Millennium Campaign was established by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in 2002. The Campaign supports citizens� efforts to hold their governments to account for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

The Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) is a civil society alliance of social movements, international NGOs, trade unions, community groups, women�s organizations, faith and youth groups, local associations and campaigners working together across more than 100 national coalitions/platforms. In particular, GCAP demands solutions to issues of public accountability, just governance and the fulfilment of human rights; trade justice; more and better aid; debt cancellation and gender equality and womn�s rights.

For more information contact:

Asia
Minar Pimple, Deputy Director, Asia, United Nations Millennium Campaign minar.pimple@undp.orgTel: +66 2288 2806

Vineet Joshi, Communications Coordinator, South Asia, J-50, B K Dutt Colony, Jorbagh Lane, New Delhi 110003,
Cell: 9810227197; vineet.joshi@undp.org

Anand Kantaria, Global Media Coordinator, United Nations Millennium Campaign Anand.kantaria@undp.orgTel: +44 7908 230 165 www.endpoverty2015.org

User comments

"Billion Hungry Stomachs Cannot Stand Up !"

Author: Hemanta Naik

Time: 23.10.2007 23:01

Comment: Last year In Nigeria at Kano it was a huge participation of small little children who stand up in millions ! I was working with the SUBEB, Kano as a VSO Development worker from India. It was an inspiring activity. Many small childrens crossing the Niger nation Border eneter into Nigeria just to beg and make a livelihood by selling ground nuts and small sweet items and Bread in the hand not to eat but to sell.

I realised that Hungry Stomach's Cannot Stand UP. Africa and Asia in general requires different approach to the development. The conventional development theory proposed by the North will simply not work out. It is a Rich Man sitting in a Air Conditioned room and eating yummy chocolates talking about the hunger and eradication of hunger. MDG is just a beginning not an end. But our leaders should be knocked down to make them to remember the MDG Goals. Most politicians work against it !

I am back in India after a breif stay in Nigeria.

In India to "Gharibhi Hatavo" was a big political slogan. But politicians became empowered in the name of serving the poor but not their country nor their countrymen in General. Seize the wealth looted from the Billions and distribute it back to the poor who are the true owners of that wealth.

Only two percent people cannot enjoy all the benefits of mother earth has to offer.

Make each one to THINK why they have become poor or who made them Poor or who are making them to live below the poverty line intentionally.

MDG Goals should be achieved at any cost by 2015 ! not beyond that. Just 8 More years to Go ! otherwise those who are today standing up will be taking a BEAT UP program ! Watch Out.

"World Poverty"

Author: David Chester

Time: 20.10.2007 21:28

Comment: Why are there no comments? are the poor so ignorant that they cannot understand that they need to read and write against their present state?

If so this is the Guninness record that should be broken!