Between the 17th and 19th October 2008, SKOP, The National Platform of Maltese NGDOs in collaboration with STOPoverty! Neqirdu l-faqar! is making an appeal to all organizations/institutions and social groups including families to perform a one-minute STAND UP as a sign of urgency to eliminate further violation of Human Rights and extreme poverty around the world. Last year 15,942 people from Malta performed this stand-up activity; most of which were teachers and pupils and also communities and NGOs.
Ever since 1992, the United Nations officially recognized the 17th October as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. One of the main aims for this commemoration is to make the voice of those who live in poverty and those who are oppressed heard.
History taught us a valuable lesson. When single individuals stood up and made themselves heard, they were able to change the course of mankind. Jesus Christ, Mahatma Ghandi, Martin Luther King and Mother Theresa were amongst of these people who spoke on behalf of the oppressed. Nowadays we are able to witness large movements following the example of the aforementioned individuals.
As a sign of solidarity towards those who live in poverty and oppression and cannot speak, a world wide initiative is taking place between 17 and 19 October 2008. “Stand Up and take Action” is the growing movement of people no longer prepared to stay seated or silent in the face of poverty and inequality.
SKOP is requesting the collaboration of schools, governmental and non-governmental organizations and firms in the private sector to spare one minute and literally stand-up as a group while reflecting on the Millennium Development Goals and ways of how poverty can be eradicated. Following this, they are asked to text the number of people who performed the stand-up and the name of the organization/group to 79842015 on the mentioned dates or email their message and details including a photo or video (if possible) to standupmalta@gmail.com.
The texts and emails of stand-ups will be exhibited during the 2nd Maltese Millennium Development Goal Conference which will be held at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta on Friday 17 th October 2007 between 09.00 and 16.00, for which the public is free to attend and participate against no admission/participation fees. These correspondences will then be forwarded to the international movement www.standagainstpoverty.org and will be added with all other correspondence around the world to break the Guinness World Record of stand-ups.
Help us break the world record so we can break the record of broken promises!

Clayton Mercieca
Stand Up Campaign Officer for SKOP - National Platform of Maltese NGDOs
Office 82, Tal-Qroqq National Pool Complex, Msida