NEWS | Wednesday, 15 October 2008

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Standing up against poverty

Between 17 and 19 October 2008, SKOP, the National Platform of Maltese non-governmental development organisations (NGDOs), in collaboration with STOPoverty!, will make an appeal to all organisations and social groups, as well as family, 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 17 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.
Spokesperson Clayton Mercieca said that 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 Teresa 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.”
The National Platform of NGDOs is Malta’s broadest network of voluntary and non-governmental organisations working in international development and humanitarian aid.
The Platform was founded on 26 June 2001, on the initiative of Kopin (Koperazzjoni Internazzjonali - Malta), and now has 10 member-organisations. It is officially recognised by the Maltese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
‘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 organisations 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 organisation 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 October 2007 between 9am and 4pm, for which the public is free to attend and participate against no admission 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.

SKOP Malta
http://skopmalta.org/

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