OCTOBER 16 – 18, 2009
SAVE THE DATE to join millions of people worldwide in the biggest ever global day of action against poverty. Last year – 117 million people; stood up to demand that world leaders keep their promises to end poverty and inequality, that’s almost 2% of the world’s population! Once again this year Jubilee USA will join with the UN Millennium Campaign to break that record and send an even louder message to policy-makers around the world.
WHY STAND UP?
In the year 2000, leaders of 189 countries signed the Millennium Declaration, committing to do everything in their power to end poverty. World leaders also established a roadmap to significantly alleviate extreme poverty by 2015 – the Millennium Development Goals.
We are now over halfway to the Millennium Development Goals’ target date. Still, 50,000 people die every day as a result of extreme poverty. The gap between the rich and the poor is growing – at least 53 million additional people will be forced to live on less than $2/day this year, due to the global economic crisis. Meanwhile, the world’s poorest countries send $100 million every day in debt repayment to the world’s richest countries and financial institutions. We have the power to change this!
HOW TO STAND UP AND TAKE ACTION
No matter where you’ll be on October 16 – 18, it’s possible to plan a STAND UP. STAND UP in your class on Friday, at a potluck dinner or party, even at work. This year organize an event in your community - big or small. Gather your friends, family, or faith community and stand together. LEARN about the issues of debt and poverty with a little help from Jubilee's materials and maybe a movie. TAKE ACTION with Jubilee's new Change, Not Chains Campaign.
Special materials are available from Jubilee USA to help you incorporate a STAND UP into your worship service. For more info, click here or contact Jubilee Congregations fellow Carly Pildis at carly(at)jubileeusa.org/ 202-546-4470.
Standing up and taking action is easy! Here’s how:
- Decide when and where you plan to organize a STAND UP, then visit the official page to create an account and register your plans.
- At the time you’ve chosen for your STAND UP, have the participants stand up together. You can read the STAND UP pledge or another reading, have someone offer a prayer, or simply announce how many people are standing and taking action together. Be sure to count the number of people participating so it will count toward the world record.
- TAKE ACTION together by having the group sign and send postcards to their members of Congress asking for them to support the Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Cancellation as part of Jubilee's Change, Not Chains Campaign. Postcards are available from Jubilee USA (contact carly(at)jubileeusa.org).
