On 16 October British Ambassador, David Warren and 9 members of Embassy staff 'stood up' to support the global mobilisation campaign to end poverty in support of the Millennium Development Goals.

Around 100 people from different United Nation Agencies, local NGOs and Embassies participated in the Stand Up Take Action event at the United Nations University Building in Tokyo. The Ambassador of Gabon delivered a speech to recall the importance of achieving the 8 Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

• Goal 1: Eradicate Extreme Hunger and Poverty
• Goal 2: Achieve Universal Primary Education
• Goal 3: Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women
• Goal 4: Reduce Child Mortality
• Goal 5: Improve Maternal Health
• Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS Malaria and other diseases
• Goal 7: Ensure Environmental Sustainability
• Goal 8: Develop a Global Partnership for Development

Representatives of the event then read the Stand Up Take Action pledge in English and Japanese before the assembled 'stood up' in unison.

"We stand up
To call for an end to world poverty

In today's world, there is enough food to feed everyone
Yet, one in six people is suffering from hunger

Global warming, induced by rich countries
Is triggering droughts, floods, and other natural disasters,
Endangering the lives of those in poorer countries

Rich nations stand back while the lives of poor are lost,
Yet exert wealth and power
To protect the lives of privileged

We will not turn away from this inequality
So, we will stand, and take action

There are only 6 years left
Until the deadline of the Millennium Development Goals;
6 years left to have extreme poverty in the world

Leaders of the world,
Do not give up on this promise of the millennium
No matter how hard people say it is

Today, we, too, will stand up
And take action with people all over the world

To become a citizen of a world without poverty
And of a better world for all"

Further information on the campaign can be found at http://standagainstpoverty.org/

Back to newsroom

Back to top