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Zaporizhzhya: Stand Up Against Poverty and Speak Out (17.10.2007)



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

About Five Thousands Ukrainians Joined Stand Up Against Poverty

Ukraine, 17 October, 2007: Today the "STAND UP AND SPEAK OUT AGAINST POVERTY" initiative took place for the first time in Ukraine devoted to the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. In different cities of Ukraine 4926 people symbolically stood up to support the global movement against poverty and set a new Guinness World Record.
Schools and universities, youth centers and civil society activists stood up against poverty and inequality and spoke out for MDGs in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Khmelnytskiy, Zaporizhzhya, Kherson and Ivankiv, Borodyanka, Slavutych.
UN Resident Coordinator in Ukraine Mr. Francis O'Donnell stated «Eradicating poverty and inequality is the strategic goal of all countries in the world. No one should stand aside of these problems because only by addressing these challenges our world becomes better place for living of all people".
Mr. O'Donnell said that the STAND UP AGAINST POVERTY initiative was launched in 2006. On this day last year, 23.5 million people stood up against poverty in a 24 hour period setting a new Guinness World Record. And he continued "I hope due to Ukraine's and other countries support, last year Guinness Record will be at least doubled".
On October 17, 2007 millions of people worldwide physically and symbolically stood up and demanded their governments keep their promise to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. They called on political leaders to deliver more and better aid to the poorest nations, implement fairer trade conditions, cancel debt, ensure gender equality. Events were taking place in over 100 countries. These events ranged from major rallies and concerts to gatherings in school assemblies, town halls and refugee camps.

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