TOday is the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. This afternoon I participated in a rally at which we shared the following pledge (also available here as well as other stuff)
We are standing now with millions around the world on this symbolic day, the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, to show our commitment to the fight against extreme poverty and inequality.
We are standing because we refuse to accept more excuses in a world where 50,000 people die every day as a result of extreme poverty and the gap between rich and poor is getting wider.
We are standing because we want our leaders to honour their promises to meet the Millennium Development Goals – and we ask them to exceed these goals.
We join in solidarity with people from over 100 countries to say:
To the leaders of the wealthy countries –
We urge you to keep your promises on poverty – debt relief, more and better aid, trade justice and gender equality.
To the leaders of poorer countries – make it your first responsibility to save the lives of your poorest citizens. We ask you to tackle inequality, to be accountable to your people, to govern fairly and justly, to fight corruption and to fulfill human rights.
Today, and every day, we will stand up and speak out against poverty. We will continue the fight against poverty and inequality and to hold our leaders to their promises.
We are asking not for charity but for justice. We are millions of voices standing in solidarity to say, no more excuses - end poverty now.
In our backyard, raise the welfare rates: now.
ReplyDeleteAmen!
ReplyDeleteAnd improve EI benefits.