September 10 – International Day of Action to Help Make Poverty History

Canadians will join millions worldwide from Bogotá to Kabul on September 10 to help make poverty history as part of International White Band Day 2. The second white band day is strategically placed just days ahead of the United Nations Summit in New York (September 14 to 16) where ending poverty was to be prominently on the agenda.

“Unfortunately in the lead-up to the UN Summit the United States has suggested edits to the Summit Declaration removing key wording on tackling global poverty,” said Gerry Barr co-chair of the Make Poverty History campaign. “With millions of people mobilizing on September 10, it will be difficult for world leaders at the United Nations to ignore the calls to act now to end global poverty.”

Prime Minister Paul Martin is scheduled to attend the UN Summit and tens of thousands of Canadians have already sent e-mails calling on him to announce at the Summit that Canada will devote 0.7% of its Gross National Income to ending global poverty.

In Canada, as part of the white band day activities, the cities of Calgary, Windsor, Ottawa, Toronto and Charlottetown are declaring September 10 Make Poverty History Day and in Edmonton, a “March for Global Justice” will take place at noon on Jasper Avenue.

Student groups will also be active on September 10. In Saskatoon, all the trees on the University of Saskatchewan will be wrapped with white bands. Student leaders from three Vancouver campuses (Capilano College, UBC, SFU) will lead a march over the Burrard St. Bridge in an event dubbed “Bridging the Gap” and at the University of Toronto, Make Poverty History will be part of “Frosh Week” activities where thousands of new students are expected to march through the streets of Toronto.

Internationally, millions will participate in White Band Day 2. In Afghanistan, children across Kabul will fly white kites. In France, the Eiffel Tower will be wrapped in white. In the UK, at the Oval cricket ground, thousands of spectators will hold up white cards virtually wrapping the grounds. And in Colombia, a concert is set for September 10 in Bogotá.

The Make Poverty History is calling for more and better aid, trade justice, 100% cancellation of the debt owed by the poorest countries and an end to child poverty in Canada.

Make Poverty History Canada is part of the Global Call to Action Against Poverty, the world’s largest anti-poverty coalition made up of national campaigns in over 70 countries.

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