SIMULTANEOUS GLOBAL CAMPAIGN AGAINST POVERTY BREAKS WORLD RECORD FOR NUMBER OF PEOPLE STANDING UP FOR A CAUSE

Singapore, 22 October 2008 - Financial crisis or not, tens of millions around the world have demanded that world leaders take urgent action to end poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

Almost 117 million people from 131 countries - representing nearly 2 per cent of the world's population - participated in Stand Up and Take Action Against Poverty, a global campaign from 17 to 19 October co-organised by the UN Millennium Campaign and the Global Call to Action Against Poverty. Almost 8,000 events were held in all, the largest proportion in Asia.

Singaporeans added 14,514 to the global Stand Up tally through their participation in 35 separate Stand Up events plus an e-campaign. This is more than triple the number of Singaporeans who took part in last year' campaign.

Collectively the 116,993,629 activists and campaigners have set a new record in the Guinness Book of World Records for the biggest mass mobilization. Last year, a total of 43.7 million people participated in Stand Up events globally.

"This weekend, people around the globe assembled in numbers too large to ignore, demanding that world leaders deliver on the promises they made in the year 2000 to eradicate extreme poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015," says ONE (SINGAPORE) President Vernetta Lopez. "We will not stay seated while promises to end poverty remain unfulfilled.

Also adding their voices to the global cry against poverty were U2 lead singer Bono and human and civil rights leader Martin Luther King III.

"Even in tough times we can't abandon our promises to the poorest to do more of what helps and less of what hurts," said Bono.

"This show of the mass will of people around the world against the massive injustice of poverty and in support of the Millennium Development Goals this past weekend was moving and powerful -- but now it's up to world leaders to match the passion and commitment of their people and deliver on their commitments ," said human and civil rights leader Martin Luther King III. "My father proved that when the voices of citizens become too loud to ignore, governments are forced to do the right thing. We'll keep mobilizing and advocating for change until they do," added Mr Martin Luther King III.

Photographs of Singapore events are available on

http://www.flickr.com/photos/one_singapore/sets/72157608151978632/

You are also invited to participate in a global online press conference on 22 October 2008 at 9.30pm Singapore time (1.30pm GMT), when the final figures will be announced. A panel will be on hand to take questions and the significance of the campaign in the fight against global poverty. Visit www.standagainstpoverty.org and follow the link on the homepage to access the press conference.