Anita Sharma, North America Coordinator, speaks at Stand Up, Take Action in New York City

These promises were made in all our names

Millions of people gathered around the world during the weekend to participate in the fifth annual global grassroots event Stand Up, Take Action. Several events in North America occurred during the weekend, with hundreds of thousands of people taking a "Stand" against global poverty. The event this year was especially important as it occurred prior to the UN MDG Review Summit in New York where 140 world leaders and heads of government came together to discuss the progress to date of the MDGs, and to agree upon necessary actions to achieve as many of the Goals by the 2015 target date as possible.

The North America Coordinator, Anita Sharma, used the opportunity to address a crowd of hundreds at Lincoln Center about the importance of achieving the MDGs, calling upon them to hold their leaders accountable for the promises they've made to achieve the MDGs. Sharma indicated that "[MDG] progress has been uneven, but we have made some tremendous strides and achievements toward the Goals. What we need to do right now is make sure in the last five years...that our leaders keep their promises. Remember that these were promises that were made in all of our names". She spoke about her recent experience of having a child to address the fact that many of the root causes of poverty and disease are preventable, and that the MDGs are basic human rights to which everyone is entitled.

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Nonprofits & Activism

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