MAJOR GLOBAL ACTION PLANNED
Wednesday 24 September 2008
Global dignitaries, activists and celebrities including Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan, Emeritus Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Annie Lennox, John Legend, Rahul Bose, Anqelique Kidjo, Scarlett Johannsson, Missy Higgins, Emmanuel Jal, Wyclef Jean and Mischa Barton are calling out to leaders to keep their Millennium Development Goal promises, through the international release of a new song by Black-Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am.
Under the umbrella of the Global Call to Action Against Poverty alliance, in my name will be released September 25, 2008, as the UN meets for an emergency poverty summit in New York. The release also marks the launch of a major global campaign action, also called in my name, challenging people all over the world to hold to account their leaders for their poverty promises.
"The time for action has never been more urgent - rising food prices have plunged 100 million more people into poverty, and the economic slowdown risks eroding political support for development," said Queen Rania, who has advocated achieving the MDGs.
"We can be the generation that ends poverty," said will.i.am. "Politicians promised in 2000 to halve poverty in 15 years. They made this pledge in my name, now they must act to achieve it."
will.i.am worked with more than thirty other celebrities and activists to create an inspiring video accompanying the song, explaining how attainable this goal is and urging leaders to make it happen (available for download now at http://www.inmyname.com/).
"We're half way there, and thanks to people's efforts, there has been real progress. There are more children in school. More people are getting essential medicines. But 30,000 children still die every day because of poverty," said actor Kristin Davis.
Angelique Kidjo, whose voice features on the track, said: "If I put my name to something it means I am committed to its outcome, I want to see this sort of response from leaders and others with power to effect change people living in poverty see tangible changes in their lives immediately."
Kidjo and will.iam will perform 'In My Name' live in Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza on September 25 for the launch, They will be joined by Queen Rania of Jordan, UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, Ela Bhatt, Mary Robinson, Kristin Davis, Rahul Bose and activists from Africa, Asia and Latin America who will be amongst the first to sign their names to the “in my name” pledge.
"While some progress has been made, many governments have fallen disgracefully behind schedule. Rich countries are back-tracking on their aid promises and poor countries are not investing enough in education and health care which is undermining people’s fundamental rights. We can still meet the 2015 deadline, but this is a marathon not a sprint and what we need is immediate and sustained action by nations, both rich and poor together". said Kumi Naidoo, Co-Chair of the Global Call to Action Against Poverty.
'In My Name' is organized by the Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) with support from Save the Children, Oxfam International and Comic Relief.
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