GCAP is calling for a global day of action on or around June 1, to demand that governments Act Now to End Poverty and Inequality and Stop the Food Crisis.

On June 3-5, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) will host the High Level Conference on World Food Security: the Challenges of Climate Change and Bioenergy in Rome. It will be attended by the UN Secretary General, several Heads of State including President Lula of Brazil and President Sarkozy of France as well as World Bank and IMF representatives, where they will discuss ways to address the current global food crisis.


Millions of people living in poverty are suffering now from the rise in food prices. They need immediate support to buy and produce their own food. This meeting is also an opportunity to address the structural problems contributing to the crisis such as under-investment in agriculture, unfair trade rules, lack of progress on the MDGs, lack of delivery on aid commitments and gender injustice.

Below are some suggested actions which can be taken on or around June 1:

Peaceful march, walk or demonstration
Protest outside a government building or House of Parliament
Display banners (white bands) and other materials with ‘Stop the Food Crisis’ and key demands
Meet with heads of state, parliamentarians or local government to deliver our demands. This could involve a symbolic gesture such as handing over a bag of rice or grain wrapped in a white band
Publish an article or letter in the national or local press
Organise a press conference with civil society representatives, experts such as economists, academics and people involved in the food and agriculture industry, government representatives and, most importantly, those affected by the food crisis themselves in countries in the South, or in the North, testimonies from women and young people most affected
Issue a press release

Direct people to sign a petition or take an e-action (currently e-actions include avaaz.org/en/world_food_crisis ,  one.org/hungercrisis and hungerfreeplanet.org) Organise a 3 day fast, now or during the 3 days of the meeting (June 3-5), one day for every billion people who live on less than $2 a day Organise a performance of the Poverty Requiem or play it at an event  The Poverty Requiem, can be performed, but also downloaded and played as it tells the story of the current food crisis. The work is made up of five movements elaborating on the different ways in which poverty impacts on people: suffering, anger, mourning, humour and hope. The single ‘Fair share song’ and the first and third movements are particularly suitable for events and the media to use as illustration of the present food crisis. Please ensure you communicate all activities, and the testimonies of people affected by the food crisis to the GCAP support team so we can take the voices and stories of ordinary people directly to politicians and other decision-makers. See whiteband.org/foodcrisis with more information on GCAP demands, links and ideas.

Click on the map to see what happened on October 17

 

  

51 PERFORMANCES IN 23 COUNTRIES!

From all parts of the world thousands of people performed the Poverty Requiem!
More than 50 different staging’s took place in 23 countries as part of the global Stand Up and Speak Out Campaign of GCAP.
Click the world map above to see what happened in the participating countries.

New World Record!

Over 43.7 million people, in 127 countries have broken the Guinness World Record – set last year at 23.5 million - for the largest number of people to “STAND UP AGAINST POVERTY” in 24 hours. Read Full Press Release