JustWorldOrder

Calling on the U.N.

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 18:11:00 -0400

See below statement I just delivered at the U.N. In New York, I was asked to speak as a civil society representative at the High Level Dialogue on Financing for Development on behalf of the Global Call to Action Against Poverty /CIVICUS.

It seemed to be positively received with the representative of Brazil supporting the statement and the need for systemic change in the global financial architecture in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and lift millions of men women and children out of poverty.

I had to speak quite slowly given my Scottish Accent and I was sitting at the table last occupied by a member of the Indian delegation and next to the Kenyan delegation which I found quite omenous!

Mr President,

Thank you for the honour of inviting civil society to participate in this High Level Dialogue on Financing for Development and the MDGs, my name is Rajiv Joshi and I am here with the Global Call to Action Against Poverty, which is honoured to be part of the President of the General Assembly’s Task Force on CSO Dialogue towards the MDG Summit. GCAP is the worlds largest civil society movement calling for an end to global poverty and inequality, with national coalitions, civil society organisations and constituency groups in over 100 countries, representing peoples at the grassroots, from landless in India, Indigenous peoples in the Amazon to Auto workers in Detroit, all victims of the same system.

We see this issue and the need to connect development financing to accelerate the MDGs as not only a financial question, but also a moral question. This moral crises is guilty of the 7 sins Mahatma Gandhi described nearly a century ago. We see a world of:

- Wealth without work

- Pleasure without conscience

- Knowledge without Character

- Commerce without morality

- Science without humility

- Worship without sacrifice

- Politics without principles

Last year over 4.3% of world GDP was found to stabilise the worlds economies, while we recognise this was essential to save jobs and lives of people around the world, we cannot understand why, the 1% of World GDP needed to overcome poverty and tackle climate insecurity, cannot be found.

Millions of ordinary people are calling on their leaders to recognise the fierce urgency of now and act with the emergency measures needed, in October, the Global Call to Action Against Poverty and the UN Millennium Campaigned mobilised 2.5% of the worlds population, 173 men, women and children against poverty and for the Millennium Development Goals. These citizens are also calling time on the global governance deficit, and seeking systemic change.

Nationally this means greater transparency and inclusive participation, strengthening the capacity of civil society to hold governments accountable for their promises to people. Accountability is key, and without it, development finance will not flow to the most vulnerable and corruption will continue to infect national development processes.

Globally too, the deficit of governance must be addressed, this means a community of power, inclusiveness and participation of less developed economies and greater transparency and accountability. The time has come for systemic change; the status quo is leading us to disaster. Without equitable governance, development finance will not flow to those most in need.

As we look towards the MDG Summit, we recognise that this is the worlds last chance to salvage the promises made in the millennium development goals. The time for words has passed. People living in poverty must see action and results. This requires specific, measurable, binding and time-bound measures, which mobilise the scale of resources, required and empower people to lift themselves out of poverty.

We recognise that these emergency measures to rescue the MDGs need systemic change, as victims of an unjust system, we are calling for innovative financing including proposals such as a financial transaction tax and currency taxes, which are needed to mobilise the capital required to achieve ‘real’ development and tackle climate change. We are serious. This is a major crisis. Without unprecedented action and a change of heart, none of the MDGs will be reached, not only would this undermine the legitimacy and capacity of International Institutions and processes, but it will fail billions of people struggling in a lob sided world.

We need people centred solutions which put women and young people at the centre, we note that increasing feminisation of poverty while it is estimated that an additional 300, 000 children have perished as a result of the economic crises. We ended the decade with 50% more people living in poverty than when the MDGs were first envisaged. If we are to end the next decade with a fairer more just world, we need solutions, which are consistent, the fierce urgency of now and acknowledge the failures of the current system.

Mr President,

While we place our fragile world in the hands of our leaders, we, as civil society wish to be seen as partners in development, we hope that civil society will no longer be excluded, while we see civil society space shrinking around the world, we remain hopeful that our voices here are not only listened too, but also heard. If civil society is truly involved, we believe we can work together to build a more just and equitable world for all peoples.

Thank you.

Me speaking at the UN on Financing for Development.

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 18:06:13 -0400

Me speaking at the UN on Financing for Development.

"Ali G in the USA Ayeeei!! Booyakasha!"

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:52:19 -0400

“Ali G in the USA Ayeeei!! Booyakasha!”

Now planning campaigning or 2010 with several INGOs and social...

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:04:11 -0400

Now planning campaigning or 2010 with several INGOs and social movements in Ottawa, next year is a crucial year in the fight against poverty!

Ringing the opening bell at NASDAQ (this is my picture on the...

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:06:53 -0400

Ringing the opening bell at NASDAQ (this is my picture on the big screen in Timed Square!) - Stand Up and Take Action event in times Square calling on people to end poverty!

It’s a long tedious process, but so important that...

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:26:37 -0400

It’s a long tedious process, but so important that everyone who stood up is counted and there are no errors!!!

He counting and verifying of events on the ground continues as...

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:21:26 -0400

He counting and verifying of events on the ground continues as millions of people send In their photos and evidence of actions, so many people in thousands of events all over the world, standing together against poverty! Stay tuned for the final number!

Amazing……..Stand Up Take Action Flash Mob at the...

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 16:46:01 -0400

Amazing……..Stand Up Take Action Flash Mob at the Atrium of the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO)

"Sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great, You can be that generation"

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 16:16:34 -0400

“Sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great,
You can be that generation”

- Nelson Mandela, MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY 2005: People all over the world are responding to this call to action.

Hundreds of thousands already Standing up in Bangladesh,...

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 16:13:50 -0400

Hundreds of thousands already Standing up in Bangladesh, demanding a decent living wage for all.

PAKISTAN VILLAGE MARCHES AGAINST POVERTY - STAND UP AND TAKE...

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 15:54:59 -0400

PAKISTAN VILLAGE MARCHES AGAINST POVERTY - STAND UP AND TAKE ACTION 2009

People power to end poverty

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 15:54:00 -0400

People power to end poverty

As I sit here at my computer in New York, as part of a team of people tasked with verifying millions of people who have joined the annual Stand Up and Take Action Mobilization, I am struck with with an overwhelming sense of hope, seeing powerful images of people uniting. Men, women, children, rich, poor, young and old from all walks of life coming together. These are not just numbers on a spreadsheet or registrations on an online database, but real people, stepping out of their daily struggle to demonstrate their commitment to something bigger than each of them. It may seem at first that the notion of a few people ‘standing up’ is too simple, to easy, to far from what many believe is required to bring about the systemic changes needed to end poverty. But what I am seeing, millions upon millions of people, thousands of events, all at the same time, it tells a profound story. It fills me with a sense that change is possible. Never before has our world been as connected as it is today. I see people who can see beyond their own hopes and dreams, people who understand that all of our hopes and all of our dreams are connected to those of others. It feels like a just world order is rising, people no longer willing to stand idly by as people and planet burn. Today, 24 hours into this mobilisation already over 5000 events have been held by people in over 100 countries….is this the start of a new economic, social and cultural revolution, people demanding change and calling their leaders to account….END POVERTY NOW……

Armed like it’s a warzone

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:25:16 -0400

Armed like it’s a warzone

Pittsburgh is a police state

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:23:44 -0400

Pittsburgh is a police state

GCAP rallying the G20 along with some of Pittsburghs poorest...

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:07:47 -0400

GCAP rallying the G20 along with some of Pittsburghs poorest communities

North Carolina activist speaking, it’s illegal in Virginia...

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 12:32:15 -0400

North Carolina activist speaking, it’s illegal in Virginia and north carolina for workers to have a trade union contract!!!

"We need to move now to “yes we can, yes we must and yes we will"

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 12:19:19 -0400

“We need to move now to “yes we can, yes we must and yes we will””

Kumi Naidoo Speaking at a rally here at the G20 in one of...

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 12:17:42 -0400

Kumi Naidoo Speaking at a rally here at the G20 in one of Pittsburgh poorest neighbourhoods at ‘Freedom Point’.

"SURVIVAL IS NOT NEGOTIABLE"

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 10:48:00 -0400

““SURVIVAL IS NOT NEGOTIABLE””

- As the G20 discusses the financial package needed to deliver a fair and binding deal at the Copenhagen Summit in December, we must call on our leaders to recognise that the issue of human survival cannot be a point of compromise. It is time for urgent action to protect people and the planet.

G20 Pittsburgh: Hope lost?

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 10:47:07 -0400

Having arrived in Pittsburgh, there is a strange feeling on the streets, people have deserted the city, and police and military personnel circulate as far as the eye can see. A summit which many hoped would address the challenges of growing economic insecurity and climate change may have been hijacked by the issue of an Iran Nuclear threat.