Students stood up and spoke out against poverty last Wednesday, October 17 in Forwell Hall, as part of global mass-mobilization calling on world leaders to keep their promises, and make poverty history by 2015.

Last year ‘Stand Up Speak Out' activists around the world organized the largest mobilization ever in world history, with over 23 million people taking part.

Endorsed by various organizations including Make Poverty History, and World University Services Canada, this year's anti-poverty mobilization had the goal of breaking the world record they set at last year's event. This day of action coincided with the international day for the eradication of poverty, and had the goal of keeping the momentum building in the global anti-poverty movement, raising more support for the 8 Millennium Development Goals, and pressuring world leaders to keep their promise this time.

Students from the Fanshawe Social Justice Club, led by Shaun Mellanson, a first year General Arts and Sciences student, organized the ‘Stand Against Poverty' event at Fanshawe College.

While acts such as ‘The Floating Abigails' and ‘Aaron Allen and The Small City Saints' performed songs for students, Shaun, Cherlyn, and other social justice members, got students to sign the ‘Stand Against Poverty' pledge, and gathered donations for ‘make poverty history' wristbands and buttons, raising more than $200 for an orphanage and a school in Burkina Faso, Africa.

After the artists performed, the following pledge was read out loud while approximately 45 students physically stood up against poverty.

As part of the generation that demands an end to poverty, I stand up:
- for the 30,000 children killed by poverty today
- to insist that governments keep their promises to the poor
- to reach the Millennium Development Goals and aim even higher
- for action, not excuses
- for justice and equality
I stand up against poverty.

For more information about the stand against poverty campaign visit standagainstpoverty.org