Stand up Speak out

MANILA, Philippines -- Some 2,000 Filipinos, including government officials, teachers, students and soldiers, Wednesday joined a global campaign to end poverty by standing up and making a symbolic pledge at the Rizal Park in Manila.

They pledged to reject not only excuses that allow 50,000 people to die every day because of extreme poverty but also the growing gap between the rich and the poor.


They also urged government leaders to govern fairly, fight corruption and fulfill human rights.
Many of them wore white wristbands with sketches of multicolored human figures.
Organizers in the country expected three million people to stand up and make the pledge -- in parks, government and private offices, schools, hospitals, restaurants -- around the country from 5 a.m. to midnight Wednesday night.
An auditing firm will do a head count and hopefully, a record of sorts will be established for

possible submission to the Guinness Book of Records, Agnes Aleman, UN national information officer, said.
\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>The “Stand Up, Speak Out” pledge is part of the UN campaign to \npromote the Millennium Development Goals that include eradicating extreme \npoverty and hunger, achieving universal primary education and ensuring a \nsustainable environment by 2015.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>“Hopefully, this will encourage our leaders to fulfill their \npromise,” said Aleman.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>\u003cu\>\u003cem\>Biggest headway\u003c/em\>\u003c/u\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>The Asia-Pacific region had more than one billion people living \non less than $1 a day in 1990, but that number has dropped to 641 million and is \nlikely to be cut in half by 2015, according to an Asian Development Bank-UN \nreport.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>China has made the biggest headway, with one in every three \nChinese living in poverty in 1990, compared with one in every 10 today, the \nreport said. But other countries were lagging behind, among them the \nPhilippines, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>“We would like to be one with others in recognizing our effort \nto fight against poverty,” Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral \nsaid.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>In 1990, about 27 percent of Filipinos lived in extreme poverty \n-- on less than P1,022 a month -- but this has gone down to 17 percent, she \nsaid.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>The country’s financial stability and social services, including \nsubsidies for food and medicines, have helped reduce the incidence of extreme \npoverty, according to Assistant Secretary Dolores Castillo of the National \nAnti-Poverty Commission\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>\u003cu\>\u003cem\>Guinness record\u003c/em\>\u003c/u\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>Last year’s “Stand Up Against Poverty” campaign holds the \nofficial record title in the Guinness Book of World Records for 24 million \npeople who stood up against poverty in 24 hours in 87 countries.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>The Philippines ranked third in the Asia-Pacific region with 2.4 \nmillion joining the campaign, after India (9 million) and Nepal (over three \nmillion).",1]
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The “Stand Up, Speak Out” pledge is part of the UN campaign to promote the Millennium Development Goals that include eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, achieving universal primary education and ensuring a sustainable environment by 2015.

“Hopefully, this will encourage our leaders to fulfill their promise,” said Aleman.
Biggest headway

The Asia-Pacific region had more than one billion people living on less than $1 a day in 1990, but that number has dropped to 641 million and is likely to be cut in half by 2015, according to an Asian Development Bank-UN report.

China has made the biggest headway, with one in every three Chinese living in poverty in 1990, compared with one in every 10 today, the report said. But other countries were lagging behind, among them the Philippines, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

“We would like to be one with others in recognizing our effort to fight against poverty,” Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral said.

In 1990, about 27 percent of Filipinos lived in extreme poverty -- on less than P1,022 a month -- but this has gone down to 17 percent, she said.
The country’s financial stability and social services, including subsidies for food and medicines, have helped reduce the incidence of extreme poverty, according to Assistant Secretary Dolores Castillo of the National Anti-Poverty Commission

Guinness record
Last year’s “Stand Up Against Poverty” campaign holds the official record title in the Guinness Book of World Records for 24 million people who stood up against poverty in 24 hours in 87 countries.

The Philippines ranked third in the Asia-Pacific region with 2.4 million joining the campaign, after India (9 million) and Nepal (over three million).
\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>By holding fun activities on Wednesday, organizers said they \nhoped the youth would become aware of the need to eradicate poverty.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>\u003cu\>\u003cem\>Exhibit, rock concert\u003c/em\>\u003c/u\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>Apart from the event marking the International Day for the \nEradication of Poverty at the Rizal Park, an exhibit was held in Quezon City and \na rock concert and cultural show were staged in Makati City.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>At the Liwasang Aurora in Quezon City, the Global Call to Action \nagainst Poverty (GCAP) challenged government officials and policymakers to be \n“one with the poor” and live with only P41 for a day to “truly experience” what \nit is like to live on an empty stomach.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>GCAP-Philippines said about 68 million Filipinos (more than 77 \npercent of the total population) were living on only P96 or less a day. Yet, the \ngovernment claims that the poverty threshold is P41, thus creating an illusion \nof a reduced number of poor people in the country, according to the \ngroup.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>“The government is feeding us with words and inaction perhaps \nbecause words are the only thing that the P41 per person can afford,” Erning \nOfracio, an urban poor, said at a forum attended by some 60 nongovernment \norganizations.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>At the fair, NGOs put up booths selling products of local \ncommunities and handing out advocacy materials. The fair became a place for \ndiscussions and exhibits on various initiatives aimed at ending \npoverty.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>\u003cu\>\u003cem\>Poverty Requiem\u003c/em\>\u003c/u\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>Poverty Requiem, an artistic performance against poverty that \ncombines visual arts, music and movement, was performed at the Liwasang \nAurora.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>GCAP-Philippines claimed that the P10 billion in additional \nbudget for hunger and poverty mitigation programs announced on Monday was part \nof a “publicity” stunt.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>“The government’s declaration of it’s six-month war on hunger \nearlier this year proved to be ineffective, simply palliatives or band-aid \nsolutions to worsening hunger and poverty,” Nora Protacio, GCAP-Philippines \nAmbassador said in a statement.",1]
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By holding fun activities on Wednesday, organizers said they hoped the youth would become aware of the need to eradicate poverty.
Exhibit, rock concert

Apart from the event marking the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty at the Rizal Park, an exhibit was held in Quezon City and a rock concert and cultural show were staged in Makati City.

At the Liwasang Aurora in Quezon City, the Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) challenged government officials and policymakers to be “one with the poor” and live with only P41 for a day to “truly experience” what it is like to live on an empty stomach.
GCAP-Philippines said about 68 million Filipinos (more than 77 percent of the total population) were living on only P96 or less a day. Yet, the government claims that the poverty threshold is P41, thus creating an illusion of a reduced number of poor people in the country, according to the group.

“The government is feeding us with words and inaction perhaps because words are the only thing that the P41 per person can afford,” Erning Ofracio, an urban poor, said at a forum attended by some 60 nongovernment organizations.

At the fair, NGOs put up booths selling products of local communities and handing out advocacy materials. The fair became a place for discussions and exhibits on various initiatives aimed at ending poverty.

Poverty Requiem
Poverty Requiem, an artistic performance against poverty that combines visual arts, music and movement, was performed at the Liwasang Aurora.

GCAP-Philippines claimed that the P10 billion in additional budget for hunger and poverty mitigation programs announced on Monday was part of a “publicity” stunt.
“The government’s declaration of it’s six-month war on hunger earlier this year proved to be ineffective, simply palliatives or band-aid solutions to worsening hunger and poverty,” Nora Protacio, GCAP-Philippines Ambassador said in a statement.
\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>She was reacting to a recent survey by Social Weather Stations, \nwhich showed that 21.5 percent of Filipinos had experienced involuntary hunger, \nthe highest level recorded in the country.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>\u003cu\>\u003cem\>Notes on dioramas\u003c/em\>\u003c/u\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>In Baguio City, everyone walking down Session Road caught a \ncatchy note posted on wire-framed dioramas placed on Session Road on \nTuesday.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>The noted read “Sana magutom din ang Presidente (I hope the \nPresident starves)!”\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>It was one of many notes written by students, vendors, teachers \nand bank employees who interacted with Baguio artists on the eve of the annual \nStand Up Against Poverty campaign.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>On Tuesday, sculptor Kigao Rosimo, musician Shant Verdun and \nperformance artist Rene Aquitania shaped ordinary wire into 15 human figures to \nrepresent the country’s enduring war with poverty.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>They covered the frames with colored plastic sheets to simulate \nstained glass, and installed the dioramas on Session Road.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>\u003cu\>\u003cem\>Christmas wishes\u003c/em\>\u003c/u\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>The artists asked every one who walked by to post early \nChristmas wishes on the dioramas.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>But people offered angry messages against President Gloria \nMacapagal-Arroyo because of various scandals that have embroiled her \nadministration, Rosimo said.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>Foremost among the issues discussed by pedestrians was the money \nthat Malacañang allegedly had given local officials.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>“That is cruel. The people are starving yet she is still capable \nof granting politicians favors,” said a resident.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>He wrote: “Tama na! Sobra na! Alisin ang mga corrupt sa gobyerno \n(Enough! We’ve had it! Remove all corrupt officials from \ngovernment!).”\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>Another wrote: “Sana matugunan ng residente ang hinaing ng mga \nmahihirap (I wish the President can finally address the complaint of our poor \npeople).”",1]
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She was reacting to a recent survey by Social Weather Stations, which showed that 21.5 percent of Filipinos had experienced involuntary hunger, the highest level recorded in the country.
Notes on dioramas

In Baguio City, everyone walking down Session Road caught a catchy note posted on wire-framed dioramas placed on Session Road on Tuesday.

The noted read “Sana magutom din ang Presidente (I hope the President starves)!”
It was one of many notes written by students, vendors, teachers and bank employees who interacted with Baguio artists on the eve of the annual Stand Up Against Poverty campaign.
On Tuesday, sculptor Kigao Rosimo, musician Shant Verdun and performance artist Rene Aquitania shaped ordinary wire into 15 human figures to represent the country’s enduring war with poverty.

They covered the frames with colored plastic sheets to simulate stained glass, and installed the dioramas on Session Road.

Christmas wishes
The artists asked every one who walked by to post early Christmas wishes on the dioramas.
But people offered angry messages against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo because of various scandals that have embroiled her administration, Rosimo said.
Foremost among the issues discussed by pedestrians was the money that Malacañang allegedly had given local officials.

“That is cruel. The people are starving yet she is still capable of granting politicians favors,” said a resident.
He wrote: “Tama na! Sobra na! Alisin ang mga corrupt sa gobyerno (Enough! We’ve had it! Remove all corrupt officials from government!).”
Another wrote: “Sana matugunan ng residente ang hinaing ng mga mahihirap (I wish the President can finally address the complaint of our poor people).”
\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>The National Statistical Coordination Board has classified about \n50 percent of Cordillera farming families as poor.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>Innabuyog, the Cordillera affiliate of the party-list group \nGabriela, said sharp increases in Cordillera malnutrition, which was noted this \nyear by the government, confirmed that most poverty-alleviation projects have \nfailed.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>The Tuesday event led to a major concert Wednesday at the Baguio \nCity Public Market where country western musicians were to be joined by 500 \nporters who would speak out against poverty.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\u003c/span\>\u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"2\"\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\"\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>\u003cstrong\>\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p\u003d49&type\u003d2&sec\u003d24&aid\u003d20071017188\" target\u003d\"_blank\" onclick\u003d\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"padding-bottom:1px\"\>3 million Pinoys ‘stand up, speak out’ \nvs poverty\u003c/span\>\u003cbr\>\u003c/a\>\u003c/strong\>\u003c/font\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"2\"\>\u003cem\>\u003cspan\>By \nKatherine Adraneda\u003c/span\> / \u003cspan\>Thursday, October 18, 2007\u003c/span\> \n\u003c/em\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\>\n\u003cdiv style\u003d\"font-weight:bold\"\>\u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\>\n\u003cdiv\>\u003ca name\u003d\"115d6767728f5d64_p0\"\>\u003c/a\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\"\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>Millions of Filipinos \nacross the country literally stood up as a symbolic pledge in this year’s global \ncampaign against poverty in commemoration of International Poverty Eradication \nDay.\u003c/font\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\"\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>The participants in part \nrejected government excuses that allow 50,000 people to die every day because of \nextreme poverty and the growing gap between rich and poor. It urges government \nleaders to save the lives of the poorest citizens, tackle inequality, govern \nfairly, fight corruption and fulfill human rights.\u003c/font\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\"\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>“After the government’s \ndeclaration of its six-month war on hunger that brought about the release of the \nP1-billion fund for their hunger and poverty mitigation programs, hunger rose to \nrecord high levels,” declared Nora Protacio, ambassador of the Global Call to \nAction against Poverty-Philippines (GCAP).",1]
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The National Statistical Coordination Board has classified about 50 percent of Cordillera farming families as poor.

Innabuyog, the Cordillera affiliate of the party-list group Gabriela, said sharp increases in Cordillera malnutrition, which was noted this year by the government, confirmed that most poverty-alleviation projects have failed.

The Tuesday event led to a major concert Wednesday at the Baguio City Public Market where country western musicians were to be joined by 500 porters who would speak out against poverty.
3 million Pinoys ‘stand up, speak out’ vs povertyBy Katherine Adraneda / Thursday, October 18, 2007

Millions of Filipinos across the country literally stood up as a symbolic pledge in this year’s global campaign against poverty in commemoration of International Poverty Eradication Day.
The participants in part rejected government excuses that allow 50,000 people to die every day because of extreme poverty and the growing gap between rich and poor. It urges government leaders to save the lives of the poorest citizens, tackle inequality, govern fairly, fight corruption and fulfill human rights.

“After the government’s declaration of its six-month war on hunger that brought about the release of the P1-billion fund for their hunger and poverty mitigation programs, hunger rose to record high levels,” declared Nora Protacio, ambassador of the Global Call to Action against Poverty-Philippines (GCAP).
\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\"\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>The Philippines will \ntake part in the “Stand Up, Speak Out” pledge of the UN campaign to promote the \nMillennium Development Goals that include eradicating extreme poverty and \nhunger, achieving universal primary education and ensuring a sustainable \nenvironment by 2015.\u003c/font\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\"\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>About 2,000 government \nofficials, teachers, students, soldiers and ordinary citizens, many of them \nwearing white wristbands with sketches of multicolored human figures, assembled \nearly yesterday at the Rizal \nPark to make the \npledge.\u003c/font\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\"\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>Agnes Aleman of the UN \nInformation Center said the Philippines was targeting 3 million people to stand \nup and make the pledge – in parks, government and private offices, schools, \nhospitals, restaurants and even at Starbucks stores – around the country from 5 \na.m. to midnight.\u003c/font\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\"\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>An auditor working with \nthe UN office in Manila will certify \nthe final figure for the country, in which initial reports said have reached \nfive million.\u003c/font\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\"\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>The Stand Up and Speak \nOut against Poverty campaign targets a Guinness record of 50 million people \nworldwide standing up and speaking out against poverty and \ninequality.\u003cspan\> \u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\"\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>A window from 5 a.m. Oct. 17 to 5 \na.m. Oct. 18, for which volunteers and advocates could hold their \ndemonstration, was set by event organizers in consideration of differing time \nzones around the globe.\u003c/font\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\"\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>Last year, 24 million \npeople from 87 countries around the world stood up against poverty, with \nIndia leading \nAsians with 9 million people, followed by \nNepal with 3 \nmillion and the \nPhilippines with \n2.4 million.\u003c/font\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\"\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>“We would like to be one \nwith the others in commemorating our fight against poverty,” Social Welfare \nSecretary Esperanza Cabral said.",1]
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The Philippines will take part in the “Stand Up, Speak Out” pledge of the UN campaign to promote the Millennium Development Goals that include eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, achieving universal primary education and ensuring a sustainable environment by 2015.

About 2,000 government officials, teachers, students, soldiers and ordinary citizens, many of them wearing white wristbands with sketches of multicolored human figures, assembled early yesterday at the Rizal Park to make the pledge.

Agnes Aleman of the UN Information Center said the Philippines was targeting 3 million people to stand up and make the pledge – in parks, government and private offices, schools, hospitals, restaurants and even at Starbucks stores – around the country from 5 a.m. to midnight.
An auditor working with the UN office in Manila will certify the final figure for the country, in which initial reports said have reached five million.

The Stand Up and Speak Out against Poverty campaign targets a Guinness record of 50 million people worldwide standing up and speaking out against poverty and inequality.
A window from 5 a.m. Oct. 17 to 5 a.m. Oct. 18, for which volunteers and advocates could hold their demonstration, was set by event organizers in consideration of differing time zones around the globe.

Last year, 24 million people from 87 countries around the world stood up against poverty, with India leading Asians with 9 million people, followed by Nepal with 3 million and the Philippines with 2.4 million.

“We would like to be one with the others in commemorating our fight against poverty,” Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral said.
\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\"\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>“It is a gesture that we \nrecognize our effort to fight poverty, as well as the fight itself – what we are \ndoing in order to eradicate poverty in our nation,” she \nsaid.\u003c/font\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\"\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>Cabral said in 1990, \nabout 27 percent of Filipinos lived in extreme poverty – on less than P1,022 a \nmonth – but this has gone down to 17 percent \ncurrently.\u003c/font\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\"\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>Cabral, however, \nappealed to the people to help the government eradicate poverty in the country. \nShe said the poor must do their part in solving this \nproblem.\u003c/font\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\"\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>Assistant Secretary \nDolores Castillo of the National Anti-Poverty Commission said the country’s \nfinancial stability plus a combination of government social services, including \nsubsidies for food and medicine, have helped reduce the incidence of extreme \npoverty.\u003c/font\> \u003cem\>\u003cstrong\>– \u003c/strong\>Helen Flores, AP\u003c/em\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\u003ctable\>\u003ctr\>\u003ctd width\u003d\"100%\"\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\>\u003cstrong\>\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2007/oct/18/yehey/prov/20071018pro4.html\" target\u003d\"_blank\" onclick\u003d\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\"\>Advocates \nbring antipoverty campaign to \nBaguio\u003c/a\>\u003c/strong\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\u003c/td\>\u003c/tr\>\u003ctr\>\u003ctd width\u003d\"100%\"\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\"\>By Harley Palangchao \u003ci\>Correspondent \n\u003c/i\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\"\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>BAGUIO CITY: Local folksingers, \nwith the special participation of a Bolivian artist, performed at the city’s \npublic market and shared the humanitarian message of songs against poverty. \n\u003c/font\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\"\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>There was revelry in one of the \nmost populated areas in Baguio when local folksingers from two bands—Binhi and \nShakilan—joined other advocates in a concert in line with the global “Stand Up \nAgainst Poverty” campaign. \u003c/font\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\"\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>The campaign was held at the \ncity market, particularly at the vegetable section, purportedly to stir \nawareness on the need for people, especially those in the grassroots level. \n",1]
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“It is a gesture that we recognize our effort to fight poverty, as well as the fight itself – what we are doing in order to eradicate poverty in our nation,” she said.
Cabral said in 1990, about 27 percent of Filipinos lived in extreme poverty – on less than P1,022 a month – but this has gone down to 17 percent currently.
Cabral, however, appealed to the people to help the government eradicate poverty in the country. She said the poor must do their part in solving this problem.
Assistant Secretary Dolores Castillo of the National Anti-Poverty Commission said the country’s financial stability plus a combination of government social services, including subsidies for food
and medicine, have helped reduce the incidence of extreme poverty. – Helen Flores, AP

Advocates bring antipoverty campaign to Baguio
By Harley Palangchao Correspondent

BAGUIO CITY: Local folksingers, with the special participation of a Bolivian artist, performed at the city’s public market and shared the humanitarian message of songs against poverty.
There was revelry in one of the most populated areas in Baguio when local folksingers from two bands—Binhi and Shakilan—joined other advocates in a concert in line with the global “Stand Up Against Poverty” campaign.
The campaign was held at the city market, particularly at the vegetable section, purportedly to stir awareness on the need for people, especially those in the grassroots level.
\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\"\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>More importantly, the campaign \nis in support of the call for all governments to make good their pledge to help \nattain millennium development goals, particularly that of poverty \nreduction. \u003c/font\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\"\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>Millions of Filipinos have \nparticipated in this campaign initiated by the United Nations and billed as \n“Stand Up Against Poverty”, which is also in support of millions of Filipino \nfamilies living below the poverty threshold. \u003c/font\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\"\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>In the Cordillera region alone, \nan estimated 440,000 people are in the threshold of poverty, which is why the \nRegional Development Council is urged to focus more on antipoverty programs and \nprojects. \u003c/font\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\"\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>“Stand Up Against Poverty,” the \nglobal campaign in 2006 organized by the UN Millennium campaign holds the record \ntitle in the Guinness Book of World Records for 24 million people in 87 \ncountries standing up against poverty in 24 hours from October 15 to 16, 2006. \nSome 2.4 million Filipinos counted among those who participated in the said \ncampaign. \u003c/font\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\"\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>The Philippines is one of the \n191 states that signed the Millennium Declaration, which embodies commitments to \nachieve the millennium development goals—a set of time-bound and measurable \ntargets for combating poverty, hunger, disease, environmental degradation and \ndiscrimination by 2015. \u003c/font\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\>These goals include eradication of \nextreme poverty and hunger; intention to achieve universal primary education; \npromotion of gender equality and empowerment of women; reduction of child \nmortality; improvement of maternal health; combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other \ndiseases; ensure environmental sustainability and; to develop a global \npartnership for development.\u003cimg height\u003d\"7\" src\u003d\"?ui\u003d1&attid\u003d0.1&disp\u003demb&view\u003datt&th\u003d115d6767728f5d64\" width\u003d\"8\" border\u003d\"0\"\>",1]
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More importantly, the campaign is in support of the call for all governments to make good their pledge to help attain millennium development goals, particularly that of poverty reduction.
Millions of Filipinos have participated in this campaign initiated by the United Nations and billed as “Stand Up Against Poverty”, which is also in support of millions of Filipino families living below the poverty threshold.
In the Cordillera region alone, an estimated 440,000 people are in the threshold of poverty, which is why the Regional Development Council is urged to focus more on antipoverty programs and projects.

“Stand Up Against Poverty,” the global campaign in 2006 organized by the UN Millennium campaign holds the record title in the Guinness Book of World Records for 24 million people in 87 countries standing up against poverty in 24 hours from October 15 to 16, 2006. Some 2.4 million Filipinos counted among those who participated in the said campaign.
The Philippines is one of the 191 states that signed the Millennium Declaration, which embodies commitments to achieve the millennium development goals—a set of time-bound and measurable targets for combating poverty, hunger, disease, environmental degradation and discrimination by 2015.

These goals include eradication of extreme poverty and hunger; intention to achieve universal primary education; promotion of gender equality and empowerment of women; reduction of child mortality; improvement of maternal health; combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; ensure environmental sustainability and; to develop a global partnership for development.
\u003cfont size\u003d\"2\"\>--Harley Palangchao \u003c/font\>\u003c/em\>\u003c/font\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\"\>\n\u003chr\>\n\u003c/font\>\u003cem\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\"\>\u003cstrong\>Features / \u003c/strong\>Philippine Center for \nInvestigative Journalism\u003c/font\>\u003c/em\>\n\u003cp\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003ccite\>\u003cstrong\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\>\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.pcij.org/blog/?p\u003d2013#more-2013\" target\u003d\"_blank\" onclick\u003d\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\"\>New national hunger record \nbelies MDG achievement\u003c/a\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/strong\>\u003c/cite\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003ccite\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\"\>Posted by: \u003cstrong\>Isa \nLorenzo\u003c/strong\> \u003cem\>on 17 October 2007 at 2:48 pm\u003c/em\> \u003c/font\>\u003c/cite\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cdiv\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\>MIDWAY to the 2015 deadline of the \u003c/font\>\u003ca title\u003d\"Millennium Development Goals\" href\u003d\"http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/\" target\u003d\"_blank\" onclick\u003d\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\"\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\>Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)\u003c/font\>\u003c/a\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\>, \nthe Arroyo government \u003c/font\>\u003ca title\u003d\"RP failing in 'gut-level' MDG indicators -- ADB\" href\u003d\"http://www.pcij.org/blog/?p\u003d2009\" target\u003d\"_blank\" onclick\u003d\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\"\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\>reported\u003c/font\>\u003c/a\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\> last week that the country is \nwell on its way to achieving its commitments, highlighted by a drastic reduction \nin the proportion of Filipino families living in extreme poverty.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\>Yet a week prior to the government declaration, the \nresults of the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) \u003c/font\>\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.sws.org.ph/pr071001.htm\" target\u003d\"_blank\" onclick\u003d\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\"\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\>survey\u003c/font\>\u003c/a\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\> seemed to negate this rosy \npicture as a new national hunger record of 21.5 percent of Filipino households — \nor about 3.8 million families — was found to have experienced involuntary hunger \nat least once in the last three months.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\>The new record, up from 19 percent tallied in \nFebruary and November 2006, is almost ten points above the ",1]
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--Harley Palangchao
Features / Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism

New national hunger record belies MDG achievement
Posted by: Isa Lorenzo on 17 October 2007 at 2:48 pm
MIDWAY to the 2015 deadline of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the Arroyo government reported last week that the country is well on its way to achieving its commitments, highlighted by a drastic reduction in the proportion of Filipino families living in extreme poverty.

Yet a week prior to the government declaration, the results of the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey seemed to negate this rosy picture as a new national hunger record of 21.5 percent of Filipino households — or about 3.8 million families — was found to have experienced involuntary hunger at least once in the last three months.
The new record, up from 19 percent tallied in February and November 2006, is almost ten points above the
\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.bas.gov.ph/\" target\u003d\"_blank\" onclick\u003d\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\"\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\>BAS\u003c/font\>\u003c/a\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\>), according to SWS President Mahar Mahangas, already revealed \na national hunger rate of 19 percent.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\>\u003cimg alt\u003d\"sws-hunger-oct2007.jpg\" src\u003d\"?ui\u003d1&attid\u003d0.2&disp\u003demb&view\u003datt&th\u003d115d6767728f5d64\"\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\>With even more Filipinos now going hungry, Global \nCall to Action against Poverty (\u003c/font\>\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.whiteband.org/\" target\u003d\"_blank\" onclick\u003d\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\"\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\>GCAP\u003c/font\>\u003c/a\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\>)-Philippines says the government’s six-month campaign against \nhunger has proved worthless.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\>Declaring a war against hunger, President Gloria \nMacapagal-Arroyo announced the release of P1 billion in March to fund school \nfeeding and food for work programs, barangay food terminals, and \u003cem\>Tindahan \nNatin \u003c/em\>and\u003cem\> Gulay ng Masa \u003c/em\>projects to address hunger in the \ndepressed areas of Metro Manila and several provinces. The hunger response ended \nlast September.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cspan\>\u003c/span\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\>Despite this, hunger has \nremained on the rise.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\>“This just shows how ineffective the government \nhunger intervention programs are,” said GCAP, a local network of nongovernment \nand people’s organizations which is part of the biggest anti-poverty alliance in \nthe world. “We said it in March and we say it again, more strategic solutions, \nrather than palliatives or stop-gap solutions, are needed to fight worsening \nhunger.”\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\>Eradicating extreme hunger and poverty is one of the \neight MDGs. Extreme poverty refers to the proportion of families living below \nthe subsistence or food threshold. The Philippines is said to be on track in \nmeeting its target of halving the proportion of people below the food threshold. \nAs of 2003, the proportion of people with incomes below the subsistence \nthreshold was ",1]
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11.8 percent average in 38 quarterly SWS surveys from mid-1998 to the present. Hunger declined briefly to 14.7 percent last June. A survey conducted last year by the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS), according to SWS President Mahar Mahangas, already revealed a national hunger rate of 19 percent.
With even more Filipinos now going hungry, Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP)-Philippines says the government’s six-month campaign against hunger has proved worthless.
Declaring a war against hunger, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announced the release of P1 billion in March to fund school feeding and food for work programs, barangay food terminals, and Tindahan Natin and Gulay ng Masa projects to address hunger in the depressed areas of Metro Manila and several provinces. The hunger response ended last September.
Despite this, hunger has remained on the rise.
“This just shows how ineffective the government hunger intervention programs are,” said GCAP, a local network of nongovernment and people’s organizations which is part of the biggest anti-poverty alliance in the world. “We said it in March and we say it again, more strategic solutions, rather than palliatives or stop-gap solutions, are needed to fight worsening hunger.”
Eradicating extreme hunger and poverty is one of the eight MDGs. Extreme poverty refers to the proportion of families living below the subsistence or food threshold. The Philippines is said to be on track in meeting its target of halving the proportion of people below the food threshold. As of 2003, the proportion of people with incomes below the subsistence threshold was
\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\>However, the government uses the subsistence \nthreshold in measuring extreme poverty, instead of the $1 per day international \nbenchmark. The present subsistence threshold is pegged at P40.73 per person per \nday, with P27.36 allotted to food. This means that one would only need P9 per \nmeal.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\>“P41 is not enough for any person to live a decent \nlife with,” GCAP said. “The government is mocking us all by saying \nso.”\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\>For these “ridiculously low” figures, several \ncivil-society groups have thus tended to believe that poverty incidence is \nwidely underestimated.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\>Official poverty statistics are also suspect, pointed \nout GCAP’s Ma. Victoria Raquiza. “To begin with, the comparability of the \nofficial poverty estimates of the National Statistical Coordination Board from \n1990 to 2003 is undermined by the 1992 and 2003 major methodology changes,” \nRaquiza said. Comparisons with earlier data sets of the Family Income and \nExpenditure Survey (FIES) have been deterred by the methodology change in 2003 \nwhose implementation was applied retroactively only up to 1997 \nfigures.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\>Raquiza said FIES data also underrepresent the poor \nsince these exclude the ambulant poor, or families without “official and \npermanent residence.”\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\>Worsening hunger has been caused by a decrease of \npurchasing power and rising unemployment and inflation, according to a PCIJ \n\u003c/font\>\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.pcij.org/i-report/1/hungry.html\" target\u003d\"_blank\" onclick\u003d\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\"\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\>report\u003c/font\>\u003c/a\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\>. Food takes up 60 to 70 percent \nof a person’s income, thus unemployment and underemployment would greatly affect \none’s ability to buy food.",1]
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13.5 percent (10.2 percent of all Filipino families), down from 24.3 percent (20.4 percent of families) in 1991.
However, the government uses the subsistence threshold in measuring extreme poverty, instead of the $1 per day international benchmark. The present subsistence threshold is pegged at P40.73 per person per day, with P27.36 allotted to food. This means that one would only need P9 per meal.
“P41 is not enough for any person to live a decent life with,” GCAP said. “The government is mocking us all by saying so.”
For these “ridiculously low” figures, several civil-society groups have thus tended to believe that poverty incidence is widely underestimated.
Official poverty statistics are also suspect, pointed out GCAP’s Ma. Victoria Raquiza. “To begin with, the comparability of the official poverty estimates of the National Statistical Coordination Board from 1990 to 2003 is undermined by the 1992 and 2003 major methodology changes,” Raquiza said. Comparisons with earlier data sets of the Family Income and Expenditure Survey (FIES) have been deterred by the methodology change in 2003 whose implementation was applied retroactively only up to 1997 figures.
Raquiza said FIES data also underrepresent the poor since these exclude the ambulant poor, or families without “official and permanent residence.”
Worsening hunger has been caused by a decrease of purchasing power and rising unemployment and inflation, according to a PCIJ report. Food takes up 60 to 70 percent of a person’s income, thus unemployment and underemployment would greatly affect one’s ability to buy food.
\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\"\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\"\>In 2004, the 5.8 percent food inflation rate \nwas higher than the 5.5 percent overall inflation rate. It was also the highest \nfrom 2000-2004. “With the double whammy of higher unemployment and \nunderemployment, as well as higher inflation, hunger will inevitably increase,” \nsaid Agriwatch Chairperson Ernesto Ordoñez.\u003c/font\> \n\u003chr\>\n\u003cstrong\>\u003cem\>Opinion\u003c/em\>\u003c/strong\> /\u003cem\>Ma. Ceres Doyo / Human Face / Philippine \nDaily Inquirer\u003c/em\>\u003c/font\>\n\u003cp\>\u003c/p\>\u003c/p\>\u003c/div\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cspan\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\>\u003cstrong\>\u003ca href\u003d\"http://archive.inquirer.net/view.php?db\u003d1&story_id\u003d95127\" target\u003d\"_blank\" onclick\u003d\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\"\>World \nPoverty Day is our day \u003c/a\>\u003c/strong\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/span\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cem\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\"\>\u003cspan\>First posted 02:18:58 (Mla time) \nOctober 18, 2007\u003c/span\> / \u003cspan\>Ma. \nCeres P. Doyo / Philippine Daily \u003c/span\>Inquirer \n\u003c/font\>\u003c/em\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cspan\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\>MANILA, \nPhilippines--We who are not on the extreme side of the economic divide, we who \nare fortunate to have a little more than the have-nots, but who have so much \nless than those who talk six to eight zeros in boardrooms and on golf courses, \nhave no reason to feel that there is nothing important or impactful for us to \ndo.\u003c/font\>\u003c/span\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\>We are many, in fact, we are the majority, and we \nhave the power. And I do not mean only on election day. If only we could bring \nforth that power. If only we knew how.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\>Yesterday was the United Nation’s official World \nPoverty Day. It was not a day to be celebrated, but rather to be observed. It \nwas a day to remind the world that a third of the human citizens of this planet \n-- the “have-nots” -- could be dying because of hunger, disease and disasters at \nthis very moment because of the neglect, greed and ignorance of the few “haves” \nwho have too much in their hands and those who have the power, might and numbers \nto change the order of things but don’t.",1]
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In 2004, the 5.8 percent food inflation rate was higher than the 5.5 percent overall inflation rate. It was also the highest from 2000-2004. “With the double whammy of higher unemployment and underemployment, as well as higher inflation, hunger will inevitably increase,” said Agriwatch Chairperson Ernesto Ordoñez.
Opinion /Ma. Ceres Doyo / Human Face / Philippine Daily Inquirer

World Poverty Day is our day
First posted 02:18:58 (Mla time) October 18, 2007 / Ma. Ceres P. Doyo / Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines--We who are not on the extreme side of the economic divide, we who are fortunate to have a little more than the have-nots, but who have so much less than those who talk six to eight zeros in boardrooms and on golf courses, have no reason to feel that there is nothing important or impactful for us to do.
We are many, in fact, we are the majority, and we have the power. And I do not mean only on election day. If only we could bring forth that power. If only we knew how.
Yesterday was the United Nation’s official World Poverty Day. It was not a day to be celebrated, but rather to be observed. It was a day to remind the world that a third of the human citizens of this planet -- the “have-nots” -- could be dying because of hunger, disease and disasters at this very moment because of the neglect, greed and ignorance of the few “haves” who have too much in their hands and those who have the power, might and numbers to change the order of things but don’t.
\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\>For the two billion people who live on less than $2 \n(or about P90) a day, every day is poverty day. Half of them live on less than \n$1 a day. The UN’s official day -- they’ve never heard of it, and for them it \ndoesn’t matter when it is.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\>Seven years ago, in 2000, 189 nations committed \nthemselves to cut that grim figure in half. Four years later in 2004, the \nfigures still looked grim, swinging from hope to despair to hope.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\>More than 100 million children were still out of \nschool. Each year, about 10 million children die before their fifth birthday. \nSome 40 million people are living with HIV and AIDS of which five million die \neach year.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\>UN figures remain grim. Every day, about 25,000 \npeople die of hunger or hunger-related causes. This means one human being every \nthree and a half seconds, with children being the most likely to \nperish.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\>Is there not enough food to go around? Oh, but there \nis enough food to feed the teeming millions. The problem is that there are \nmillions who are trapped or held hostage by poverty and can’t get to where the \nfood is because they have no money, they have no work, they can’t go anywhere. \nAnd when they are further weakened, they become even poorer, sicker and less \nlikely to find work and get to where the food is. They can’t even grow the food \nthey must eat.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\>Without intervention from outside, they are trapped \nin a spiral that goes further down. This spiral has to be broken. Doing this is \nnot easy, it is not going to be broken by simply pumping aid money or building \ninfrastructure. Development aid without regard for the human factor will \neventually fizzle out.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\>There are many ways of dealing with the poverty \nspiral or breaking it softly, so to speak. Development workers would often speak \nabout “food for work” programs that would enable jobless adults to get up slowly \nand build for themselves the infrastructure that would help them get out of the \nmire. And for children, there is the “food for education” where children are fed \nwhile they are in school.",1]
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For the two billion people who live on less than $2 (or about P90) a day, every day is poverty day. Half of them live on less than $1 a day. The UN’s official day -- they’ve never heard of it, and for them it doesn’t matter when it is.
Seven years ago, in 2000, 189 nations committed themselves to cut that grim figure in half. Four years later in 2004, the figures still looked grim, swinging from hope to despair to hope.
More than 100 million children were still out of school. Each year, about 10 million children die before their fifth birthday. Some 40 million people are living with HIV and AIDS of which five million die each year.
UN figures remain grim. Every day, about 25,000 people die of hunger or hunger-related causes. This means one human being every three and a half seconds, with children being the most likely to perish.
Is there not enough food to go around? Oh, but there is enough food to feed the teeming millions. The problem is that there are millions who are trapped or held hostage by poverty and can’t get to where the food is because they have no money, they have no work, they can’t go anywhere. And when they are further weakened, they become even poorer, sicker and less likely to find work and get to where the food is. They can’t even grow the food they must eat.
Without intervention from outside, they are trapped in a spiral that goes further down. This spiral has to be broken. Doing this is not easy, it is not going to be broken by simply pumping aid money or building infrastructure. Development aid without regard for the human factor will eventually fizzle out.
There are many ways of dealing with the poverty spiral or breaking it softly, so to speak. Development workers would often speak about “food for work” programs that would enable jobless adults to get up slowly and build for themselves the infrastructure that would help them get out of the mire. And for children, there is the “food for education” where children are fed while they are in school.
\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\>Of what use are a school and a good curriculum (and \nbroadband networks) if the students have addled brains because they are \nmalnourished? They wouldn’t be able to get to the school house because they \nsuffer from vitamin and mineral deficiency, their lips and gums are sore, their \nbodies are ravaged by infection, etc., etc.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\>One small step at a time. A global problem could find \nsome local solutions that would mean the difference from here to there. And the \npoor themselves, if they are not yet so crippled by disease and hunger, could do \na lot for themselves, with a little help, of course.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\>The theme for the 20th International Day for the \nEradication of Poverty (that’s the official name) is “People Living in Poverty \nas Agents of Change.” This suggests recognition of the poor people’s role in \ntheir own emancipation.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\>There are as many stories on this as there are many \npoor families. I have seen stories unfold around me. I have seen failures and \nsuccesses. I have seen crossovers from despair to hope.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\>It is difficult for a journalist to remain on the \nfringes. I have always needed to savor what it is like, to be there, to \nsometimes put in something where my mouth is. But one must forget that something \nwill ever come back. Oh, but something does, but not in the way we might \nexpect.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\>And then, one must remember that local efforts are \nnot everything. On the occasion of World Poverty Day, Jubilee South (a global \nnetwork of social movements, including those from the Philippines) has issued a \nreminder that one of the biggest challenges for the global debt movement today \nis to correct the perception that the debt problem has largely been solved by \nthe debt relief programs offered by lenders in recent years.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\>“The majority of the peoples of the South continue to \nsuffer from the injustice and staggering burden of debt. It is a burden not only \nbecause of the huge amounts of debt payments in the face of poverty and \ndeprivation. It is unjust not only because our people did not benefit from much \nof the debts they are forced to pay. The debt is also used as an instrument to \nensure that our economies generate profits for global corporations and meet the \nrequirements of global markets instead of providing for our needs.",1]
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Of what use are a school and a good curriculum (and broadband networks) if the students have addled brains because they are malnourished? They wouldn’t be able to get to the school house because they suffer from vitamin and mineral deficiency, their lips and gums are sore, their bodies are ravaged by infection, etc., etc.
One small step at a time. A global problem could find some local solutions that would mean the difference from here to there. And the poor themselves, if they are not yet so crippled by disease and hunger, could do a lot for themselves, with a little help, of course.
The theme for the 20th International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (that’s the official name) is “People Living in Poverty as Agents of Change.” This suggests recognition of the poor people’s role in their own emancipation.
There are as many stories on this as there are many poor families. I have seen stories unfold around me. I have seen failures and successes. I have seen crossovers from despair to hope.
It is difficult for a journalist to remain on the fringes. I have always needed to savor what it is like, to be there, to sometimes put in something where my mouth is. But one must forget that something will ever come back. Oh, but something does, but not in the way we might expect.
And then, one must remember that local efforts are not everything. On the occasion of World Poverty Day, Jubilee South (a global network of social movements, including those from the Philippines) has issued a reminder that one of the biggest challenges for the global debt movement today is to correct the perception that the debt problem has largely been solved by the debt relief programs offered by lenders in recent years.
“The majority of the peoples of the South continue to suffer from the injustice and staggering burden of debt. It is a burden not only because of the huge amounts of debt payments in the face of poverty and deprivation. It is unjust not only because our people did not benefit from much of the debts they are forced to pay. The debt is also used as an instrument to ensure that our economies generate profits for global corporations and meet the requirements of global markets instead of providing for our needs.
\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\>“We continue to struggle for freedom from debt. We \nstruggle not only to wipe out the outstanding debt claim from our countries but \nto transform the structures, the institutions, and the relations of power that \nhas led to the accumulation of unjust and illegitimate debt.”\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\" size\u003d\"3\"\>Poverty has a human face, a name, a voice that we \nknow very well. We need not journey far. We who are un-poor and un-wealthy can \ndo a lot.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\"\>* * *\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\"\>Log on to \u003c/font\>\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.freerice.com\" target\u003d\"_blank\" onclick\u003d\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\"\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\"\>www.freerice.com\u003c/font\>\u003c/a\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\"\>, use your word knowledge and win grains of rice for the poor. I have \nwon 1,000 grains in one sitting. Someone please check and tell me if this is for \nreal.\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\"\>* * *\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp\>\u003cem\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\"\>Send feedback to \u003c/font\>\u003ca href\u003d\"mailto:cerespd@info.com.ph\" target\u003d\"_blank\" onclick\u003d\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\"\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\"\>cerespd@info.com.ph\u003c/font\>\u003c/a\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Arial\"\>. \n\u003c/font\>\u003c/em\>\u003c/p\>\u003c/p\>\u003c/td\>\u003c/tr\>\u003c/table\>\u003c/div\>\u003c/div\>\u003c/div\>\u003c/div\>\n",0]
);
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“We continue to struggle for freedom from debt. We struggle not only to wipe out the outstanding debt claim from our countries but to transform the structures, the institutions, and the relations of power that has led to the accumulation of unjust and illegitimate debt.”
Poverty has a human face, a name, a voice that we know very well. We need not journey far. We who are un-poor and un-wealthy can do a lot.
* * *
Log on to www.freerice.com, use your word knowledge and win grains of rice for the poor. I have won 1,000 grains in one sitting. Someone please check and tell me if this is for real.
* * *
Send feedback to cerespd@info.com.ph.