8 Goals

8 Goals to Make Poverty History

People around the world are mobilizing to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.  Be part of the movement.  This year marks the halfway point for the achievement of the MDGs by 2015.  Local committees are joining the global movement to end world poverty.  Together, we can reach these 8 goals and make poverty history.

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
Since September 2000, all UN member states have signed on and agreed on 8 goals that must be achieved by 2015 to end poverty.  The world now has a plan - the Millennium Development Goals.  8 goals for a better world (logo) is the Canadian campaign on campuses to end poverty as part of the Millennium Campaign.  Local Committees have an important role to play to bring attention to the goals, get their university/college to support them, engage in dialogue with policy-makers to get Canada to live up to its Millennium Promises.  Join forces with other groups on campus that support the MDGs and hold joint events - there is power in numbers!
What you can do
Here are a few ideas to get you started

Stand Up and Speak Out on October 17th
Last year, more than 23 million people in 87 countries stood up and took action to remind leaders of their promise to achieve the MDGs. It was the largest single coordinated mobilization in the history of the Guinness World Records.  This year, marks the halfway point to achieve the MDGs by 2015 – but the world is falling behind.  Join this growing movement of people calling to end world poverty.  Help set a new world record.  On October 17, 2007 Stand Up and Speak Out!  Assemble as many people as possible at a pre-established location.,. Explain briefly the Stand Up – Speak Out event and ask those assembled to count down from 10 and then stand for one minute as the Stand Up pledge is read.  Get a campus or community leader to host the event and read the pledge.  Count the number of people present and log the event on-line as part of the second Stand Up and Speak Out world record-setting attempt.  For more info: www.standagainstpoverty.org/ or www.8goals.ca

Champion the goals for International Development Week (Feb 3-7, 2008)
By raising awareness and taking action, Local Committees can help make the MDGs a reality.  You can set up an information booth, sell white bands, distribute 8 goals material, hold information sessions, organise a benefit-concert or hold a day of action. 

Wrap it in White - Groups around the world have been wrapping buildings in white.  It’s a fun, effective awareness strategy and a great way to get media attention. 
Visual representation of 0.7% - Help increase Canadian support for more and better aid by creating a visual representation of 0.7%, the percentage of our Gross National Income (GNI) that we have promised to allocate to foreign aid by 2015.  We are currently at 0.32% . 

Student Association Millennium Declaration - Ask your student association to sign the declaration.  It’s a powerful statement in support of the MDGs, representing the voice of the student body.

Get your University/College to pledge its support
Post-secondary institutions can play a key role in promoting the Millennium Development Goals in Canada. To get them on board we have created a Millennium Declaration which they can adopt, thus promising to do their part. Our universities and colleges should use their influence and institutional resources to support the eight goals.  The University of Guelph and Université du Québec en Outaouais have already signed on – what about your institution?

Support the Make Poverty History campaign
Meaningful policy change can make a difference – join the campaign, become an advocate. Help increase Canadian support for more and better aid, trade justice and debt cancellation by supporting the Make Poverty History campaign.  You can participate in White Band Days or send a message to Prime Minister Stephen Harper.  For more information about this campaign, visit www.makepovertyhistory.ca

Want to get involved?
Using the on-line Activity Sign-up Form on My Committee, your Local Committee must identify a contact person for this activity in order to receive support, tips and tools from other committees and the WUSC campus engagement team.


The 8 Goals campaign coalition was created when civil society organizations and youth organizations in Canada came together to multiply their power, energy, and impact for the Millennium Campaign – an initiative which was launched by the UN worldwide.