269 words that came out of Tony's mouth today

NEWS RELEASE

TONY MARTIN, MP

************************* New Democrats urge MPs, Canadians to stand up against poverty

OTTAWA - This weekend the world unites to stand up and speak out against poverty at home and abroad sending a loud message to governments like Canada to act because citizens care, New Democrat poverty critic Tony Martin (Sault Ste. Marie) said today.

Martin is urging all MPs at home this week in their ridings to join with millions of people on October 16, 17 and 18 in Make Poverty History’s stand up take action campaign.

"There are online petitions, social networking links and easy-to-organize events with pledges to read and online kits to stage or attend to show global solidarity,” Martin said.

Make Poverty History will attempt to break a world record for the largest coordinated mobilization of civil society, demanding leaders live up to millennium development goals, essentially halve global poverty by 2015.

“Poverty is a failure to be a community as well as a failure of government to act especially in a country where there is still plenty for all,” said Martin who with New Democrats has promoted an End Poverty in Canada campaign. “Change will happen with political will and that happens with political pressure from ordinary citizens.”

“Canadians have shown their commitment to eradicating global poverty” said New Democrat foreign affairs critic Paul Dewar. “This week is an opportunity to pressure the government to ensure that Canada does its part to achieve the millennium development goals, including our commitment to meet the foreign aid target of 0.7 percent of gross national income within ten years, in keeping with the Make Poverty History campaign.”

For Stand Up events, the pledge, and event kits, please go to http://standagainstpoverty.org/

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