* THUMBS DOWN 2 POVERTY
Across Africa today, the Day of the African Child, anti-poverty campaigners, representing over 100 organisations and coalitions working in over 26 countries in Africa, launched a major publicity campaign to mobilise support for the Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP): the biggest anti-poverty campaign in history. At press conferences in Nairobi, Johannesburg and Accra, the GCAP coalition launched Africa Snaps - a series of TV adverts featuring Africa's top celebrities and civil society leaders - and the Say No 2 Poverty SMS mobile campaign in 15 African countries. In Nairobi, Kenyan celebrities gathered at Moi Avenue Primary School, Moi Ave to launch the advert and to celebrate Kenyan children's access to affordable and quality education under the Universal Primary Education programme. "This is an exciting opportunity for African artistes to show solidarity with our people and join this critical campaign against poverty in Africa", said Youssour N'dour, one of Africa's leading musicians appearing in the Africa Snaps advertisements. "I support the call to action against poverty a hundred percent", said John Shabala, leader of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, the Grammy Award winners from South Africa.
THUMBS DOWN 2 POVERTY
PRESS RELEASE
Embargoed until 12 noon Thursday 16 June 2005
African campaigners launch major advertising campaign to fight poverty
Across Africa today, the Day of the African Child, anti-poverty campaigners, representing over 100 organisations and coalitions working in over 26 countries in Africa, launched a major publicity campaign to mobilise support for the Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP): the biggest anti-poverty campaign in history.
At press conferences in Nairobi, Johannesburg and Accra, the GCAP coalition launched Africa Snaps - a series of TV adverts featuring Africa’s top celebrities and civil society leaders - and the Say No 2 Poverty SMS mobile campaign in 15 African countries. In Nairobi, Kenyan celebrities gathered at Moi Avenue Primary School, Moi Ave to launch the advert and to celebrate Kenyan children’s access to affordable and quality education under the Universal Primary Education programme.
Andiwo Obondoh of ANCEFA/Elimu Yetu said: “Africa is sending out a clear message to the leaders of the world’s richest countries that 2005 is the year when we strike a meaningful blow against poverty in Africa. It is the year that rich countries take decisive action to increase their aid budgets, reform the rules of global trade and finally end Africa’s debt burden that is destroying the livelihoods of millions".
Traditional mannequins dancing on 6 foot stilts, brandishing giant mobile phones received the first SMS messages sent in support of the campaign. “The SMS campaign lets people from all walks of life across Africa speak directly to their leaders and the world’s richest countries about poverty” said Eve Odete from Oxfam.
In the Africa Snaps advert, celebrities snap their fingers to remind us that every 3 seconds, a child dies from extreme poverty. All messages from this mobile phone campaign will be displayed on the website www.gcapsms.org and presented to African leaders at the Africa Union Ministerial Summit in Tripoli, Libya and leaders of the G8 meeting in Gleneagles Scotland in July.
“This is an exciting opportunity for African artistes to show solidarity with our people and join this critical campaign against poverty in Africa”, said Youssour N’dour, one of Africa’s leading musicians appearing in the Africa Snaps advertisements. “I support the call to action against poverty a hundred percent”, said John Shabala, leader of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, the Grammy Award winners from South Africa.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
About the launch contact:
Rebecca Wabwoba on tel: 444 0440 or mobile 0722 311 089, [email protected] OR
Caroline Kariuki on Tel: 2820159/155 or mobile 0722228820 Email: [email protected]
About the GCAP campaign in Kenya contact: Faith Waweru at GCAP Kenya Secretariat, Kenya Youth CEP Tel: 254-02-241915 or 254-02-311196 Email: [email protected],
About the African Snaps adverts contact:
Creative Storm Multimedia based in Ghana. +233 21 775 072. Email: [email protected]. Contact them for regional and country versions, including special musical clips. These are available as DVD, Beta and CD.
About the Say No 2 Poverty SMS campaign contact:
FAHAMU Tel +44 845 456 2442 or +44 1865 727006 Email: [email protected]
About the Standing Tall Against Poverty live concerts contact:
Creative Storm Multimedia based in Ghana. +233 21 775 072. Email: [email protected].
Notes for the Editors
An international version of the Africa Snaps - featuring Bono of U2, Brad Pitt, P. Diddy amongst others - can be viewed at www.makepovertyhistory.org The Africa Snaps will be shown in French, English and Swahili and be seen by 20 million people in 15 African countries. They will also be screened at live concerts in Johannesburg, Accra and Nairobi.
Global Call to Action Against Poverty is a coalition of over 100 organisations, faith groups and celebrities working Africa. Its is part of the wider Global Call to Action against Poverty, an alliance of over a hundred national coalitions representing over 150 million people from 60 different countries.
In addition to sending a text message to Say No 2 Poverty, people can support the Global Call to Action Against Poverty by wearing a white band around their wrist or attending one of the Standing Tall Against Poverty live concerts to be held in Nairobi, Johannesburg and Accra later this year.