An Incredible 20,003 UAE Residents Stand Against Poverty
*This incredible Image was shot at The School of Knowledge, Sharjah
Official Guinness Verification:
The world record for the most people to ‘Stand Up Against Poverty’ in 24 hours was set on 15 - 16 October 2006 for the United Nation’s Millennium Campaign and involved a massive total of 23,542,614 participants in 11,646 events around the globe.
Six years ago, 189 world leaders sat down and agreed to end poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. On October 15&16, over 23 million people people across the world stood up to remind them of this promise.
The Record Release:
Dubai: An awe-inspiring 20,003 people, came together across the United Arab Emirates to make a stand against poverty and to help set a Guinness World Record for the most number of people to ‘Stand Up’ Against Poverty, ever.
UAE’s participation was an unprecedented effort as more than 21 simultaneous ‘Stand Up’ events took place across the country over a 24 hour period (15th &16th). The benchmark set by worldwide officials from the Guinness Team was set at 10,000 globally - However UAE alone went on to exceed all expectations to double that figure.
The new Guinness World Record for the most number of people to simultaneously ‘Stand Up’ against poverty is a phenomenal: 23,542,614
The efforts in the UAE were complimented by the hundreds of thousands of people that participated in the challenge across the Arab World - Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Yemen, Iran, Iraq, Palestinian Territories, Bahrain, Oman, Egypt & Israel. The stand up moments were at diverse locations across the region at Iftaars, Prayer Groups, Schools, Universities, City Squares, Parks, Beaches and Offices all across the region in
‘It is incredible how awareness about the campaign in the country has grown in less than 12 months to the sort of figures we have received today. This incredible gesture was made even more meaningful due to the fact that it fell in the Holy Month of Ramadan and so clearly brought out the countries willingness to support the less fortunate.’ - Anish Kattukaran, National Coordinator of Make Poverty History-Emirates at the launch of the record figures.
The ‘Stand Up’ Challenge in the UAE was coordinated by Make Poverty History-Emirates and was an initiative of The Global Call to Action Against Poverty & The UN-Millennium Campaign.
The campaign in the UAE has grown astoundingly in less than 12 months, from its ‘Walk Against Poverty’ on 9th December which mobilized approximately 400 residents, to the feat of initiating the 21 simultaneous events attended by over 20,003 people. The campaign believes that the citizens of the UAE have successfully shown the world that they are against this injustice that is poverty.
2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner Mohammed Younus along with Guinness officials made the World Record announcement in Dhakka at 9am GMT, with simultaneous announcements being made at press conferences in Nairobi, London and New York. In a colorful display using a human formation he announced to the world that we had indeed set the new Guinness World Record against poverty.
1.‘Stand Up’ Event Highlights – United Arab Emirates:
- - Stand Up was launched by Anish Kattukaran, National Coordinator of MPH-Emirates live on the ARN Radio Network at 2pm on the 15th
- - Thousands of students at Westminster in Al Qusais, came dressed in their national outfits of more than 81 nationalities.
- - Scores of people gathered at the open beach in Umm Sequim, at the foot of the iconic Burj Al Arab to make Dubai’s grand statement against global poverty.
- - Hundreds of participants at the English College attended an interactive presentation and ‘Stood Up’ against poverty.
- - Three thousand students stopped everything they were doing and stood up in every class all over the Delhi Private School Sharjah as the Principal read the Stand Up pledge.
- - Hundreds of office going people took time out of their busy schedules to make a stance against poverty, from Gargash Lighting Systems to Saatchi & Saatchi
- - Hundreds of students at the Dubai Scholars school put up a stage show to raise awareness on the cause before standing up against poverty.
2.‘Stand Up’ Event Highlights - International:
- - The whole stadium at the ICC’s Champions Trophy cricket match with India v England in Jaipur, India‘stood up’ in solidarity with estimated figures of 4 million people across India. It was broadcast live on TV around the world.
- - Hundreds of thousands ‘stood up’ for one minute at an anti-poverty music concert in Mbare slums in the capital, Harare, Zimbabwe.
- - School children across Lebanon, Jordan, Gaza and Westbank ‘stood up’ together to highlight the injustice that not all children can afford to go to school.
- - In Spain, 200,000 people attending 8 football matches were expected to ‘stand up’ in stadiums
- - over half a million young people from across 64 districts in Bangladesh stood together in white human chains.
- - giant white inflatable ‘Make Poverty History’ men floated high above a mass ‘stand up’ in Sydney, Australia. Including gigantic Make Poverty History letters on the steps of the Sydney Opera House.
- - in Malawi, congregations of up to 3 million people were expected to ‘Stand Up’ during church services across the country including a rally with Malawi President Dr. Bingu wa Mutharika
- - in Japan a gigantic white band was unraveled with hundreds stood united in Hiroba Square, Tokyo.
- - Islamic Cleric, Aa’Gym lead ‘stand up’ events at Islamic boarding schools across Indonesia.
- - In the US, the ONE Campaign took a stand against poverty by hosting hundreds of house parties to spread the message about extreme poverty and global AIDS.