The international face of the anti-poverty movement

“The problem with the new India is that the gap between the rich and poor is getting wider,” said the young Indian student in Madrid on Sunday as he signed the GCAP Spain’s In My Name banner at the beginning of A Week Against Poverty.

This is the truly international face of the anti-poverty movement. I see it now when I travel around the world. Whether you are a celeb like Bono signing your name on glass wall in front of the UN in September of this year, or a young Spaniard writing a message asking for money to be directed away from propping up banks and towards poverty alleviation, I am really starting to see a generation of people that wants to end poverty.

“Can you believe there are still hungry people in the world today?” they ask. “Can you tell me how if we have the medicines they don't reach the thousands dying every day of HIV Aids and malaria?”, demands another. These are not specialists, lobbyists or lifelong activists necessarily, they are the questions workers and students? They are the questions of the majority I believe.

In just a few days' time, I hope that it will be hard to ignore what is happening around you. I hope you will be in a town or community where someone has organised a Stand Up moment. This short interjection into your day will allow you to be part of the growing movement of people who want to take some action to change the status quo on poverty. Who will not accept it in 2008. By just standing up and registering your action, you do something that is personal and can be counted. The total will be measured against the previous two years' Stand Up attempts and hopefully add power to our call - show that we are serious about this issue and we are a growing force.

And the message the young man from Delhi had signed on the banner in Madrid? Wada na Todo Abhiyan - Keep your Promises - the exact campaign slogan of GCAP India and where the call for the Indian government to increase spending on education and health has had some success. Lets hope this year it rings even louder and in Spain the Prime Minister is listening especially hard.

On October 17th, GCAP Spain will lead thousands of people through the streets of Madrid and in another 54 cities across the country, to mark International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.