White Band Day 2 in Armenia

The GCAP National Coalition of Armenia took the planned measures towards the White Band Day 2 in 6 provinces of the republic.

The “Global Call to Action Against Poverty” National Coalition of Armenia, represented by 9 local NGOs + Oxfam GB, took the planned measures towards the White Band Day 2 in 6 provinces of the republic. On September 10, the Children Development Centres by Bridge of Hope NGO (supported by the town municipalities and "Culture palaces") have organized the campaigning events in 3 towns of Tavush province. 11 secondary schools and more than 1400 children have participated in the competition of compositions on "Make Poverty History" and “Wake Up To Poverty” topics. The final results and the names of best authors will be announced by the end of September. In Ijevan town around 40 people took part at TV debate by the initiative of Debate club young activists. In Tavush province, 2000 people in overall took part in the actions accompanied by the concerts and performances, covered by 2 provincial level TV stations and 2 newspapers. The 4 Civic Centres of Vayots Dzor and Syunik provinces of Armenia have participated in the WBD 2 via rallies and meetings in the squares of Yeghegnadzor, Vayk, Sisian and Kapan towns (Fund Against Violation of Law NGO and the Civic Centres staffs). The people wear the white bands, and held the "Wake Up To Poverty” posters. The speeches were dedicated to the global poverty and situation in the poorest countries regarding democratic governance, aid, debt and trade issues. In more detailed, Yeghegnadzor Civic Center held an event dedicated to Global Call “Wake-up To Poverty” at the Yeghegnadzor Town Park. About 200 schoolchildren accompanied by their teachers marched to the park. The small children who were playing in the park were given flags and balloons. The “Salmast” singing-dancing group of Yeghegnadzor held a performance, which was then followed by the speeches. YCC volunteers have introduced the GCAP and its messages, after which the audience has formed rows of big letters, so everyone could read “No to Poverty” in Armenian. There were also songs and contests, as well as questions and answers’ sessions performed. During the events the communiqué to the world leaders was announced. The campaigning events were continued on September 12, with the topics of civic participation in poverty reduction policies. There were more than 500 people at the events. In Kapan town the March and round table was organized with participation of number of local NGOs, media ("Khustup TV", "Sosi TV", "Syunik World" Newspaper), Local Self-Governance representatives, as well as the Kapan Civic Centre volunteers. The participants got familiar with the WBD 2 scope and actions organized by GCAP Coalitions both in Armenian and worldwide. The events were accompanied by the concerts. Sisian Civic Centre for the most attractiveness, have organized a 3-hours rally to so-called Armenian Stonehenge, near Sisian town, with participation of more than 600 people. The town mayor and other local self-governance representatives, being invited to the campaign action, have stressed the importance of such events in terms of demonstrable solidarity of Armenians with the global movements, as well as in terms of raising the voices of poor on the national level. The CSS has been announcing the WBD 2 events by the local TV channel beforehand, and on September 16 the same station will be broadcasting the recorded events. On September 10, the massive rallies and meetings focused on poverty and education issues took place in Vanadzor and Hrazdan towns of Armenia (Lori and Kotayk provinces) (Armenian Constitutional Right-Protective Centre NGO): around 2500 people have united under the slogans of "Wake Up To Poverty", "Global Justice", "No Child Devoid of Education" and others to join the Global Campaign efforts. The rallies ended up by the meeting in the central squares of Vanadzor and Hrazdan, with the speeches on behalf of civil society organizations and children. In the library of ACRPC NGO a “Wake Up To Poverty” round table was organized with the live broadcasting by “Mig” TV station (Vanadzor town) in frames of “Civil Dialogues” programme series. After the round table, the channel aired “No Child Devoid Of Education” film. The round tables and discussions in Hrazdan and Artashat were held aiming at raising the public awareness on GCAP Campaign. The participants (around 60 people) were supplied wit White Band Day 2 Overview, Statement and Final GCAP Messages for UN Summit. On September 10, the Second state TV channel of Armenia (“H2”) held 25 minutes live broadcasting of an interview and discussion on the global poverty issues, campaign messages, as well as Armenian country specifics, with the participation of Oxfam GB Armenia Policy Officer, Arman Navasardyan, and Mr. Gevork Manukyan, head of Armenian Constitutional Right-Protective Centre NGO. They have presented the campaign goals; the global events planned to the day, the scale of public involvement worldwide, as well as Oxfam and GCAP coalition missions. The interviewer journalist was gifted a white band and symbolically joined the Campaign. This TV discussion has managed to communicate the GCAP messages to the millions’ auditorium throughout the republic. The coverage of the TV broadcast event comes up soon on DVD. The most popular republican newspapers - Aravot Daily, Azg Daily, and Republic of Armenia - have published a press release on behalf of GCAP NAC on WBD 2, communicating the campaign messages to more than 15000 readers. The press releases on the mentioned events are disseminated and published in more than 40 republican and local newspapers, TV and radio stations, as well as to the main international actors on poverty issues. More than 600 people countrywide signed a petition to the Armenian delegation to UN. Over 1000 posters with “Wake Up To Poverty” are disseminated in 6 provinces. Instead of expected 4500, the overall number of participants to WBD 2 in Armenia has exceeded 7000 people. “Make Poverty History” banner together with UN 60 logo is hanging over the central Mashtots Avenue of Yerevan up to September 20. On September 10, 2005, the MDG alternative report elaborated by EDRC NGO, along with a Communiqué on behalf of Coalition was sent to the UN Summit and National Delegation of Armenia to UN. Quotation: "On behalf of Global Call to act Against Poverty Armenian coalition, part of the global movement, we address the demands of Armenian civil society, asking you to sound and to introduce them at New York UN Summit. It is more than five years now since the Millennium declaration is signed by the world to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, to recognize the collective responsibility to protect the human dignity, equality and equity principles, and to commit acting and investing in poverty overcoming. Five years after the Millennium Development Goals were agreed we are in serious danger of failing to achieve even the most minimalist of targets. If we continue as we are it will take many countries 100 years, not ten, to achieve the goals. Ending poverty is not a distant dream but a practical, achievable objective and a moral imperative. The commitments that must be made at the United Nations affect humans; for a billion women and men, boys and girls they are the dividing line between dignity and indignity, life and death. Now, several hours before UN Summit 2005, the world’s largest anti-poverty coalition is asking you to take concrete steps at the United Nations to end poverty once and for all"