Portugal

National Website: pobrezazero.org

National Coalition: “Pobreza Zero”

In Portugal, OIKOS is the current focal point of the GCAP under the name “Pobreza Zero”.

If you would like to find out more, and get involved in the national Portuguese platform, please contact:

Pobreza Zero Coordinator
Bruno G. M. Neto
email: bruno.neto@oikos.pt
Tel: 00 351 21 882 36 30

Events in 2005

WHITE BAND DAY II - Wake-Up to Poverty! on Saturday 10th. September

On 9th September, members of the Portuguese GCAP campaign, Pobreza Zero, officially delivered a report to the President of the Republic of Portugal. The report explains the worries of Portuguese civil society about poverty and the increasing difference between rich and poor at a national level, since Portugal has rates similar to the United States at these point. The coalition also knew the importance of mobilising people, and held an event in front of the residence of the Prime Minister as the key decision maker.

On September 10th, 100 campaigners gathered outside the Prime Minister's official residence at midnight, and rang alarm clocks, blew whistles and banged pots and pans to “wake up” their Prime Minister to poverty, and call for their delegation to make sure poverty is at the top of the agenda. João Fernandes, Exectutive Director of OIKOS and spokesperson of the Pobreza Zero campaign handed 5,000 signatures to the Prime Minister and also presented the campaign demands to meet and exceed the MDGs to the Prime Minister's diplomatic aide.

The event got great coverage on television and radio stations, which reported it throughout the September 10th. Also, throughout the week before White Band Day 2, the coalition gave interviews on the main radio stations and in the main newspapers in Portugal. The week following September 10th, the coalition will also keep up the momentum by having a special day on TV, where celebrities, spokespeople and intellectuals will be invited to speak about poverty eradication and the MDGs.

In Portugal this year campaigners have also been taking the MDGs and their campaign Pobreza Zero to major concerts and music events. On Tuesday 6th September they campaigned at a concert by Mariza, the only Portuguese singer to take part in Live 8. Also, Bono spoke out in support of the campaign at the August U2 concert in Lisbon, and thousands of people signed the petition to demand action from the Prime Minister.

BACKGROUND

Photo Gallery from White Band day I – July 2005

On June 3rd Portugal placed an Open letter from celebrities and campaign supporters in the Publico newspaper, calling on the Finance Minister to do more in the forthcoming EU Meeting of Finance Ministers on June 7th, and to act now to end poverty.