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	Bangladeshi children form a human chain around the statehouse in Dhaka during Action Week 2004.
	Global Call to Action against Poverty The GCE has joined the Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP), a growing and historic movement to end world poverty. This unprecedented campaign, offers an extraordinary chance to make a lasting difference in the fight against poverty during 2005. Please join us to make poverty history! Why 2005? 2005 offers a unique and never to be repeated set of opportunities for making progress in the fight against poverty. Three major summits will focus on global poverty: The G8 summit in July - during which the UK hosts have promised to focus on development and poverty issues. The UN Heads of State summit in September - which will review progress on the Millennium Development Goals The World Trade Organisation ministerial meeting in December. What actions are being planned for GCAP? The Global Call to Action against Poverty is made up of national campaigns around the world. It is a way for different networks, across all sectors, to rally around a powerful common message at one or two critical moments in 2005. The international focus for the campaign will be on two key dates - 1st July, ahead of the G8 meeting, and September 5th ahead of the UN Millennium Summit - where campaigners will wear white bands as a sign of solidarity. Countries will be building on existing networks - such as those on debt, trade or education - and strategies and activities that are already being planned: such as the Global Action Week for education. At the national level, coalitions are planning their own actions and forming their own unique identities, while still falling under the GCAP banner. From the Make Poverty History UK coalition, to Keep the Promises India coalition, to No mas Pobreza coalition in El Salvador, these national coalitions are beginning to mobilise in 50+ countries, and continue to grow by the day. How does the 2005 Call to Action link to the GCE Global Action Week? For GCE supporters, getting involved in the 2005 Call to Action does not replace the Global Action Week. On the contrary, it's a way to sustain the momentum and expand the impact of the Action Week by linking with other networks at key moments in the year. The Global Action Week for education will be just one of the many mass mobilisations planned during 2005. And because the GCE already has a well-established and strong network of coalitions, geared up to mobilise, we are in a truly unique position to add our campaigning weight to, and be a driving force in, GCAP. The 2003 and 2004 Action Weeks mobilised millions, by joining in the Global Call to Action against Poverty we can help to mobilise hundreds of millions! The armband action would be a simple add-on to Global Action Week events and not a replacement for it: you can also join in on one or two of the agreed worldwide "armband days". To find out more visit the GCAP website Who else is involved? The list of organisations taking part grows week by week. The International Facilitation Group includes: Action Aid, Agir Ici, ANCEFA, AWEPON, CCIC, Christian Aid, CIDSE, CIVICUS, Comic Relief, DATA, Global Campaign for Education, ICFTU, Islamic Relief, Legambiente, MICAH Challenge, MWENGO, MWENGO, NOVIB, One campaign, Oxfam, Platforma 2015 y más, Public Services International, Socialwatch, UNDP, UN Millennium Campaign, UNDP, World Vision International. For a full list of organisations involved in GCAP, visit: www.whiteband.org/actnow/supporting What are the goals? In Johannesburg, September 2004, the International Facilitation Group identified some broad policies to unite our actions. We want: Trade justice Debt cancellation A major increase in the quantity and quality of aid National efforts to eliminate poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goals that are sustainable and implemented in a way that is democratic, transparent, and accountable to citizens The aim is to keep these general enough that a wide range of civil society organisations can sign up to them, yet specific enough that world leaders will know exactly what we expect them to deliver The main policy that we all share, is to make sure that eradicating global poverty is a higher priority. Why is the GCE involved in GCAP? The GCE is involved in the 2005 Call to Action because we recognise that we will never close the education financing gap and achieve the EFA goals as long as developing countries are still struggling with an unpayable debt burden, impoverished by unfair trade policies and competing for their share of a shrinking aid pie. These are the "big issues" and as education activists, we will never crack them on our own. An historic breakthrough is possible in 2005 - but we cannot do it alone. We need to join hands with other activists working on issues such as AIDS, health, trade, water, gender, human rights etc. to create a truly massive force that world leaders cannot ignore. How do we get involved in GCAP in our country? Contact other groups working on GCAP in your country and go along to one of the national planning meetings. To find how to get involved in your country, visit: www.whiteband.org/national or email, info@whiteband.org and get a list of those groups already working on GCAP. IN THIS SECTION 2008 Action Week Previous Action Weeks   2007   2006   2005     What happened in 2005?     Photos of 'Friends' Launch 16th June     Picture gallery 2005   2004
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