Stand Up, Make Noise September 18, 2010

On 18 September 2010, the United Nations in India, in partnership with the European Union, Oxfam India, Save the Children, Asian Development Bank and Wada Na Todo Abhiyan, will organize a special concert at the Purana Qila in New Delhi, from 6 p.m. onwards, to highlight urgent action on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The event will be one of thousands of strategic “Stand Up, Take Action, Make Noise” events around the world from 17-19 September, as part of a global campaign to urge governments to make good on the promises they made in the year 2000 at the United Nations where they signed the Millennium Declaration affirming their commitment to a peaceful, just and equitable world.
The concert at Purana Qila will showcase 100 indigenous percussion and string artists from all across India, and will be a spectacular symphony of sounds, culminating in acrescendo during which the audience will join in. Three composers -- Sharat ChandraSrivastava (Delhi), Mayanglambam Mangangsana (Imphal) and Shri Ganesh (Tamil Nadu) -- will conduct the orchestra for solo pieces that will finally merge together in a grand finale.
This marquee event will include a photo exhibition entitled “We can end poverty… working together to achieve the MDGs”, highlighting the efforts being made by various stakeholders to eradicate poverty, illiteracy and hunger across India.
The event will also be an occasion for civil society to promote a petition urging that the achievement of the MDGs form an important part of India’s development plans for the next five years.
The event will also be endorsed by celebrity Ambassadors Ms. Preity Zinta and Mr. Rahul Bose.
Mr. Patrice Coeur-Bizot, United Nations Resident Coordinator said, “At the heart of the Millennium Declaration is the commitment made by nations of the world to uphold the principles of human dignity, equality and equity. The inspiring words of the Millennium Declaration, ‘We will spare no effort to free our fellow men, women and children from the abject and dehumanizing conditions of extreme poverty, to which more than a billion of them are currently subjected...’ highlight the commitment made in the year 2000 by leaders across the globe to build a world full of peace, justice and hope.
The United Nations in India supports the government in achieving its development goals articulated in the Five Year Plans that are even more ambitious than the MDGs on several indicators. The Concert, being organized by the UN in India with its partners will take place on the eve of the 10-year review of the MDGs by the UN General Assembly. It is designed to raise awareness and highlight the urgency to accelerate progress towards achievement of the Goals.”
Mr. Minar Pimple, Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, UN Millennium Campaign said, “Millions of people around the world will be Standing Up in support of the MDGs from 17-19 September, just prior to the 10-year review of the MDGs by the UN General Assembly. The New Delhi effort will highlight the critical role that India plays in achieving the MDGs, for if India falls short, the global targets will surely not be met. The MDGs are achievable as long as governments implement their policies and remain accountable to their poorest and most marginalized citizens. ‘Stand Up, Make Noise’ is a movement designed to remind the world’s leaders of the pledge they made to combat poverty, and to hold them accountable should they fall short of fulfilling this pledge. This year, the voices of the world’s citizens will follow their leaders to the UN Summit, telling them: ‘We will no longer stay seated or silent in the face of poverty and the broken promises to end it’!”