Background

‘Stand Up‘ began in 2006, as a joint effort by the United Nations Millennium Campaign (UNMC) – established to support citizens in holding governments to account for achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and the Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) – the worlds largest civil society movement, calling for an end to global poverty and inequality.

In 2006, as the MDGs and poverty eradication seemed increasingly unachievable, the UNMC and GCAP embarked on an effort to mobilize thousands of citizens around the world to ‘Stand Up” against poverty as part of an en masse call for urgent action.

“We decided to launch Stand Up in the belief that technology presented new opportunities for social action, and people power was what we needed. We chose October 17th (World Poverty Day) as the ‘Stand Up moment’, created standagainstpoverty.org and set an ambitious goal: The largest ‘Stand Up’ in human history. We hoped if 1 million people could make a stand on the same day, it could create significant momentum for poverty eradication. We had no idea how many people would respond, we only provided the information and tools, and built a platform for participants to register their events, we had zero control over what was being planned” (Helena Suarez, Web and New Media Coordinator, GCAP).

When the data was verified, over 23.5 million people ‘Stood Up’ in 11, 646 events, setting a new world record. In October 2007 43.7 million people participated in “Stand Up and Speak Out”, shattering the previous years record. In 2008, ‘Stand Up and Take Action’ organized over 3 days,. 116.9 million people participated, nearly 2% of the world’s population, once again breaking the previous world record. Actions ranged from tree planting across India to ‘teach-ins’ in Kenya and even ‘avatars’ standing up in ‘Second-Life‘.

“Its a new kind of action the world is seeing: the local influencing the global. Thousands of actions, pictures, videos and messages show a powerful groundswell of determination, this is social action 2.0”. (Sylvia Borren, Co-Chair GCAP)

Stand Up and Interactive Technology

Online tools have played an increasing role in these mobilizations:

“When the website was first launched, its primary function was to inform people, learning year on year, we have been able to add more features, and richer content, the site has moved from an information space, to a sharing space and increasingly represents a coordination space for mass collective action”. (Amanda Kibel Communications Director, UNMC)

The current website employs a range of technologies, users can register events including: Event locations, contact details, event descriptions, participant numbers, pictures, sample stand up pledges (read during events) and video links.

The counting is all managed by the website; it even contacts organizers to remind them to submit missing information. Synchronization with Google maps allows anyone visiting the site to easily search events across the world. Images uploaded are automatically tagged and placed on Flickr while videos are added to a Stand Up channel on Youtube.  There is also an online widget which any user can copy and paste onto their own website, creating multiple links to the main site.

Event organizers can download ‘Event in a box’ materials ranging from hat, t-shirt and banner designs to postcards for children and even a stand up song. Users of the Apple iPhone are also able to download an ‘app’ which they can use to organize a ‘Stand Up’ with people wherever they are and submit numbers live.  It is also possible to add RSS and Twitter feeds enabling anyone to follow news from the website.

“New online tools have highly enriched stand up for event organizers. It made it really easy to share information and pictures, register numbers and find other events. I was able to connect with events being planned in my area and join with other organizers to focus our political demands.” (Lysa John, National Campaign Coordinator, Wada Na Todo Abhiyan, India)

Where Next?

While Stand Up has clearly grown significantly since 2006 and made use of a range of technologies, Sebastian Majewski, Web Manager for Standagainstpoverty.org believes the project is only beginning to uncover the potential of technology for social organizing:

“We are definitely at a turning point. Now it is now longer the technology which limits what is possible, but the creativity of the people using it and their ability to use digital tools to strengthen grassroots action. The next stage is to support greater collaboration and build a sustained community of activists.” (Sebastian Majewski, Web Manager, UNMC).

The team also explained the constraints of the technology, with the largest participant numbers coming from regions where net access is limited. In the future it is hoped mobile SMS can be integrated with the site, currently some ‘offline’ communities still send numbers by fax. One avenue being explored this year is a partnership with Facebook and Skype to host ‘global conversations’, connecting world leaders with those living in poverty:

“It’s an open source platform for people to raise their voices,” (Salil Shetty, Director, UN Millennium Campaign)

This technology could undoubtedly also support event organizers to work together, connect their events and begin to take the lead, perhaps realizing the vision of a sustained community of activists.  The “Stand Up’ initiative represents a clear example of how online tools and social media can enhance community organizing. However it appears increasingly likely that real success will come not from the technology itself but from the creativity of those using it, where next for Stand Up? You decide…

Stand Up Take Action will take place form the 16th-18th October in 2009, to get involved, check out the website and watch the Stand Up Video!

You can also use the Stand Up instructions below!