Programs & Services > Social Reform > White Armband Campaign
White Armband Campaign
Campaign 2000 has partnered with the Make Poverty History campaign to raise public awareness of issues of poverty here in Canada and around the world.
Make Poverty History is a global initiative involving participants from more than 50 countries. The campaign’s demands for the governments of the world’s leading nations are:
- provide more and better aid to developing nations;
- cancel the debt of the worlds poorest countries;
- practice trade justice
This year, with the encouragement of Campaign 2000, Make Poverty History has added End child poverty in Canada to the list.
The Make Poverty History campaign recently launched a white armband campaign to keep poverty issues top of mind with the public. July 1 was International White Band day. Public buildings around the world were wrapped in white and people were encouraged to wear white armbands at marches, rallies, concerts and other events around the globe. In Toronto, Trinity St. Paul’s Church was wrapped in a large white band on June 30.
On July 2, Campaign 2000 gathered more than 45 volunteers and partners to help Make Poverty History at Live 8 in Barrie. Tens of thousands of white armbands were distributed. Volunteers encouraged people attending the event to sign postcards to Prime Minister Paul Martin, to donate to the campaign and to build their awareness of the issues.
Thanks in part to activities in Barrie, the Live 8 events around the world generated 25 million messages to G-8 leaders, urging them to Make Poverty History, both in the developing world and our own backyard.
Send a message that you want to help end child poverty in Canada and around the world.
A simple White Band is the symbol of the Make Poverty History campaign. Wearing the band demonstrates to everyone who sees it that you believe it is unacceptable for over one million children to live in poverty in a wealthy country like Canada.
To order your white armband for C$2.00 each, contact Liyu Guo at liyugu@familyservicetoronto.org or visit the Make Poverty History website or the Campaign 2000 website.
