St Paul's to host major Global Poverty Project launch event

  • Brings together leading spokespeople on global poverty, including Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu and Secretary of State for International Development, Douglas Alexander
  • Global poverty high on public agenda following devastating earthquake in Haiti
  • St Paul’s Cathedral, Wednesday February 24th, 6:30-8:00pm, doors open at 5:30pm.
London, UK - 15th February 2010 - St Paul’s Cathedral will host more than 1,000 people at the Church premiere of The Global Poverty Project’s ground-breaking presentation, 1.4 Billion Reasons, on 24th February 2010. The event, which has been given increasing relevance following the recent Haiti earthquake disaster, will give public advice on how to end extreme poverty and provide practical ways in which every individual can respond effectively. Contact www.globalpovertyproject.com/events to reserve your seat.

Speakers include the founder of the Global Poverty Project Hugh Evans, Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, and Secretary of State for International Development, Douglas Alexander.

With the support of Hugh Jackman, Advisor to the Global Poverty Project and an expert advisory panel, 1.4 Billion Reasons builds on the successes of past movements. The presentation encourages audiences, by demonstrating progress that has been made in efforts to address extreme poverty, challenges audiences on the barriers that still remain and will invite churches and the general public to demonstrate their support.

Canon Giles Fraser, Chancellor of St Paul’s Cathedral, said: “We live in a world where some people receive millions of pounds of bonuses, and others starve. It is a moral disgrace and this event is a stand against this great injustice. The 1.4 Billion Reasons presentation will help to better equip individuals to respond to this crisis.”

Global Poverty Project UK Country Manager Elisha London said: “The earthquake in Haiti reminds us of the connections that we all share as people. We have stood up and responded to the plight of the 200,000 who died, and millions who were displaced. Now, we need to stand up and respond with the same energy and conviction to the 1.4 billion people who live in life-threatening extreme poverty every day**.

“The movement to end extreme poverty has lost momentum. We need to re-inspire and equip individuals to take action,” Elisha London continued.

The St Paul’s Cathedral event is one of more than 200 events across the UK being delivered by the Global Poverty Project in 2010. For more information please visit: www.globalpovertyproject.com

**Facts: Extreme Poverty at a Glance
  • 1.4 billion people on the planet live in extreme poverty – equating to $1.25 in the USA
  • One in seven people are going hungry, despite the fact that there is more than enough food to feed the global population
  • 536,000 women die each year from causes related to child birth
  • 24,000 children under the age of five die each day from preventable diseases
  • 5000 children die from diarrhea-related diseases every day
  • 1.2 billion people in the world do not have a toilet
About the Global Poverty Project
The Global Poverty Project (GPP) is a project designed to reinvigorate the campaign to end extreme poverty by informing, inspiring and activating individuals to take action, and to draw renewed attention to the UN Millennium Development Goals. This is a grand-scale project has already inspired thousands across Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States. For more information, please visit: http://www.globalpovertyproject.com/

Contact information:
Matti Navellou
UK Activation Coordinator, Global Poverty Project
Tel: +44(0)7 917 680 716
Email: matti.navellou@globalpovertyproject.com

Louise Sambells
IBA – PR for Global Poverty Project
Tel: +44(0)1780 721433
Email: lsambells@iba-international.com

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