Anti-poverty campaigners around the world are organising a broad range of events around July 7th to mark the midway point for the UN Millennium Development Goals and to hold their governments to account. Part of the growing Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP), the July 7th events will focus on how governments’ efforts to meet these goals are insufficient and to highlight the growing threat of climate change on the poor and marginalised. People living in the world’s poorest and most unequal countries have noted with growing concern that they are already the most affected by changing weather patterns - flooding, deforestation and desertification – and demanding action. Donor countries can play a key role by paying their fair share of climate adaptation costs to Africa and other developing regions.

In JOHANNESBURG on July 7th, Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) Spokesperson, Kumi Naidoo, will go on stage during the LIVE EARTH concert to address the local and international audience. "It is no secret that climate change increases the gap between rich and poor. The polluters don’t see the effect of their actions while the poor, who rely heavily on natural resources, suffer through increasing temperatures, droughts, flooding and rising sea levels. Tackling the causes of climate change is a question of justice for the poor who are already burdened by unfair trading rules, insufficient aid and debt repayments." said GCAP Chair and Spokesman, Kumi Naidoo. GCAP campaigners will continue their pressure on governments throughout 2007. On October 17th they will act jointly with the UN Millennium Campaign to take part in Stand Up & Speak out activities registering millions via http://www.standagainstpoverty.org/