GCAP Germany: Campaigns, Impressions, Politics 2005-2007 by Ulrich Schlenker

CAMPAIGNS · IMPRESSIONS · POLITICS 2005 – 2007

CONTENTS

“Deine Stimme gegen Armut” – A success story Dr. Claudia Warning

Page

Not to be ignored... Herbert Groenemeyer about the campaign

Page

Reactions to the campaign

Page

2004/2005: How it all started and the first highlights

Page

2006: Football fever, yellow Post-its and long banners filled with messages

Page 10

2007: The White Band Nights: culture, action and solidarity in one night

Page 11

From Flensburg in the North to Freiburg in the South: local action

Page 13

The concert – P8 instead of G8

Page 14

Making voices heard: 1.4 million against poverty

Page 16

Poor 8: Films and projects from the South

Page 16

Further highlights during 2007

Page 17

Reactions to the campaign

Page 19

I. Campaign highlights

II. The political dimension Wanted: More German engagement for the MDGs!

Page 20

Germany speaks its mind on development policy

Page 27

III. Documentation Online throughout the world

Page 28

The television adverts of the campaign

Page 29

Being a public inconvenience: adverts and open letters

Page 30

Press review

Page 32

Celebrities and supporters

Page 34

The campaign team

Page 35

Editorial board

Page 35

HEY, COME CLOSER, WE WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING

We need you, we need your voice, because we need to make a change. So much has happened over the last three years, which is what the follow3

ing pages are all about. But the world needs more – give her your courage, your knowledge, your ideas and your commitment in the fight against worldwide poverty. The clock is ticking. We need to get active – why not join us?

Everyone at “Deine Stimme gegen Armut”

“Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice.” (Nelson Mandela)

“DEINE STIMME GEGEN ARMUT” A SUCCESS STORY The campaign has set new standards in the expertise and content of campaign work of German non-governmental organisations. The campaign was set up at the end of 2004 as the “Worldwide Campaign against Poverty” prior to the G8 Summit in Gleneagles. But it was only once the title had been changed to “Deine Stimme gegen Armut” (“Your Voice against Poverty”) that the aim of the campaign became much clearer. The key was to mobilise people to raise their voice and become active, thus increasing pressure on the Heads of State and Government of the most powerful nations in the world and appealing to them to engage in pro-development and poverty-oriented policy. After three years of campaigning, we are extremely proud of our success: 1.4 m people supported our appeal by signing petitions. Hundreds of thousands of people went to our concerts and

took part in the White Band Nights and other events. The press response to our campaign was impressive with 5,000 printed articles in three months in 2007 alone. With over 100,000 subscribers, our campaign newsletter has become one of the largest list serves for development in Germany. Development in Africa was one of the most important items on the G8 Summit agenda. In 2007, the Federal Ministry for Development received its highest budgetary increase ever – 670 million Euro were allocated to the Ministry. The “Deine Stimme gegen Armut” campaign was especially successful in attracting people, who had until now never shown an interest in development issues. Particularly the commitment of young people has been impressive. A representative opinion poll carried out shortly before the G8 Summit revealed that the overwhelming majority of Germans believe that governments must undertake concrete measures to fight poverty, hunger and HIV/AIDS. Without the help of our campaign celebrities, we would not have been able to have mobilised the public so effectively and extensively. The German singer Herbert Groenemeyer was one of our most prominent cooperation partners, whose commitment and financial support contributed to the diversity and visibility of the campaign. Bono, Bob Geldof and numerous other celebrities, such as Claudia Schiffer or the boxing stars, the Klitschko brothers, also used their popularity to play a key role in the campaign. The involvement of our partners from developing countries has legitimised the campaign. Its credibility has largely to do with on the one hand the experience and expertise of VENRO’s member organisations working in those countries, and, on the other hand, through the direct cooperation with our partners in the South. As a result, “Deine Stimme gegen Armut” can be seen as a platform for the formulation of their political demands. To this end, a number of civil society representatives from eight of the world’s poorest countries took to the stage at our concert in Rostock, in order to reach out to the G8 Heads of State and Government with their appeal.

“Deine Stimme gegen Armut” has proven that poverty eradication is not a side issue, but remains a key topic at the heart of society. For the first time in many years, development has been thrust into the public spotlight and has been the subject of intense discussion, leading to a considerable increase in political pressure. Together as an association, we intend to sustain the momentum we have gained from our campaign work in order to develop our technical and political work even further and keep up the pressure on the legislature. The fight against worldwide poverty and the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals remain our most important tasks. Dr. Claudia Warning (VENRO Chair)

NOT TO BE IGNORED … The last three years has seen us raise our voices against poverty… and it’s starting to pay off. Those in power can no longer ignore us and we have made the first steps in establishing a new culture in the fight against poverty. This is what is most important and is for me a great source of motivation to continue my work for the campaign. As we said, when the campaign was publicly launched in Berlin in March 2005, a global culture can only be measured by its weakest. Dependency and debt have therefore become moral issues. The extreme poverty, which continues to exist in the world has called our perception of consideration for others and humanity into question. The only answer to this is to act – investing our efforts for people living in unbearable and unjust situations. Not only are we one world, we are also a moral universe. We live together in a global community and are responsible for one another. Together, we have the power to change things. And now is the time to act, deliver, stir things up and get the world turning in a new direction. If we don’t set ourselves this task right now, we will have to live with the shame of knowing for the rest of our lives, that we didn’t do what could have been done, in order to eliminate poverty, disease, hunger and death. This is what we will be measured against by future generations, who will ask us: what did you do? Together with VENRO, Herbert Groenemeyer is sponsor of the “Deine Stimme gegen Armut” campaign.

“I am here to thank you all for your support in the campaign against debt and poverty and for fair trade with Africa. Today, I ask you to raise your voices even more to tell the G8: the world can’t wait!” Charity Musamba, Researcher in Peace Studies from Zambia, at the Rostock concert

“Our high standard of living has been financed to the detriment of the world’s poorer countries. We want to raise awareness of the fact that it’s time to give something back to them. In my opinion, the Rostock concert was the best opportunity to do this.” Smudo is rapper in the German hip-hop band “Die Fantastischen Vier”

“The sort of growth, which kills people, plants and animals, cannot be good. Ghandi showed us, that we have to take the future into our own hands, if we want to continue to live in this wonderful world.” Vandana Shiva, activist for women’s rights and the environment from India, at the Rostock concert

“‘Deine Stimme gegen Armut’ was a good thing. The partnership of non-governmental organisations and celebrities enabled us to raise public awareness and stimulate debate surrounding the issue of poverty reduction considerably. We must keep the momentum going!” Joern Kalinski, Campaigns and PR Director, Oxfam Germany

“The campaign gives us ‘small’ NGOs the opportunity to participate actively in ‘large’ events, such as the Rostock concert. Our Ugandan partner organisation’s P8 film on HIV/AIDS was a prime example of this.” Reinhard Micheel, Executive Director of Aktion Canchanabury e.V., Bochum, Germany, an association, which supports primarily health projects in Africa

“The campaign has the same aims as Plan. It has done very well in approaching young people in Germany. Girls and boys have engaged actively in the fight against world poverty, and this is what makes this campaign so successful.” May Evers, Officer for Development Studies and Advocacy at the children’s relief organisation Plan International Germany

“Herbert Groenemeyer said that if I didn’t take part in ‘Deine Stimme gegen Armut,’ I would go to hell…” Matthias Gruebel wrote the texts for the campaign’s adverts and posters

“Everyone knows today that no-one, whether child or adult, must die of hunger. Everyone can work against this. ‘Deine Stimme gegen Armut’ is the campaign everyone can take part in.” Peter Dietzel, Coordinator at the relief organisation NETZ Bangladesch. He helped develop the P8 concept

“Civil society and the UN campaign work hand in hand: in Germany, this form of cooperation has worked magnificently and has effectively increased pressure on the government to stick to the promises it made back in 2000.” Dr. Renée Ernst, Commissioner for the UN Millennium Campaign in Germany since February 2005

“It is fantastic that we managed to reach out to so many young people through the ‘Deine Stimme gegen Armut’ campaign. In the future, we should also work together towards living in a fairer world.” Dr. Iris Schoeninger, Coordinator for Development Policy and Campaigns, German Agro Action

AKTIONSHÖHEPUNKTE 2005

How it all started and the first highlights 2004: The United Nations Millennium Declaration had

would be put

already been adopted four years earlier. Eight basic devel-

under pressure in

opment goals (the so-called “MDGs”), such as the fight

Gleneagles, the

against extreme poverty, were to be implemented by 2015.

“Make Poverty

However, not much had happened, and it was obvious that

History” initiators

without pressure from society, nothing would happen. The

looked for power-

UN itself launched a campaign entitled “No Excuse 2015 –

ful civil society

Voices against Poverty,” which seeks to promote the

actors in each of

achievement of the MDGs and supported the formation of

the G8 countries.

the international “Global Call to Action against Poverty”

As it was clear

(GCAP) campaign. GCAP became the international frame-

that the next important G8 Summit would be in Germany

work for those activities leading up to the G8 Summit in

two years later (apart from a low-key stopover in Russia),

Gleneagles. The British campaign “Make Poverty History”

Germany’s role was especially significant.

set new standards: thanks to the decisive role of celebrities,

the pro-active British Government under Tony Blair and

In spring 2004, Bono and Bob Geldof met with the German

professionally managed and intensive PR work, NGOs work-

NGOs. They were joined by German popstar Herbert Groene-

ing in development were offered a unique platform and

meyer. The following months saw VENRO make the decision

resources. In a short space of time, the campaign became a

to set up the German GCAP campaign, which would seek to

worldwide “brand” for the obligations of the G8 governments

move forward the now three common demands of both pro-

to do more to fight the social injustice the world faces. The

grammes. Under the motto “Worldwide Campaign against

British ensured that Africa featured prominently on the G8

Poverty”, the campaign began in 2005 and focused themati-

agenda. In order to make sure that the G8 governments

cally on more and better aid, debt relief and fair trade. These demands were endorsed in July 2004 at a meeting VENRO had organised, inviting other key players in the German development NGO scene. At the end of 2004, at VENRO’s General Assembly, members decided that the campaign should be implemented the following year. In the meantime, contact to Herbert Groenemeyer had become closer: in February 2005, an extensive meeting in a hotel in Hamburg between VENRO and Groenemeyer & Friends sealed the deal on the common campaign, and the slogan “Deine Stimme gegen Armut” (“Your Voice Against Poverty”) was born. 2005 was to become a significant year in the fight against worldwide poverty.

February 2005

March 2005

With huge moving placards, German

At the first campaign press

Finance Minister Hans Eichel was

conference, Herbert Groene-

called upon to “Make Poverty History”

meyer and the VENRO Chair

at the G7 Finance Ministers Meeting in

Reinhard Hermle presents

February 2005.

the television advert featur-

Photo: VENRO/Bildschoen

ing a number of celebrities to the public. Photo: VENRO/Bildschoen

2005 – The campaign year From then on, there was no stopping us. On March 31th, VENRO and Groenemeyer presented together the main campaign advert on the premises of the Federal Press Conference. Numerous celebrities from the world of international show business warned: “Every three seconds, a child dies due to the consequences of extreme poverty.” To ensure the message hit home, all celebrities dramatically “clicked” their fingers every three seconds, in what would become the advert’s trademark. Shortly afterwards, another advert appeared, this time using familiar footballers from

It was the white band that became the symbol of the world-

the German Premier League. Both adverts were broadcast

wide campaign. It was sold hundreds of thousands of times

on numerous television stations, in cinemas and at football

as a wristband and was used as a banner in many of the

stadiums over a number of months. Advertising revenue

campaign’s activities. The first “White Band Day” held on

gained just from television sponsors reached 1.5 million

July 2nd 2005 – shortly before the G8 Summit in Gleneagles

Euro. Alongside celebrity support, the activity was also

– saw the Brandenburg Gate and the tower of the Kaiser

backed by the German branch of the International Federa-

Wilhelm Memorial Church in Berlin being symbolically

tion of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI). This included the

enshrouded in a massive white banner. Not only Herbert

international music and entertainment business trade fair

Groenemeyer, but also model Claudia Schiffer, actress Nina

POPKOMM in September 2005, at which a further press

Hoss, Bishop Wolfgang Huber (Head of the German Protes-

conference with Herbert Groenemeyer and VENRO was

tant Church) and Cardinal Georg Sterzinsky (Catholic

held. Seven full-page newspaper adverts and a petition

Archbishop of Berlin) attended the event. On the second

helped raise awareness of the campaign in a short period of

White Band Day on September 9th, a few days before the

time significantly, both amongst the public and in political

UN Summit, 300 activists unfurled an 800-metre white ban-

circles. The campaign reached out to many people, who

ner on the lawn in front of the Reichstag building in Berlin

would not have otherwise been reached using the tradition-

and handed over to German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder

al methods and channels of development PR and awareness

the signatures of 300,000 people, who had signed a petition

raising work.

against poverty. The third White Band Day on December 10th saw the campaign send the traditional figure of Saint Nicholas along with a list of trade policy demands to Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul. The Live8 concerts, which had been organised around the globe by Bob Geldof shortly before the G8 Summit in Gleneagles, attracted enormous media coverage. A last-minute cooperation ensured that “Deine Stimme gegen Armut” came across as a political message at the huge Live8 concert in Berlin. In mid-December, VENRO decided to extend the campaign into 2006…

May 2005

Hitting home: Federal Development Min-

The large white banners are pre-

ister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul signs a

miered in May 2005 at the German

white banner at an event of one of the

Protestant Kirchentag in Hanover. For

European GCAP campaigns. Only those

the first time, thousands of people

ministers, whose countries have pledged

write messages to the government

to reach the 0.7 percent GNI goal, can

on the fabric.

sign this banner. On the same day, EU

Photo: VENRO/ Andreas Mueller

ministers pass a step-by-step plan forming a binding agreement for the increase of resources for development cooperation Brussels, May 24th 2005. Photo: GCAP

CAMPAIGN HIGHLIGHTS 2006

Football fever, yellow Post-it notes and long banners filled with slogans The campaign’s work in 2006 was very much influenced by the euphoric atmosphere caused by the Football World Cup that summer. Using a goal, the campaign raised awareness surrounding the MDGs. What was special about this goal was the fact that it had eight holes, each one symbolising one of the MDGs. Inaugurated by Federal Premier League goalkeeper Stefan Wessels at the VENRO symposium “Sport and Development” held in May, it was used to attract voices against poverty for three weeks in June as part of a stand on the Berlin fan mile. VENRO member supporters were in charge of the stand and were able to collect more than 6,000 signatures, including

Band Day” on October 17th, “Deine Stimme gegen Armut”

even that of Berlin’s Mayor, Klaus Wowereit. During the

launched a fax initiative targeting the federal budget. A day

World Cup, SPIEGEL, one of Germany’s most popular week-

before cabinet ministers voted on the agenda for the G8

ly news and current affairs magazines, ran a full-page

Summit on October 18th, the campaign called on the cabi-

advert, in which German Chancellor Angela Merkel was

net to raise its voice against poverty in a move that was

called upon to “Show poverty the red card.”

clearly visible: a two-seater aeroplane flew across the skies of Berlin, sporting a long banner on its tail. At the same

10 Prior to the G8 Summit in St. Petersburg, the

time, the campaign appealed to the cabinet through two

campaign, together with Action against AIDS

adverts in FAZ and SPIEGEL, calling on ministers to put

Germany, voiced the NGOs’ expectations of

poverty eradication on the agenda.

the G8 Summit at a press conference in Berlin, especially with regard to the issue of HIV/AIDS. At the same time as the

Many development organisations and local groups supported the campaign with their own ideas, such as in Eisleben,

campaigns in other G8 states, adverts

Ludwigsburg and Saarbruecken, where people created the

appeared in two of Germany’s most well-

campaign’s name with large home-made letters of the

known daily newspapers, FAZ and Sueddeutsche

alphabet.

Zeitung. These adverts were characterised by the motif of a yellow Post-it note, reminding Chancellor Angela Merkel:

Germany’s imminent EU Council and G8 dual presidency in

“Don’t forget: You are our voice against poverty at the G8

2007 defined political discussion and planning during the

Summit. Fight poverty, hunger and HIV/AIDS.”

year. The “Deine Stimme gegen Armut” campaign office moved from Bonn to Berlin and hosted two GCAP meetings

During the International GCAP Month of Mobilisation,

of international activists from Europe and the G8 states in

which began on September 16th and ended with the “White

the autumn.

May 2005

June 2005

At the Protestant Kirchentag in

Model Claudia Schiffer and

Hanover on May 27th 2005,

civil society representatives

around 3,000 visitors listen in

from all G7 states look over

suspense to Herbert Groene-

the finance ministers’ shoul-

meyer as he talks about a trip

ders at their meeting in Lon-

to Rwanda. On stage with him:

don. Then Vice-Chair Claudia

Wangari Maathai, Nobel Peace

Warning also takes part, repre-

Prize holder from Kenya.

senting VENRO.

Photo: VENRO/ Andreas Mueller

Photo: James Veysey /Camera Press

CAMPAIGN HIGHLIGHTS 2007

The White Band Nights: Culture, action and solidarity in one event In the run-up to the G8 Summit, “Deine Stimme gegen Armut” set up local events, the so-called “White Band

person could understand what the campaign was about and how they could play their own part.

Nights,” in 19 different towns throughout Germany. Taking place between April 26th and June 6th 2007, active groups

Posters, flyers and announcements in the local press adver-

united to form local event organising committees. In turn,

tised the individual events. Numerous reports in the media

they organised a plethora of different programmes, ranging

accompanied the preparations and ensured that the public

from concerts, film showings and information points to

were aware of the events. Having the events coordinated by

church services. The aim of all “White Band Nights” was to

local organisations also enabled the integration of the local

increase the number of voices against poverty and provide

population, as well as the building of linkages between the

information on the issues of poverty reduction, the Millenni-

various organisations.

um Development Goals and the G8 Summit in Heiligendamm, Germany. Therefore, providing simple information

The “White Band Nights” took place throughout Germany, in

on a somewhat unwieldy subject was of paramount impor-

larger cities, as well as in smaller towns, and displayed the

tance: the ultimate goal was to ensure that each and every

wealth and variety of ideas the organisations had in devising the events. Dresden’s event was transformed into a ‘White Band Week’, offering film showings and info events. Aachen, Duisburg and Essen presented a number of cultural open-air events and in Ostrhauderfehn in Lower Saxony, young people were treated to information, rounded off by a street theatre performance and a concert. Following a church service specially tailored to the MDGs in Hamburg, a pilgrim was sent on an African cargo bike to the Rostock concert, picking up further campaign supporters on the way. On the university campus in Frankfurt am Main, activists informed students about the campaign during the day and then held a ‘white party’ in the evening. In Bonn, hundreds of rollerbladers skated through the town centre in order to present – as part of a festival on the main market square – the appeal made by a youth forum for a fairer world. Other “White Band Nights” received generous support from a host of celebrities. The Berlin event was able to boast performances from world stars Angelique Kidjo and Pink Martini, and in Hanover, Gerald Asamoah, player in the German

June 2005

July 2005

Bishop Franz Kamphaus and represen-

White banner at the Kaiser Wil-

tatives of the catholic social institutions

helm Memorial Church in

in the Main-Taunus district set an exam-

Berlin. “White Band Day,” July

ple in Hofheim on June 27th 2005 and

2nd 2005

raise their voices against poverty.

Photo: VENRO/Bildschoen

Photo: RMB/Margielsky

CAMPAIGN HIGHLIGHTS 2007

national football

poverty raised directly at the events. Almost 100 newspaper

team, took a

articles were published in an array of regional and national

chance on the

media, not to mention numerous radio and television

millennium goal

reports. One particularly positive effect of these events was

wall. German tele-

that some local organisations, which worked together

vision host Joerg

preparing the events but would otherwise not have had

Pilawa was also at

much contact, have since entered into long-term coopera-

the Hamburg

tions.

event. Almost all “White

Where the “White Band Nights” took place

Band Nights”

19 towns in Germany played host to local campaigns under

showed films

the motto of “Your Voice against Poverty.” The programmes

about the so-called P8 countries (Poor8: Bangladesh, Zam-

consisted of interviews, live music, theatre and short films.

bia, Mozambique, Uganda, Mali, Cambodia, Bolivia and

More than 100 newspaper reports documented the events.

Nicaragua), as well as an edited version of the Millennium

Dresden (April 26th 2007)

Essen (May 18th 2007)

Spot. Visitors were called upon to raise their voice against

Potsdam (May 18th 2007) Aachen (May 18th 2007)

poverty by signing petitions, writing postcards or sending

Bonn (May 19th 2007)

text messages with their mobile phones. In many towns, visi-

Duisburg (May 24th 2007) Nuremberg (May 25th 2007)

tors had the opportunity to stand in front of the camera and

Leipzig (May 25th 2007) Frankfurt/M. (May 25th 2007)

take part in the Millennium Spot themselves. At the end of

Berlin (May 30th 2007) Neubrandenburg (June 1st 2007)

the event, common activities – such as an “11th hour” cam-

Hanover (June 1st 2007) Halle/ Saale (June 1st 2007)

Wetzlar (May 19th 2007)

Bad Muenstereifel (June 3rd 2007) Ostrhauderfehn,

paign or a chain of white lights – united all visitors.

Eastern Friesland (June 3rd 2007) Hamburg (June 3rd

12 Altogether, around 130,000 people of all ages went to the

2007) Rostock (June 6th 2007) Munich (October 17th

“White Band Nights,” with almost 50,000 voices against

2007)

July 2005

On the first “White Band

Wetzlar’s white band, which was sewn

Day”, medical students from

together by the town’s inhabitants on July

Jena wrap a white band

2th 2005, was more than a mile long and

made out of bed sheets

stretched from the cathedral right through

from the university clinic

the whole town. It received the 2007 Oeku-

around the Prince-Elector

menischer Foerderpreis Eine Welt prize.

Johann-Friedrich Monument

Photo: NETZ

on the town’s market square. Photo: Tobias Schornsheim

CAMPAIGN HIGHLIGHTS 2007

From Flensburg in the North to Freiburg in the South: Local action member organisations awarded prizes to the best local activities, which had dealt with the main issues of the campaign in a particularly original way and also raised more than a thousand voices. The results were staggering and included ideas such as the blocking off of all roundabouts, building massive-sized letters of the alphabet or compiling class materials. Posters, photos and videos testify the level of commitment demonstrated. The “Zara Sunrise Project,” for example, raised awareness of the campaign by going In 2007, many local groups and committed individuals played

on tour through several towns in the

an active public role for “Deine Stimme gegen Armut.” They

South German state of Baden-Wuerttem-

collected signatures in pedestrian areas, schools and univer-

berg, complete with campaign materials

sities, organised concerts, had a go at building websites or

and self-composed songs.

recorded films for the Millennium Spot. It was their creativity and engagement that attracted the attention of so many peo-

The winning project was showcased in

ple and ultimately led to such a high number of voices speak-

the form of an exhibition during the Protes-

ing out against poverty.

tant Kirchentag in Cologne, as well as at the Ros-

tock concert. Six final year school students from Osterburg in SaxonyAnhalt were a fine example of what could be done: Kitted

At the Open Air Festival in Staatsforsten and the Film Festi-

out with campaign material and white banners, they trav-

val in Muenster in August and September 2007, participants

elled in March to Berlin and, accompanied by the press,

helped raise voices against poverty and proved that political

helped raise hundreds of voices to speak out against poverty.

engagement can and should be fun.

Numerous school classes, youth clubs, pre-schools, teams,

The ‘Stand Up & Speak Out’ initiatives on World Poverty Day

music schools and sports clubs got active. It wasn’t just

on October 17th were a further highlight of local activities.

about collecting voices, but also about the campaign’s mes-

Active young people seized the initiative and came to us

sages on development. School pupils went from classroom to

with the own ideas and creative suggestions, thereby mobil-

classroom with a microphone and tape recorder, organised

ising the fight against poverty in a most pro-active way. They

information days and held class presentations on poverty

appealed to their fellow pupils to take part and organised

reduction.

discussion sessions on “child labour,” “fair trade” and “a life without formal education.”

As part of the competition entitled “Every Voice against Poverty and a Prize for You“, a jury consisting of VENRO

July 2005

Employees at the

More than 300 MEPs in Strasburg

Welthaus in Bielefeld

signed a white band between July 4 - 6

affix a white banner to

2005, thus demonstrating their sup-

the building on “White

port for the worldwide campaign

Band Day” July 2nd

against poverty.

2005.

The band was also signed by British Foreign Minister Jack Straw, EU Devel-

Photo: Welthaus Bielefeld

opment Commissioner Louis Michel and the President of the European Parliament, Josep Borrell. Afterwards, the band was handed over to Jack Straw, who took it with him to the G8 Summit in Gleneagles. Photo: VENRO/ Ulrich Schlenker

AKTIONSHÖHEPUNKTE 2007

The concert – P8 instead of G8 The campaign culminated in the concert “Voices against Pover-

boxes. Within the concert grounds, VENRO member organisa-

ty,” which took place on June 7th 2007 in Rostock. The peaceful

tions also provided information about their work.

event took place under the motto “music & messages” and combined entertainment from prominent musicians with messages

Music:

from the development field. Tickets prices were kept low, with

Herbert Groenemeyer Bono Beatsteaks Die Fantastischen

each one costing 2.50 Euro to cover organisation costs. Within a

Vier Die Toten Hosen Bob Geldof Seeed Silbermond

day, the concert was sold out, with 80,000 people storming the

Sportfreunde Stiller 2Raumwohnung Mo’Some Big Noise

grounds of the IGA park in North Rostock.

(Mozambique) Leo Muntu (Zambia) Peter Miles & Menshan (Uganda) Bangla (Bangladesh) Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba

More than a million viewers followed the event on Germany’s

(Mali) Perrozompopo (Nicaragua) Youssou N’Dour (Senegal)

public television station ARD. The full six-hour live recording was

Statements and speeches:

shown later that evening on the public television station Phoenix,

Theary C. Seng (Cambodia) Paulino Guarachi Huanca (Bolivia)

as well as on subsequent evenings on various regional public tele-

Magret Kawooya (Uganda) Flor Martinez (Nicaragua)

vision stations. AOL also transmitted the concert as a live stream

Kumi Naidoo (GCAP, South Africa) Bischof Toribio Porco

on a specially devised website, with videos of the individual

Ticona (Bolivia) Charity Musamba (Zambia)

artists remaining available on the website for a month after the

(India) Mohammed Yunus (Bangladesh)

event.

Vandana Shiva

Claudia Warning Jan Josef Liefers Michael Mittermeier Nora Tschirner Wim Wenders

Bands and speakers from Europe and eight chosen developing

Concert presenters: Sarah Kuttner and Roger Willemsen

countries –as “Voices from the South,” they represented the

poorest countries in the world – appeared at the concert. Along-

A press conference was held prior to the conference and trans-

side the music was a 2 1/2 hour programme focusing on develop-

mitted live by public television station Phoenix. Alongside Herbert

ment issues, which also included the short films from the P8

Groenemeyer and Claudia Warning, Bob Geldof and Bono, GCAP

countries (please see page 16 for further information).

spokesman Kumi Naidoo, Nobel Peace Prize holder Mohammed Yunus, singers Youssou N´Dour and Anusheh Anadil, as well as

Under blue skies and brilliant sunshine, concert goers were treat-

musician Bassekou Kouyate, spoke to the press. The turn out at

ed not just to well-known German bands such as Die Toten

both the press conference and the concert was excellent, with 350

Hosen or Die Fantastischen Vier, but also music from bands from

journalists and photographers – including 40 camera and video

the South, such as Bangla from Bangladesh, Perrozompopo from

teams – taking part.

Nicaragua and Youssou N’Dour from Senegal. Statements came from various celebrities, such as German actor and musician Jan

At the same time as the G8 Summit, an alternative Summit, was

Josef Liefers and film director Wim Wenders, who worked on a

held in Rostock, which took a look at issues surrounding develop-

film about the MDGs. VENRO Chair Claudia Warning spoke on

ment and the environment and presented alternative projects

behalf of the development organisations. Even Nobel Peace Prize

from civil society. VENRO was one of the sponsors of the alterna-

holder Mohammed Yunus addressed the German public. The final

tive Summit and was heavily involved in its preparation. Mixing

moments of the event saw VENRO member organisation employ-

the positive PR effects of the concert with the in-depth knowledge

ees coming on stage, carrying all the petitions, which had been

imparted at the alternative Summit has proved to be the best way

signed over the course of the campaign in transparent plastic

of raising awareness amongst the public.

July 2005

August 2005

Young people raise their voices

During World Youth Day from

against poverty. This banner hung

August 15th - 21st 2005, Fed-

in Bensheim for a week, where the

eral President Horst Koehler

Christoffel Blindenmission and the

raised his voice against

Karl Kuebel Foundation beat the

poverty and signed a white

drum for the MDGs between July

banner on the Muensterplatz

13th - 17th 2005.

in Bonn. The campaign had

Photo: CBM

three stands in Bonn and Cologne to solicit the support of the international guests. Photo: UN Millennium Campaign

CAMPAIGN HIGHLIGHTS 2007

Making voices heard: 1.4 million against poverty One of the closing highlights of the concert in Rostock was when VENRO members, together with Herbert Groenemeyer and Bono, symbolically handed over the 1.4 million signatures of those people who had raised their voices against poverty to the Federal Government. The signatures were piled into 100 boxes covered in the organisations’ logos which were then stacked up on the stage. 800,000 people from Germany and 600,000 people from other G8 states, especially the UK,

had signed letters addressed to Chancellor Angela Merkel

Industry (IFPI) ensured that many thousands of cards were

appealing to her to undertake concrete measures for world-

distributed to large household electrical goods stores and

wide poverty reduction.

department stores throughout the country.

In Germany, 330,000 campaign supporters signed the letter

The “Deine Stimme gegen Armut” partner NGOs collected sig-

online via the campaign website, with almost a further

natures in various ways, ranging from putting petition signa-

100,000 pledging their support via text message. The most sig-

ture lists in publications, as well as sending them to other

natures were gathered via petitions and postcards. The dieGe-

members and donors. Kolping International raised awareness

sellschafter.de project, implemented by the German social

intensively in the South and managed to raise thousands of

organisation Aktion Mensch, disseminated 600,000 postcards

voices from Peru and Bolivia. Oxfam, German Agro Action and

in pubs and bars throughout Germany, and the German

the One World Network North-Rhine Westphalia set up web-

branch of the International Federation for the Phonographic

sites or text messaging services especially for the campaign.

Poor 8: Films and projects from the South The idea of the “participatory video” was also one of the

International, Aktion Canchanabury, Care International

forces behind the project. Who, if not the people living in

Germany, Inkota, Oxfam and World Vision providing the

the South themselves, knows best what it is like to live

necessary technical equipment. The results show moving

there?! These short films aimed to give those people from

accounts of everyday life and testify of the courage and

the South a voice and portray life through their eyes. The

strength of the resistance against inhumane conditions.

decision therefore, not to have professional directors and cameramen as film makers was a conscious one. No prior

Filming took place, in three continents, in the Poor 8 coun-

specifications regarding content were made, with ActionAid

tries of Bangladesh, Bolivia, Cambodia, Uganda, Mali,

September 2005

“Deine Stimme gegen Armut” and Rolf

Customers at the second-

Stahlhofen, former singer with German music

hand shop ADRA Culture in

collective Soehne Mannheims hosted the offi-

Weiterstadt, near Darmstadt,

cial opening of the SAP arena in Mannheim on

Hesse, raised their voices

September 3rd 2005. Around 10,000 people

against poverty between

came to see top German acts, such as Sasha,

September 7th - 15th, tying a

Silbermond and Badesalz. Stahlhofen appealed

band of fabric to the fence of

to concertgoers a number of times to raise

the premises.

their voices against poverty.

Photo: ADRA

Photo: VENRO/Ruediger Dunker

Mozambique, Nicaragua and Zambia. These countries

actually means, what success with regard to the Millennium

serve as an example for all developing countries. They may

Development Goals looks like and how civil society can help

be poor, but have a real chance for positive change, thanks

in achieving this success.

chiefly to democratic influences and support from civil society, such as projects implemented by VENRO’s member

The films and a selection of exemplary projects in these

organisations.

countries can be found on the campaign website, www.deine-stimme-gegen-armut.de.

Since spring 2007, the “P8 films” have become an integral part of the campaign’s events. Each film shows what poverty

Further highlights during 2007 Apart from the two major highlights of the Rostock con-

porters. “Deine Stimme gegen Armut” sent a mobile film

cert and the local “White Band Nights,” the campaign also

studio to a series of events. Supporters in North-Rhine

carried out other activities, which focused on the achieve-

Westphalia were particularly active, who in the meantime

ment of the MDGs and the promises made at G8. In Janu-

have managed to string together more than 1,100 three-sec-

ary, and together with Action against AIDS Germany, the

ond adverts, resulting in a film that lasts almost an hour.

campaign sent a New Year’s card to around 150 political decision makers, appealing to them to strengthen the importance of health and MDG issues in the G8 process. On February 9th in Essen and ahead of the first G7 Finance Ministers meeting, fake finance ministers appealed for real help for poor countries. In a joint initiative, “Deine Stimme gegen Armut,” Action against AIDS Germany and the debt relief campaign erlassjahr.de sent activists disguised as finance ministers to the meeting’s press centre. Several dozen celebrities from the music and show business Since March 2007, the Millennium-Spot has provided an

scene raised their voice against poverty at the ECHO Music

ingenious service for those wanting to get involved in the

Prize award ceremony on February 25th in Berlin. U2 singer

campaign. Anyone wanting to participate in the longest “fin-

Bono, who also received an ECHO special achievement

ger clicking advert in the world” can now do so and have his

prize, presented the campaign’s new television advert,

or her video or photograph appear alongside celebrity sup-

which was shown for the first time at the event.

September 2005

December 2005

To mark the opening of the music and

Throughout December, a

entertainment trade fair Popkomm on

large poster in the heart of

September 14th 2005, the German

Berlin sought to raise

music industry pledged at a press con-

awareness for “Deine

ference together with Herbert Groene-

Stimme gegen Armut.“

meyer its support for “Deine Stimme

Anyone near Zoologischer

gegen Armut.” Chair of the German branch of the International Federation for the

Garten railway station

Phonographic Industry (IFPI), Gerd Gebhardt, said that poverty reduction required

would have been able to read: “Poverty is a scandal – here and throughout

commitment and solidarity.

the world. Chancellor Merkel, it’s time to act!”

Photo: Karen Massine

Photo: VENRO/ Andreas Meichsner

CAMPAIGN HIGHLIGHTS 2007

against AIDS Germany, NGO representatives from the North and the South explained to the journalists the situations of civil society in this international funding initiative. On the International Day of Action on October 17th, “Deine Stimme gegen Armut” mobilised the masses to take part in an attempt to break a world record. The “Stand up & Speak Out” initiative, set up by the “Global Call to Action against Poverty” (GCAP) and the UN Millennium Campaign, aimed at getting as many people as possible to stand up against worldwide poverty and thus set an impressive example. A radio advert, radio interviews and a video with the Berlin rock band Beatsteaks ultimately helped motivate 43.7 million people in 127 countries stand up on White Band Day against poverty – a new world record! In Germany, more During the Forum for Civil G8 Dialogue in Bonn’s

than 66,000 people at 328 events in towns, schools and busi-

Beethovenhalle on April 26th, where government represen-

nesses participated in such “standing up” activities.

tatives from the G8 states met with German and international civil society representatives to discuss G8 issues, the campaign, together with the UN Millennium Campaign, raised awareness surrounding the MDGs on a white band. The band stretched for several hundred metres along the banks of the river Rhine.

18 Two workshops for journalists managed to direct media attention towards the campaign’s issues and messages. The workshop in May in Rostock, in cooperation with the UN Millennium Campaign, focused on the G8 Sum-

The campaign’s main event was the “White Band Night”

mit. The second work-

in Munich. 5,000 party goers experienced a thrilling

shop took place imme-

evening of live music from bands such as my new zoo, Zoe

diately before the Sec-

and The Busters, as well as interviews, information stands

ond Replenishment

and the broadcast of the Germany-Czech Republic football

Meeting of the Global

match. German television presenter and football reporter

Fund to Fight AIDS,

Guenther Koch spoke to Charity Musamba from Zambia

Tuberculosis and

about the fight against poverty in Africa – as well as the

Malaria, and thus

forthcoming football World Cup in South Africa. Ondrej

focused chiefly on glob-

Kopecny also reported on the anti-poverty campaign in the

al health issues.

Czech Republic.

Together with Action

December 2005

March 2006

May 2006

On the third

The protestant

As part of the

White Band Day

youth fellow-

VENRO sympo-

on December

ship from

sium “Sport and

10th, the stu-

Eisleben

Development” on

dent-run devel-

showed its

May 4th, Stefan Wessels, goalkeeper with

opment organi-

commitment to

1. FC Cologne, raised his voice against

sation Commit managed to collect almost 3,000

the MDGs on

poverty (with VENRO board member Juergen

voices against poverty. Representatives also hung

March 7th 2006 by creating massive letters. The

Lieser, right).

up white bands throughout Munich.

polystyrene sheets were donated by a local DIY store.

Photo: VENRO

Photo: Linda Neumann

Photo: Juergen Lukaschek

“We are getting closer towards our goal of cutting poverty in half. Many people now know what they have to do. This campaign has created a community and gives us the strength to fulfil the MDGs by 2015.” Frank Mischo works in the Campaign and PR department of Kindernothilfe

“We cannot just sit back and say that it’s pointless. It’s at those moments when masses of people get involved in the fight against poverty and celebrities support the cause that the effects can be seen.” Nia Kuenzer was part of the winning team in the 2003 women’s football world cup and shot the decisive golden goal in the final.

“‘Deine Stimme gegen Armut’ can serve as an example for other campaigns. We want to make great changes next year and I would be happy if everyone showed the same amount of commitment to ending poverty and inequality as ‘Deine Stimme gegen Armut’ has done. Well done for everything you have achieved in 2007 and I wish you every success for the German campaign in 2008!” Kumi Naidoo is spokesman of the worldwide “Global Call to Action against Poverty” campaign.

“In North-Rhine Westphalia, we recorded more than 7,000 “clicking finger” adverts and used more than 1,000 advertising spaces at railway stations throughout the state to raise awareness for the campaign. This may have been a new PR experience for us, but it definitely contributed to the success of the campaign.” Vera Dittgen designed the campaign for the state of North-Rhine Westphalia. Under the slogan “Deine Stimme gegen Armut – Do your bit in NRW!” she coordinated the campaign in the first few months before handing the baton over to Monika Duelge.

“Despite having 20 acts, the event went off unbelievably quietly and peacefully. The atmosphere outside and back-stage was fantastic; everything was just how it should have been. Incidentally, the voices could be heard even on the other side of the German border (well, at least in Austria!)” Rene Kraus is tour producer and directed the concert in Rostock. He lives and works in Vienna.

THE POLITICAL DIMENSION

Wanted: More engagement from Germany for the MDGs! What can be done, when the political commitment needed

saved the lives of 50,000 people every day. We ask you to

to fight against worldwide poverty is doomed to come to

surprise us. Show the world that Germany feels indebted to

nothing, purely due to a lack of political will of the responsi-

the future of all humanity and acts in this respect.”

ble governments? The answer is simple. Come together, set up worldwide networks: NGOs with celebrities and other

In a position paper published by VENRO, this appeal was

campaigns. Take the most important political events and use

broken down into twelve concrete demands:

them to mobilise the masses convincingly and vociferously.

Poverty reduction must be seen as a basic human right.

This is how both the Global Call to Action against Poverty

Developing countries’ strategies for the fight against

(GCAP) as a worldwide network and “Deine Stimme gegen

poverty must be strengthened.

Armut” as the German GCAP campaign were set up in 2004.

German development cooperation must be realigned and the financial resources available increased in line with

2005 did not just see the important G8 Summit at Glenea-

the EU step-by-step plan towards the 0.7 per cent goal.

gles, it was also time to take stock of the progress made in

The effectiveness of German development cooperation

implementing MDGs, five years after they were first agreed

must be increased and better coordinated at internation-

upon. The MDGs are the eight global development goals

al level.

(Millennium Development Goals), to which all UN members

Commitment to the introduction of innovative funding

committed themselves in 2000 on the basis of the UN Mil-

instruments must be shown.

lennium Declaration. In this respect, one of the MDGs

Effective action against tax oases must be taken.

envisaged that the proportion of people living in extreme

Immediate, essential and extensive debt relief, as well as

poverty – i.e. on less than 1 US Dollar per day – should

the establishment of international insolvency proceedings

decrease by at least half by 2015. However, too little had

must be agreed upon.

happened in the five years since 2000, in order to meet the

More equality in world trade must be achieved.

original deadline of 2015. The fight against poverty in Sub-

The democratisation of the “Global Governance”

Saharan Africa had even regressed.

system must be actively promoted. Crisis prevention as a way of fighting poverty must be

“Deine Stimme gegen Armut” thus called for more intense

strengthened.

commitment and the keeping of the promises made in 2000.

International leadership in the fight against AIDS must

In an open letter to the then German Chancellor, Gerhard

be assumed.

Schroeder, the campaign appealed, “If you, together with

International engagement in the fight against the dangers

the other G7/G8 Heads of State and Government, pass an

of global climate change must be increased.

extensive programme of immediate action to fight poverty, which also contains measures to provide more and better

This catalogue of demands complemented the four general

aid, fair trade and debt relief, we can still be the generation

demands, which all national GCAP campaigns throughout

that can say ‘We kept our promise,’ the generation that

the world had previously agreed upon:

June 2006

At the Designmarkt Alarm

During the football World Cup in June 2006,

event on June 6th 2006 in

the result was: Development 8, the rest 0.

Cologne, the young designer

Using a goal wall with eight holes – each

Dijana Zoradana Elfadivo from

hole representing one of the MDGs – “Deine

Subjektiva displayed her way

Stimme gegen Armut” attracted further

of supporting the campaign –

voices against poverty at the Berlin fan fes-

by sewing the white bands

tival on the “Straße des 17. Juni.”

onto clothing.

Photo: VENRO Andreas Meichsner

Photo: Dijana Zoradana Elfadivo

THE POLITICAL DIMENSION

The spokespeople for development from each of the Federal Parliament factions in Berlin, November 30th 2005.

More and better aid.

Furthermore, the German government has reinforced on

Debt cancellation.

numerous occasions its commitment to the EU step-by-

Trade justice.

step plan, which commits governments to making further

Promote democracy and good governance in developing

increases in the years to come.

countries.

The German government has introduced, for the first time, an innovative funding mechanism for development

It was always clear that the MDGs could only ever be an

cooperation. A proportion of the income made from the

important stage goal, as they relate partially to agreements

auction of emission certificates will be earmarked for

made at earlier UN conferences, such as the 1995 World

development cooperation.

Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen. Neverthe-

Numerous high-ranking politicians – including Develop-

less, the consensus remained that fulfilling the MDGs repre-

ment Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul and Environ-

sented a huge step on behalf of the poorest of the poor.

ment Minister Sigmar Gabriel – have voiced their support for the introduction of a tax on kerosene or a separate

There’s something going on in Germany …

duty on flight tickets.

There has been some remarkable progress made in German

Relief Initiative (MDRI) and the extensive relief of debts

development politics since 2005:

that ensued.

In 2005, Germany participated in the Multilateral Debt

Aid has experienced a trend reversal. After years of

Further debt relief is expected as part of the

decline, available financial resources started increasing

“Debt2Health” initiative.

again in 2005. It now represents 0.36 percent of Germany’s

Germany is now showing considerably more commitment

gross national income.

to the fight against AIDS, as shown by the remarkable

August 2006

September 2006

November 2006

In the artist section

As part of the

The One World ini-

at the Highfield

MDG campaign

tiative in Dessau,

Festival near Erfurt

week in

Saxony-Anhalt,

between August

Stuttgart from

the UNICEF work-

18th - 20th ,

September

ing group and the

Dominik Kalies set

27th to October

Protestant and

up a football table. Not only did it attract musicians

5th 2006, the One World Network DEAB

Catholic congregations organised their annual walk

such as German band Seeed, it also encouraged them

Baden-Wuerttemberg drummed up further

for peace on November 12th 2006 under the motto of

to raise their voices against poverty.

support for the fight against poverty.

“Every voice counts.“

Photo: Dominik Kalies

Photo: Birgit Lieber

Photo: VENRO/Ulrich Schlenker

increase in financial resources, also as part of the Second

weight. This chance had to be used, also at international level

Replenishment Meeting of the Global Fund in Germany.

to lobby other G8 governments. Making contact with the so-

Finally, it was the German G8 presidency, which made the

called sherpas, who prepared the Summit on behalf of their

slowing down of climate change one of the top priorities of

Heads of Government, was particularly important. This was

the Summit agenda in Heiligendamm.

implemented on the one hand via VENRO’s national “sister” platforms in the other G8 countries. In this respect, the corre-

In her government declaration on the G8 Summit on May 24th 2007, Chancellor Angela Merkel affirmed Germany’s support of the MDGs: “The Millennium Development Goals for Africa have been determined. The international state community has completed the definition of its goals. It’s time to implement them.

sponding network, “G7 NGO Coalition” published its own position paper. On the other hand, this was also achieved via an important meeting with the sherpas in April 2007, which was organised jointly by the German NGO Forum on Environment and Development and VENRO.

Our political credibility is at stake. The far-reaching commitments we have made in recent years, in order to increase our achievements in the development field, can bear fruit. We will keep these commitments.”

“Deine Stimme gegen Armut” campaigned extensively to ensure that both development and poverty reduction could enjoy a high ranking on the agenda of G8 Summit in Heiligendamm. Following on from Gleneagles in 2005 and the 2006 Summit in Russia, “Africa,” alongside world economy and climate change, was once again the third key issue on

The G8 Summit 2007 in Heiligendamm

the Summit agenda. The central message “Stand by your

“In 2007, Germany is the most important country in the world.”

commitments” appeared to hit home with the decision mak-

This statement from one of the campaign’s adverts is deliber-

ers. Both Chancellor Angela Merkel and Development Min-

ately striking. Nevertheless, by holding both EU and G8 presi-

ister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul ensured ahead of the

dencies in 2007, Germany has gained considerable political

Summit, that Germany would keep its word with regard to development cooperation, its responsibility lying chiefly in the realisation of the MDGs, as well as the implementation of the decisions made at the 2005 Summit. At the latter, the decision was also made to double development aid for Africa and to strive to provide general access to HIV prevention and AIDS treatment for all by 2010. In Heiligendamm, a unique civil society mobilisation never seen in Germany before ensured through demonstrations, peaceful blockades and a concert attracting 80,000 visitors that the campaign’s messages were unmistakeable for the

As part of the international GCAP campaign, VENRO representatives

German and international community at large.

Claudia Warning and Ulla Mikota passed on the campaign’s

Angela Merkel as they made their way to the G8 Summit: 1 million

G8 – No great leap, but small steps forward

voices, 1 message: Stop poverty now! 8 Heads of Government

After the Heads of Government had left their large “beach

must act.”

hut” in Heiligendamm, and the civil society initiatives had

message to UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and German Chancellor

December 2006

February 2007

At the Christmas market in Krefeld on

During the G7 Finance

December 19th 2006, the organisation aktion

Ministers meeting in

medeor photographed supporters wearing

Essen on February 9th

the campaign scarf, in order to send the Ger-

2007, “fake” finance

man government a large collage of photos,

ministers from “Deine

reminding it to engage in the fight against

Stimme gegen Armut,”

poverty.

erlassjahr.de, and Action

Photo: Antje Mangelsdorf

against AIDS Germany demanded “real help“ for the world’s poor countries. Photo: Ralf Kraemer

THE POLITICAL DIMENSION

Develop a Global Partnership for Development

diture from Germany for Overseas Development Assistance

Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

(ODA) will increase in the coming year to 9 billion Euro. Nevertheless, Germany remains a long way off from fulfilling the aims of the EU step-by-step plan – an increase

of at least 1.2 billion Euro per year until 2010 would be necessary to achieve this. The German G8 presidency also failed to initiate a “bidding race” and

Ensure environmental sustainability

7 Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases

Eight Millennium Development Goals

Achieve universal primary education

to persuade other G8 members to commit to increasing their development aid. Innovative funding mechanisms such as a flight ticket duty or a kerosene and exchange turnover

Promote gender equality and empower women

tax, which would have represented a huge contribution towards meeting the financial challenges, hardly played a role in Heiligendamm. Africa was one of the key issues at the G8 Sum-

Improve maternal health

Reduce child mortality

mit, and for good reason. The Heads of Government

passed a range of initiatives in order to improve Africa’s investment climate and thus create incentives for social and ecological investments in the economy. This

included, for example, new micro-financing mechanisms to facilitate access to credits for poorer population groups.

been successfully completed, it was time to take stock of

what had been achieved: although the G8 Summit had led to several agreements and announcements in terms of implementing the MDGs, the necessary leap forward was not forthcoming. The commitment to provide an extra US$ 50 billion annually to developing countries for the fight against poverty, hunger and diseases by 2010, which had originally been made in Gleneagles, was once again affirmed. However, no definite agreement was made on when this goal should be reached. Germany committed to increasing its funding for public development cooperation in 2008 by 750 million Euro, a promise that was indeed kept. With an increase of more than 14 percent, the development budget has gone up more sharply than all other sectors of the federal budget. Expen-

February 2007

Nobel Peace Prize holder Mohammed Yunus at the concert in Rostock

March 2007

The campaign’s spot on the G8

In March 2007, the Millennium Spot provided

Summit. 21 German and inter-

an ingenious service for those wanting to get

national celebrities, such as

involved in the campaign. Anyone wanting to

the boxers Vladimir and Vitali

participate in the longest “finger clicking

Klitschko, appeal to viewers

advert in the world” can now do so and have

to raise their voices against

his or her video or photograph appear along-

poverty.

side celebrity supporters, such as the Berlin girl band “The Teaserettes.” Photo: VENRO/Ulrich Schlenker

Sustainable investments in the economy are without doubt indispensable in the fight against poverty, for the creation of jobs and a stable income. The dismantling of trade restrictions, which hinder Africa’s economic development, is also of central importance. Nevertheless, these issues are only mentioned in the Summit’s proceedings in the form of an unbinding declaration of intent. In Heiligendamm, the G8 states announced a comprehensive package for the fight against HIV/AIDS totalling 44 billion Euro. Germany intends to contribute 500 million Euro every year until 2015 to this initiative. Although this is a necessary and welcome step, many questions regarding implementation remain open and there is a real fear that the commitment made in Gleneagles to secure universal access to essential AIDS medication by 2010, cannot be met. Other important global challenges were either not open to

On the other hand, a positive outcome of the Summit is, as

debate or were discussed fleetingly. If the G8 countries

documented in the G8 proceedings, the emphasis on the

(which are responsible for 85 per cent of all greenhouse gas

social dimension of globalisation, as well as the importance

emissions no less) only plan to “consider seriously” reducing

of the ILO’s strategic objectives and the OECD Guidelines

CO2 emissions by half by 2050, then these Heads of the

for Multinational Enterprises. The G8 countries commit

world’s greatest environmental contaminators cannot be

themselves to respecting the fundamental principals of the

considered as taking their responsibilities seriously.

ILO (International Labour Organisation) in bilateral trade agreements and promote them further multilaterally. The

The issue of foreign debt hardly featured on the agenda in

sensitive issue of the use of raw materials resulted in posi-

Heiligendamm and the World Trade Round blockade could

tive discussions in relation to the international Extractive

also not be lifted. In some areas, the results of the Summit

Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). Whether these

can even be seen as being counterproductive for develop-

are more than just declarations of intent, remains to be

ment and poverty reduction. The decision on intellectual

seen. That G8 continues to reach out to important emerging

property and patent law can only be viewed with criticism.

countries, such as India, Brazil, Mexico, China and South

“Deine Stimme gegen Armut” had spoken out ahead of the

Africa, which should play an active role in the future of G8,

Summit in favour of relaxing patenting laws on essential

can be seen as a positive development.

medicines, so that poorer patients can be treated with affordable generic drugs. The Summit’s decision to

All in all, the successes of the Summit in Heiligendamm

strengthen patenting laws, however, goes in completely the

were limited. Had it not been for the massive, imaginative

wrong direction: poor patients will continue to be denied

and well accepted “Deine Stimme gegen Armut” campaign,

access to affordable medication; patents will continue to

the successes, such as the considerable increase in

cost lives.

resources for development cooperation in 2008, would not

April 2007

May 2007

“Deine Stimme gegen Armut”

460 voices against poverty were raised on May 4th 2007 during a

raised awareness about the MDGs

day of action at the community pre-school and the primary school

on the banks of the Rhine in Bonn

in Kochel am See, Upper Bavaria. 250 children took part in the

using a white band that was

event, which was one of the “Every Voice against Poverty and a

almost 1km long. At the same

Prize for You” competition holders. Photo: Judith Stolz

time, civil society representatives met Summit representatives from the G8 states in the Beethovenhalle and discussed the main issues of the G8 Summit in June. Photo: VENRO/Lena Horlemann

THE POLITICAL DIMENSION

Civil society press conference as the G8 Summit comes to a close, Heiligendamm press centre, June 8th 2007.

have been achieved. The profile of the MDGs has been

Regardless of how much progress has been made, whether

raised, support for them has increased and the importance

or not the MDGs can be fulfilled, and whether Germany can

of poverty reduction has broken out of the NGO sector into

demonstrate the necessary commitment to contribute to

the political and social mainstream. Even Development

this, remains an unanswered question at the end of 2007.

Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul noted the importance

Nevertheless, the chances have increased. Seven years after

of the civil society in the G8 process: “Your commitment has

the UN Millennium Conference, the MDGs have grown in

paid off. We have made significant process and your support

political relevance – poverty reduction moves more people

has give me courage.”

than ever before. And the Federal Government has also learnt a lesson: a critical civil society, that is prepared to

Eveline Herfkens, the UN Secretary General’s Executive Coordinator to the Millennium Development Goals Campaign wrote to VENRO Chair Claudia Warning on September 13th 2007: "I do want to reiterate that I am convinced that the German

fight, will go to great lengths to ensure that poverty reduction and the MDGs remain on the agenda and that politicians honour their commitments for a fairer global society in terms of the poorest countries in this world.

Campaign, "Deine Stimme gegen Armut," was absolutely necessary and crucial in order to bring the development topic on to the G8 agenda. Without the immens mobilization of the civil society sector, Angela Merkel would have never felt the pressure to discuss Africa and development issues in Heiligendamm, nor would the topic have gained such a high political priority."

May 2007

At the same time as the G8

Prior to his concert on May 31st 2007 in

Finance Minister meeting

Berlin, the social justice organisation

on May 18th 2007 in Pots-

Bread for the World handed over 7,500

dam, regional state net-

signatures against poverty to Herbert

work VENROB organised

Groenemeyer, which he then took with

together with other local

him to Rostock. The signatures had been

groups a “White Band

collected as part of the campaign for

Night” on the Luisenplatz. Alongside interviews with German and

food safety.

international activists, the event also had a variety of short films

Photo: Brot fuer die Welt

and music. Pictured here is the Pitch Pipe Project. Photo: Amélie Losier

Germany speaks its mind on development policy Shortly before the G8 Summit, TNS-Infratest carried out a

The public simultaneously appeals to the Federal govern-

representative opinion poll on development on behalf of

ment to keep its promises and international commitments –

“Deine Stimme gegen Armut.” This poll was then repeated

many are even prepared to make their own personal contri-

with slight variations in October, in order to find out

butions, for example in the form of paying an extra duty on

whether the statements made and trends ascertained in the

flight tickets. The results also reveal that although, at this

first poll could be backed up. The results are remarkable:

half-way stage on the road to 2015, the public is more aware

The German population lays great importance on the issues

of the existence of the MDGs than before, still too many

of health service provision and education in poor countries.

people know nothing about them.

I have heard about the Millennium Development Goals

I can name a Millennium Development Goals

68.7 %

October 2007 May 2007

50.7 %

In your opinion, does the German Government spend too much, too little or exactly the right amount of money for development assistance? Too little: Exactly the right amount: Too much: Don’t know:

33.3 % 36.2 % 23.4 % 7.2 %

Do you think the implementation of a kerosene tax or an airticket levy for development assistance is … Extremely reasonable: Very reasonable: Reasonable: Rather not reasonable: Unreasonable: No answer:

14.2 % 15,5 % 36 % 19 % 13 % 2.2 %

May 2007

12 %

October 2007 May 2007

7.2 %

Keeping promises on development issues by the German Government is… Extremely important: Very important: Important: Not that important: Of no importance: No answer:

29.2 % 35.2 % 28.5 % 4.7 % 1.7 % 0.7 %

In your opinion, how important are further and concrete measures by the German Government to fight poverty and poverty related consequences especially in Africa? Extremely important: Very important: Important: Not that important: Of no importance: No answer:

20.2 % 35.4 % 34.7 % 7,2 % 2.3 % 0.1 %

June 2007

On May 31st 2007, only a few days

At the “White Band

before the G8 Summit, NETZ, the

Night” in Hanover on

development organisation focusing

June 1st 2007, a

on development cooperation in

group of six local

Bangladesh, called for an online

organisations hosted a

demonstration via the online com-

mix of dance, music,

munity “Second Life.”

information and voices from Africa. The event, which took place at Steintorplatz in the city centre, boasted acts such as Freestyle-Rapper Spax & Kid Cut. Photos: DSW/Ralf Orlowski

DOCUMENTATION

Suara Anda melawan kemiskinan! Online throughout the world The internet is

the postings. It was used around 600 times, most often on

absolutely essential

the posting about the campaign concert in Rostock. As one

for a campaign of this

reader wrote, “For me, it’s not just about the music, I also

size. The activities,

want to be one of 70,000 people, who raise their voice

which took place

against poverty.”

online developed over the course of 2007

After 25 issues, the campaign newsletter updates more than

into a mainstay of our work. The campaign website

100,000 subscribers with the latest information on develop-

www.deine-stimme-gegen-armut.de registered more than

ment. One reader reached the following conclusion: “…the

1.6 million visits in this year alone. The website provides all

newsletter really stands out in a crowd! It sums up every-

important information surrounding the campaign, including

thing well, the articles are not too long and also explain the

the issues at stake, how to get involved and campaign mate-

various abbreviations, which ensures that the newsletter

rials. The online calendar and photo gallery present and

also appeals to non-experts!”

document local campaign activities. In the shape of the Millennium Spot (www.millenniumOnly a few mouse clicks are required to raise your voice

spot.org) “Deine Stimme gegen Armut” developed an inno-

against poverty. Shortly after the G8 Summit, the campaign

vative online tool: anyone who so wishes can lend his/her

letter to the Federal government, containing the campaign’s

face to the campaign, by uploading a photo or video. Along-

demands and messages, was signed online for the 300,000th

time. And these supporters did not just come from Germany: thousands signed one of the eight appeal letters that

“Deine Stimme gegen Armut” – online

had been translated into another language. One supporter

www.deine-stimme-gegen-armut.de – Official campaign website

even translated the letter into Indonesian: Suara Anda

www.deine-stimme-gegen-armut.de/aktiv-werden/online.html – Banners and information on how to support the campaign online

melawan kemiskinan! Since January 2007, the campaign’s blog has informed website visitors in a series of 120 postings about the latest developments in politics and the work of the campaign. More than 65,000 visitors had read articles by the end of October, with the analysis of the G8 Summit (7,300 visits) and the posting about bidding for concert t-shirts on eBay (6,000 visits) being the most popular. Web surfers were able to make use of the com-

www.millennium-spot.org/en – Give your face to the campaign. The longest “finger clicking” advert in the world. www.myspace.com/deinestimmegegenarmut – MySpace campaign profile www.myvideo.de/mitglieder/DeineStimmegegenArmut – Campaign videos hosted by MyVideo www.dailymotion.com/deinestimmegegenarmut – Campaign videos hosted by Dailymotion Furthermore, both www.studivz.net and www.facebook.com have “Deine Stimme gegen Armut” groups.

ment function to convey their opinions about

June 2007

At the “Voices

Around 80 employees from organisations

against Poverty”

that had helped raise voices against

concert in Rostock

poverty, carry 1.4 million signatures on to

on June 7th 2007,

the stage as part of a symbolic handover

development organ-

at the Rostock concert on June 7th 2007.

isations, such as

Photo: Matthias Muehlbradt

Misereor and the European Cidse network, presented their work to the concertgoers. Photo: Anika May

paign “friends” within six months. Amongst almost 800 comments, one from “Manon” can be found: “I am proud to be able to participate in this campaign and say ‘You have my voice.’” The campaign videos hosted by MySpace have now been viewed more than 78,000 times, with around 50,000 users having viewed the campaign’s video clips hosted by the video community MyVideo.de (www.myvideo.de/mitglieder/DeineStimmegegenArmut). The campaign also offers a wide range of website banners for those, who want to decorate their website with the camside our own website, we also surf the virtual community,

paign’s website. The diagonal white band in the top corner

going to those places where supporters can be found. Our pro-

turned out to be the biggest hit, appearing on popular web-

file on the online community MySpace (www.myspace.com/

sites such as tvtv.de and harrypotterbuch.de. The various

deinestimmegegenarmut) has been especially successful:

television adverts of the campaign can also be integrated

since March 2007, more than 8,300 users have become cam-

into other websites.

The television adverts of the campaign In various television and cinema adverts, numerous Ger-

send letters, emails and text messages galore to the Federal

man and international celebrities appealed to viewers to

government and remind the G8 states ahead of the Summit

raise their voices against poverty. The 2005 advert shows

of their commitment to the fight against poverty. To ensure

actors, models, artists and top athletes clicking their fin-

that they can be understood, all celebrities speak German,

gers, demonstrating that a child dies every three seconds

from Antonio Banderas to Penelope Cruz to Matt Damon.

due to the consequences of extreme poverty. The adverts were broadcast by all relevant private televi“You can make the world a better place! Your voice can

sion stations free of charge and seen in 2007 by more than

make a change!” This was the opinion of 21 German and

40 million viewers.

international celebrities. They appealed to the public to

June 2007

July 2007

Kumi Naidoo’s blazing speech at the

In Neu Wulmstorf near

concert in Rostock on June 7th 2007

Buxtehude, year 11 and

made the global dimension of the cam-

12 pupils from the local

paign abundantly clear. Naidoo is

grammar school pre-

spokesman for the Global Call to Action

sented “Deine Stimme

against Poverty (GCAP).

gegen Armut” on the

Photo: Matthias Muehlbradt

Rathausplatz in the form of large letters. Photo: Jana Maslonka

DOCUMENTATION

Being a public nuisance A campaign cannot survive without some sort of “advertis-

reminder ahead of the G8 Summit in Russia to Chancellor

ing.” Time and again, “Deine Stimme gegen Armut” has

Angela Merkel: “Don’t forget: You are our voice against

reminded the Federal government of its promises and has

poverty at the G8 Summit. Fight poverty, hunger and

appealed through open letters and adverts in newspapers

HIV/AIDS.”

and journals for more engagement in the field of development. Here is a selection of the campaign’s advertising:

June 2006: In SPIEGEL, “Deine Stimme gegen Armut” appeals during the football World Cup to the Federal gov-

December 2007: Advert quoting Chancellor Angela Merkel

ernment to “Show poverty the red card!”

appears in Sueddeutsche Zeitung and FAZ on the occasion of World AIDS Day on December 1st.

June 2005: In SPIEGEL, Stern and Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung, “Deine Stimme gegen Armut” publishes a

July 2007: Advert on the outcomes of

draft letter, which readers can send to Chancellor Gerhard

the G8 is published in SPIEGEL, in which

Schroeder ahead of the G8 Summit in Scotland.

they are criticised for not having done enough for development.

May 2005: FAZ publishes on May 31st an advert with the photos of the celebrities and text from the campaign’s tele-

As part of a large advertising campaign in

vision advert.

May 2007, we spotlight the obligation of

the G8 states to make good their commit-

June 2005: Ahead of the EU Finance ministers and G7

ments and appeal to them to raise their

Finance ministers meetings, celebrities appeal to Federal

voices against poverty. Whereas Vanity

Finance Minister Hans Eichel to make history and raise his

Fair, Focus, Gala, Welt am Sonntag and

voice against poverty. The appeal appears as a newspaper

the music magazine Visions highlight the

advert and as an email in FAZ, Stern and SPIEGEL.

poverty situation using figure pairs, two adverts quoting Chancellor Angela

April 2005: “We have Pitt’s. We have Clooney’s. We have

Merkel appear in SPIEGEL. The adverts are printed more

Groenemeyer’s. We have Schiffer’s” announces a full-page

than 7 million times.

advert in Sueddeutsche Zeitung and appeals to readers to raise their own voices.

May 2007: In an open letter, university professors, intellectuals and Nobel Prize holders appeal to the G8 Finance min-

December 2004: An open letter in Sueddeutsche Zeitung

isters to keep their promise to increase development aid.

and in SPIEGEL signed by a number of German celebrities and VENRO’s Board regarding a “matter of life or death” is

October 2006: Advert appears in SPIEGEL on the Cabinet’s

the campaign’s first advert.

decision regarding the G8 Summit agenda. July 2006: Using yellow Post-it notes in Sueddeutsche Zeitung and FAZ, the campaign sends the following

August 2007

September 2007

In front of the Vil-

Civil society perspectives with regard to

la Hammer-

the Global Fund’s replenishment confer-

schmidt in Bonn,

ence formed the main focus of the journal-

visitors learn

ist workshop in Berlin on September 26th

more about the

2007. Anandi Yuyaraj (left) works in India

MDGs in a playful

for a programme focusing on AIDS preven-

manner.

tion. Francoise Ndayishimiye from Burundi

International Quarter open day, August 19th 2007

represents the NGO in the Global Fund’s Board.

Photo: Dirk Bange

Photo: VENRO/ Stefan Kreutzberger

October 2007

43.7 million people stood

At the “White Band Night”

up on October 17th as part

in Munich on October 17th,

of the record breaking

the main theme was “foot-

“Stand up & Speak Out”

ball, music and messages”.

event and raised their voic-

Whilst Germany played the

es against poverty. Even the

Czech Republic at football,

Altes Rathaus in Wilster,

football reporter Guenther Koch interviewed Ondrej Kopecny, repre-

Schleswig-Holstein took

sentative of the Czech sister campaign “Cˇesko proti chudobeˇ”.

part in the action.

Photo: VENRO/ Johannes Rosenstein

Photo: Carsten Doehler

DOCUMENTATION

Press review Between March 1st and June 15th 2007, more than 5,000 articles appeared in the print media under the heading of “Deine Stimme gegen Armut,” which corresponds to a disseminated print run of 154 million. During the same period, 109 television reports were broadcast, reaching 86 million viewers. All of the main daily national newspapers, including BILD-Zeitung reported on the campaign, taking up the issue of poverty eradication in Africa. Magazines, such as SPIEGEL, Stern, Galore and even Playboy ran interviews and reports on Herbert Groenemeyer’s commitment. One particular issue of Vanity Fair, which was published around the time of the G8 Summit even had eight different front covers, with each cover featuring a different celebrity who had pledged his/her support to the campaign. The concert on June 7th was the media highlight of the year. More than 350 journalists and photographers and 40 television and video teams came to the concert and main press conference alone. Even the local events – especially the “White Band Nights” – attracted much

interest in the local press.

“The concertgoers, most of

On the whole, the cam-

whom ranged from the young

paign was represented

to the fairly young, were treat-

positively in the media,

ed to an unusually varied con-

even if at times shortened

cert with exceptionally com-

to little more than a few

mitted musicians from Africa

political statements. It

and Europe.”

was the pop stars, howev-

(FOCUS Online, 08.06.07

er, that formed the main

reporting on the concert)

attraction. Groenemeyer’s and Bono’s statements

defined a major part of the content-related messages. The new concert concept of “music & messages” only partially bore fruit, as far as the media were concerned. The messages lagged somewhat behind the concert announcement, the musical highlights and the “The atmosphere is

questions to the organisations.

great, the mes-

The live recording of the concert,

sages appear to be

broadcast on Germany’s first pub-

coming through.”

lic television channel, ARD, was

(SPIEGEL Online,

almost completely focused on the

07.06.07 reporting

musical acts instead of the develop-

on the concert)

ment messages. This nevertheless seemed not to affect the public nor printed articles: the key messages certainly seem to have hit home there (politics should make commitments, reducing poverty by half as one of the MDGs, Poor8 concept).

Fever pitch: This graph shows the number of press articles in the online editions of 518 dailies and online news services over the last six months. Just in this tiny section of the media world, there has been an overwhelming response, with over 2,500 articles appearing in this period. It is clear to see the response of the campaign’s main press releases since the end of March, the rapid increase in the last three weeks before the concert in Rostock and the press release on the occasion of the MDG halfway mark. This trend is also representative of the response for print articles and television reports.

DOCUMENTATION

Celebrities and supporters “Deine Stimme gegen Armut” is a joint campaign between

Further celebrities pledged their support for the campaign

VENRO, Herbert Groenemeyer and befriended experts from

by taking part in the “Voices against Poverty” concert on

the PR and media industry.

June 7th 2007, by signing open letters, or in other ways: Boris Becker, Alfred Biolek, Nina Hoss, Guenther Jauch, Nia

Other celebrities and cooperation partners supported the

Kuenzer, Jan Josef Liefers, Heike Makatsch, Michael Mitter-

campaign.

meier, Franka Potente, Rolf Stahlhofen, Wim Wenders, Roger Willemsen, as well as the following bands: 2Raum-

The 2007 G8 Summit television advert includes: Ben Affleck,

wohnung, Beatsteaks, Die Fantastischen Vier, Seeed, Silber-

Emmanuel Adebayor, Antonio Banderas, Bono, Till Broen-

mond, Sportfreunde Stiller, and Die Toten Hosen.

ner, Penelope Cruz, Matt Damon, Ulrike Folkerts, Bob Geldof, Herbert Groenemeyer, Thierry Henry, Wladimir and Vitali

Experts from the PR and media industry, as well as

Klitschko, Sarah Kuttner, Jens Lehmann, Peter Lohmeyer,

befriended designers and agents, have made a huge contri-

Brad Pitt, Christiane Paul, Claudia Schiffer, Kolo Touré and

bution to “Deine Stimme gegen Armut”:

Nora Tschirner.

Kaloff Artist Relations - Claudia Kaloff and Team (Hedi Pottag, Imke Sommerkamp, Marcus ‘Becko’ Beck)

In 2005, the following celebrities clicked their fingers

Joerg Heinrich and Frank Bender

every three seconds for the television and cinema advert,

21TwentyOne

because every three seconds, a child dies from the conse-

Matthias Gruebel

quences of extreme poverty: Brad Pitt, George Clooney,

Klaus Ulrich and team

Cameron Diaz, Hugh Grant, Herbert Groenemeyer, Kylie

Walter Schoenauer and Florian Reichl

Minogue, Bono, Xavier Naidoo, Claudia Schiffer, P. Diddy,

Johannes Jagusch

Justin Timberlake, Jamie Foxx and Anne Will. Other cooperation partners have included: The line-up from the 2005 footballer advert, which could be

AOL Deutschland

seen in many of the German Premier League stadiums, is:

Carmunity GmbH

Sergej Barbarez, Abder Ramdane, Simon Jentzsch, Robert

Damian-Team Eine Welt Versand GmbH

Enke, Ingo Hertzsch, Christian Ziege, Andreas Neuendorf,

Deutschrock Merchandising

Lars Ricken, Benjamin Auer and Lukas Podolski.

Deutsche Phonoverbaende (IFPI) DieGesellschafter.de

The following Nobel Prize holders signed the open letter to

elephantseven

the G8 Finance ministers:

eventfunk.de

George A. Akerlof, 2001 Nobel Prize holder for Economics,

Hastings Music GmbH

USA; John M. Coetzee, 2003 Nobel Prize holder for Litera-

InterLake GmbH

ture; Clive Granger, 2003 Nobel Prize holder for Economics,

Kobalt GmbH

UK; Archbishop Desmond Mpilo Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize

Landjugendverlag GmbH

holder, South Africa; Betty Williams, Nobel Peace Prize

MVG Medienproduktion und Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH

Holder and President of “World Centres of Compassion for

myspace.com

Children International”, UK.

MyVideo.de polylog.television

Mohammed Yunus, 2006 Nobel Peace Prize holder, attended

YOC AG

the concert in Rostock. Many of VENRO’s 105 member organisations have played a Bishops

very special role in supporting and shaping the campaign

Archbishop Cardinal Georg Sterzinsky

with their own events and extra resources.

Bishop Wolfgang Huber, Head of the German Protestant Church Bishop Franz Kamphaus Bishop Martin Schindehuette

Last, but by no means least, you have all contributed to making “Deine Stimme gegen Armut” such a success. Thank you!

The campaign team Many helping hands and bright minds at VENRO have gone to ensure that “Deine Stimme gegen Armut” has always been in safe hands. The following people made up the campaign team: Ulrich Schlenker (Coordinator since 2006), Stephanie Angermeier (Coordinator in 2005), Bjoern Lampe (White Band Night Coordinator in 2007), Stefan Kreutzberger (Press Officer in 2007), Bodo Ellmers (Policy Officer in 2007), Heike Salvador (Campaign Assistant in 2005), Britta Amorin (Press Officer in 2005), Birte Rodenberg (Policy Officer in 2006) and Katharina Philipps (Trainee in 2006). Caroline Jane Kent also of DSW supported the campaign. The following people were interns and stand-ins during the campaign: Jennifer Braun, Jens Frayer, Timo Herdejost, Peter Kuehnhold, Sandy Martens, Bastian Neumann, Caroline Schmidt, Cristina Umani, Katharina Weltecke and Ellen Wiemer. VENRO’s Board displayed its strong moral sense of political responsibility, especially Dr. Claudia Warning, Ulrich Post, Dr. Juergen Hammelehle, Bernd Pastors (VENRO Board members since 2006) and Reinhard Hermle (Board member in 2005), as well as VENRO’s Executive Director Dr. Ulla Mikota. Everyone in VENRO’s offices in Bonn and Berlin pitched in and helped with energy and enthusiasm. On behalf of Herbert Groenemeyer, the campaign team was supported by Claudia Kaloff (overall organisation), Imke Sommerkamp (2007 concert organisation) and Marcus Beck (P8 films, 2007 concert organisation).

Editorial board Publisher: Verband Entwicklungspolitik deutscher Nichtregierungsorganisationen e.V. (VENRO) Kaiserstr. 201 D-53113 Bonn Germany Tel: + 49 (0) 228 94677-0 Email: sekretariat@venro.org Website: www.venro.org Campaign team “Deine Stimme gegen Armut”: Chausseestr. 35 D-10115 Berlin Germany Tel: +49 (0) 30 2463 2105 Email: deinestimmegegenarmut@venro.org Website: www.deine-stimme-gegen-armut.de Concept/Editor-in-chief: Stefan Kreutzberger (medienbuero eco Cologne) Co-writers: Bodo Ellmers, Stefan Kreutzberger, Bjoern Lampe, Dr. Ulla Mikota, Ulrich Schlenker, Katharina Weltecke Translation: Thomas Crowe Design: Wolfgang Scheible, Cologne Photo Credits (if not otherwise indicated): Front cover: VENRO/ Bildschoen, VENRO/ Ulrich Schlenker, Matthias Muehlbradt, Ralf Kraemer, Juergen Lukaschek, p. 4: Stefan Kreutzberger, p. 5: Groenemeyer/Deine Stimme gegen Armut, pp. 6/7: VENRO, personal, Stefan Kreutzberger, p. 8: VENRO/Bildschoen, VENRO/Ruediger Dunker, p. 9: VENRO/Ruediger Dunker, VENRO/Bildschoen, p. 10: VENRO/Ulrich Schlenker, p. 11: Andreas Seeliger, p.12: VENRO/Bjoern Lampe, p. 13: VENRO/Ulrich Schlenker, p. 15+16: Matthias Muehlbradt, p. 17: Ralf Kraemer, p. 18: Johannes Rosenstein, VENRO/Lena Horlemann, p. 19: personal, SIDI-Sportmanagement, p. 21: Stefan Kreutzberger, DWHH, p. 22: Federal Press Office, Peter Kuehnlein, p. 24: Matthias Muehlbradt, p. 25: Robert Schulze, p. 26: Stefan Kreutzberger, p. 29: Johannes Rosenstein, p. 32: Stefan Kreutzberger, VENRO/Dirk Bange, Back cover: Stefan Kreutzberger, VENRO/Dirk Bange, VENRO/Lena Horlemann, Marcus Beck Bonn and Berlin, February 2008