2005 was a heady year for campaigners. Around the world, we turned out in unprecedented numbers to share our passion for justice and to demand action on debt, aid and trade.
More than 31 million people wore white bands, signed postcards, protested and invented their own ways to make the point.
The result was progress on the most difficult problems of today and real differences in the lives of some of the poorest people in the world.
Debt relief has enabled the Zambian government to provide free health care for people in rural areas and the Tanzanian government to invest in modern electricity supplies for its citizens. Aid levels are climbing again after falling sharply in the last few years and new ways are being found to make it more effective.
However, not enough was promised and not enough has been done, particularly on trade issues. That's why campaigners are doing it again, in the global Month of Action. Between 14 September and 17 October 2006, people will be standing up and protesting in a thousand ways against the scandal of global poverty.
What's happened so far?
In the UK - the month kicked off with a march to demand reform of the IMF and World Bank. More than 3,000 people took to the streets, leading the Development Minister, Hilary Benn, to announce that he would withhold £50 million funding from the IMF until it makes progress in reducing harmful economic conditions attached to its loans.
In Scotland - campaigners handed over a giant postcard with the words 'Keep poverty on the agenda' to a look-alike German Chancellor Merkel at the consulate in Edinburgh.
In Senegal - the month launched with a public concert on 16 September.
In Singapore - hundreds of press looked on as protestors wearing gags took part in a silent protest outside the annual meetings of the IMF and World Bank. They were drawing attention to the lack of representation for poor countries and civil society in the decisions of these powerful instituions.
In Liberia - 500 activists and campaigners staged a protest outside the World Bank and IMF offices in Monrovia, holding banners protesting against the harmful impact that debt has on Liberia's development
In Freetown in Sierra Leone, there were mass rallies calling on their government to reject harmful conditionalities imposed by the World Bank and IMF.
In Belgium there was a rally with clowns who demanded that the IMF and World Bank “stop the circus” of their harmful policies.
In the Philippines - a protest was staged in front of the World Bank office in Ortigas to express indignation its continued exclusion of the peoples' voices in its decision-making process.
In Indonesia - an international 'People's Tribunal on Poverty and Debt' was held in Batam. People from across the developing world gave evidence on the impact of World Bank and IMF polices, and how debt repayments affect the lives of people living in poverty.
Further activities in the UK - A flyer on Stand Up Against Poverty was circulated around the UK's Jewish community to coincide with the Jewish festival of Sukkot (7-15 October).
