A group of 20 well-known activists and advocates released an open letter to world leaders demanding immediate action for the SDGs. An accompanying one-minute video ends by asking, “how will you keep your promise” in 2020?
The signatories, “writing as one for the first time,” call on world leaders to move more quickly to end poverty, conquer inequality and fix the climate crisis. Richard Curtis, Project Everyone, says the 20 activists and a broader network of 2,000 supporters – for a total of 2,020 campaigners – represent the “passion from all sides that 2020 must be a transformative, radical year for change and progress and new finance – for people and planet.”
We need you to act faster to find the finance and unlock radical solutions.
The open letter posted at the Global Goals website recalls countries’ commitment to the SDGs five years ago, contrasting the Goals’ vision to current conditions around the world, including rising temperatures, children living without vital food and health care, and millions fleeing their homes. The advocates “need you to act faster… to find the finance [and] unlock radical solutions. We are watching you.”
The signatories include: Nobel Peace Prize laureates Malala Yousafzai and Nadia Murad; Obiageli Ezekwesili, co-founder of Bring Back our Girls; environmental campaigner Jane Goodall; Fridays for Future organizer Alexandria Villasenor; Amnesty International Secretary-General Kumi Naidoo; gender equality campaigners Alaa Murabit, Trisha Shetty, and MeToo founder Tarana Burke; and Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors.
The 2000 additional “backers” for the letter include teachers, dentists, athletes, journalists, business executives, politicians, actors, musicians, novelists, UN officials, NGO leaders and former heads of state and government, such as Christiane Amanpour, Bono, Tom Brady, Idris Elba, Julia Gillard, Bear Grylls, Jesse Jackson, Spike Lee, Yo Yo Ma, David Miliband, Paul Polman and Mary Robinson.
The Global Goals website featuring the letter and video also provides an interactive tool on ‘Key Moments in 2020,’ noting that each listed event requires “pressure for extra money and major new commitments.” [Global Goals ‘Watch’ campaign] [Business Green story]