Did someone say… Global Citizen Festival watch party?
It’s September, the seasons have officially changed, and the world is buckling down and gearing up for the last bit of action before the end of the year. It’s also when we host our annual event in Central Park, where headliners such as Doja Cat, Jelly Roll, LISA, and more take to the stage alongside commitment-makers to defeat poverty, defend the planet, and demand equity.
Although all the action will happen live in New York City, there’s something to be said about chilling out in your sweats, inviting friends over, taking action collectively, and watching the festival together — here’s some info on how you can join the livestream. You don’t need to leave the house to make memories and call for sustainable global change.
While the festival will be bursting with entertainment you can catch on livestream, the core reason we come together annually as a movement at this time of year is to stand in solidarity with the cause to end extreme poverty.
We’re mobilizing to defeat poverty by guaranteeing that everyone has access to nutritious food, adequate healthcare, life-saving vaccines, and quality education; defend the planet by making sure that climate change mitigation and adaptation financing is sufficient; and demand equity by advocating for increased foreign aid and financing options for low-income nations.
So you’ve got your friends, you’ve planned your snacks, your thumbs are ready to live tweet along; now all you need is a list of actions to take to join your favorite artist’s call for urgent change. Here are the nine actions we’re prioritizing this festival season:
Defeat Poverty
1. Sign: Protect and Increase Overseas Development Assistance
Official Development Assistance (ODA) is at threat of being cut significantly, which is detrimental for those who rely on it. This funding pool is essential for supporting the world’s poorest countries and those experiencing the biggest issues, including humanitarian aid where it’s needed most. Considering how conflict, war, and disasters have erupted across the globe, we need to call for its protection, and for an increase to suit the scale of global crises. Sign our petition to join this call.
2. Leave A Message: Champion Global Tax Justice
Right now, the world is experiencing a damaging level of inequality since the wealthiest 1% own more than the bottom 90%. This must change, and tax justice is the way to do it. Take this action and leave a message of support for Barbados, Kenya, and France as they continue to push for international tax reform to change the global state of inequality.
3. Quiz: How Agriculture Fights Poverty in Africa
Agriculture runs in the veins of many African countries’ economies and is essential for supporting the livelihoods of those impacted by the climate crisis and extreme poverty. Take this quiz to learn more about the vitality of this industry when it comes to addressing some of the continent’s most critical issues.
Defend the Planet
4. Sign: Save Our Rainforests: End Deforestation Now
Deforestation in tropical rainforests is happening at an alarming rate, largely due to multinational corporations clearing the earth of its forests for products like palm oil, soy, and beef. This destroys biodiversity and deepens the impacts of the climate crisis, as forests help absorb carbon emissions.
The Earth’s rainforests are nature’s strongest weapon against climate change, and critical to our planet’s health. Let’s make sure the forests, and the communities that stand as their guardians, are protected from further damage.
Learn more about the need to end unchecked deforestation and sign our petition below.
5. Sign: Protect and Include Environmental Defenders
Indigenous environmental defenders are facing threats, harassment, and even death trying to protect the planet and communities from perpetrators of the climate crisis. Governments and corporations often target these activists because their work challenges their interests and investments. These defenders are also often excluded from decision-making spaces where they can effectively defend the planet. We must demand governments protect them and include them in shaping climate policies.
6. Quiz: How Are Island Nations Leading Global Climate Action?
Despite experiencing some of the worst that the climate crisis has to give, small island nations have fought back with an incredible resilience that the world could learn from. Take this quiz to learn more about how they’re shaping global climate policy and forging a new path toward a more equitable and climate-conscious future for all.
Demand Equity
7. Sign: Defend Human Rights and Environmental Defenders in the DRC
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is introducing new laws that criminalize the essential work of environmental defenders, especially now as they raise their voices against an oil project in the Lake Alber region that intends to destroy the nation’s environment and threaten the livelihoods of fishing communities. Sign and share this petition to help amplify the call for justice in the DRC.
8. Quiz: Why are Brazil’s Indigenous Lands at Risk?
In Brazil, a new suggested policy could threaten the land and livelihoods of hundreds of over 200 Indigenous communities. It’s not yet signed into law, but if that does happen, we could lose a part of the Amazon, and Indigenous people in Brazil could lose their rightful land. Learn more about this issue by taking this quiz.
9. Quiz: How Does Activism Change the World?
Activism matters when it comes to nudging global decision-makers in the right direction toward sustainable and equitable change. We’d argue that it’s essential to addressing social injustices and environmental issues. Take this quiz to learn about how activism has created change throughout history.
The more we take action with the artists and ambassadors that support Global Citizen at our major events, the louder the call for the end of extreme poverty becomes. No matter where you are in the world, add your voice to this call to make a real difference.