Before yes+ I was always harsh on myself. I was afraid to be myself around people I didn’t know. After the YES+ I was able to fully express myself, and started to attract people I loved to be with.
In 2006, 23 million people Stood Up. In 2007, 47 million people Stood Up. Last year, 116 million people Stood Up and Took Action.
The Mission Green Earth Stand Up Take Action 08 was one of the largest tree planting campaigns in history. Initiated by the Art of Living Foundation and supported by the UN Millennium Development Campaign and UN Environmental Program (UNEP), over 100 million trees were planted all over the world well before the July 2009 deadline. Why plant trees? To reduce global warming, prevent soil erosion, protect and vitalize ecosystems, reduce pollution, and increase soil fertility.
This year, Stand Up Take Action continues, with an eye at addressing broader global targets outlined by the Millennium Development Goals. The Art of Living and Transparency International are taking steps towards The MDG Goal Number 1 of ending extreme poverty and hunger, MDG 2 of achieving universal primary education and MDG 7 of ensuring environment sustainability. The organizations are asking people worldwide to sign a pledge to inspire world leaders to commit to transparency and accountability in their actions to help address the MDGs and inequality. This year’s Stand Up campaign aims to be the largest yet, and hopes to send out the loudest message yet to achieve the Millenium Development Goals. But Art of Living is imploring people to do more than to stand or to speak, but to act. The very basis of this is the fact that the MDGs will not be completed by the targeted 2015 if every one of us does not do our part in fulfilling these goals. The goals are achievable, we have the resources to achieve them, and every one of our voices counts.