There are white bands everywhere. People from across the globe are here in Montevideo in solidarity to end poverty and inequality around the world. The white band as many of you know is the universal symbol of this movement. Supporting this massive dynamic social movement, Catapult Media is here.

There is a sense of energy and optimism in the air as people stream into the Global Call to Action Against Poverty Conference. Here we will shape the next stage of this global movement with passion and conviction. We share a profound belief that civil society plays a fundamental role in creating and sustaining democracy. That democracy is being reinvented through the participation of civil society organizations that are grappling with solving the global issues of our time, poverty, climate change, inequality, debt to name a few. It is through the broad and active participation of civil society that poverty and inequality can be eradicated. In fact, most would argue this is the only way it can.