It's undeniable — the next 18 months are a critical point in time.
They provide a key moment to kick start the final ten-year push to achieve the United Nations’ Global Goals by 2030, which specifically include tackling poverty and fighting climate change.
To mark the importance of this time, Global Citizen, in partnership with the global CEO advisory firm Teneo, is launching the Global Goal Live: The Possible Dream campaign, which will engage everyday citizens, corporations, governments, and philanthropists to work collectively to help make the Global Goals a reality.
On Nov. 26, Global Citizen Australia hosted a deep-dive panel discussion in Melbourne to unpack the campaign, including exclusively sharing the objectives and motivation behind Global Goal Live’s cumulative 10-hour global media event across five countries on Sept. 26, 2020.
The event, hosted in an open event space at WeWork, featured incredible guest speakers.
Among the panelists in attendance was Global Citizen's Co-Founder and Managing Director of Campaigns, Simon Moss. Joining Moss was Craig Foster, a former international footballer, broadcaster, and social justice campaigner.
The chat between the two giants of social justice was moderated by Global Citizen's Australian Digital Campaigner, Madeleine Keck.
Great to chat campaigns, pop and policy with a true legend of Aussie sport @Craig_Foster tonight in Melbourne.
— Simon Moss (@sdmoss) November 26, 2019
Even if he did laugh at my suggestion I only turned to campaigning because I couldn’t make it as a pro footballer
Thx @GlblCtznAU for having us pic.twitter.com/2C3dYc6zDU
Moss told a packed crowd of local changemakers, activists, and passionate individuals about the USD $350 billion funding gap needed to help end extreme poverty in the 59 poorest nations, and the importance of individuals, local leaders, big business, and governments stepping up.
"No one else is telling the story of what the world needs to do,” Moss told the crowd. “So why shouldn't we?"
Foster joined the panel to discuss the immense difference individual voices can have.
In 2018, the former captain of Australia’s soccer team, the Socceroos, led the #SaveHakeem campaign to free footballer Hakeem al-Araibi from detention in Thailand. #SaveHakeem is widely considered one of the most successful social media campaigns in Australian history.
Foster told the crowd about his determination to ensure that the movement created by the goodwill of Australia in the #SaveHakeem campaign continues to achieve positive outcomes for those in need around the world.
"The world needs people who can energize ordinary people like us. To give solutions to big issues that we need to solve. And sport is such an important part of the solution,” Foster said. “That’s why I like what Global Citizen is doing.”
At the end of the panel discussion, the audience voted on a live poll, which asked which issue they were most passionate about when it comes to making global progress toward ending extreme poverty.
"Reducing health inequalities” received 37% of votes, with “ensuring universal quality education” coming in second with 31% of votes.