Campaigners and the public alike in 72 countries around the world are today wearing white bands and adorning public buildings with giant white banners as an opener to the coming week’s action against poverty.

Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP), the world’s largest anti-poverty movement, will see some of the world’s most famous landmarks, such as Sydney’s Harbour Bridge in Australia, Rome’s Trevi Fountain, the Berlin Brandenburg Gate and St Paul’s Cathedral in London, dressed in white.

Up to 200,000 demonstrators dressed in white are to form a giant human white band around the centre of Edinburgh on the day of the Make Poverty History march this Saturday.

The white bands will keep pressure up on G8 leaders to take definitive steps toward implementing real trade justice, cancelling debt, as well as adding to the aid already being sent to impoverished nations.

The white bands are also aimed at increasing the response of some of the world’s wealthiest nations to the global AIDS emergency.

Marches, petitions, and parades are just some of the events that have taken place all around the world as part of White Band Day.