The movement of young Australians that are concerned with social justice is continually growing. On Monday night, The Oaktree Foundation held its STAND. advocacy event at venues across Australia. In Sydney, melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Cairns and Canberra, groups of young people gathered, under light, to take a stand for the Millennium development Goals. 8 minute of silence. 8 goals.

In Sydney, at Palm Grove in Darling Harbour, approximately 150 yung people gathered to hear 8 students, current students at various Sydney high schools, to speak on the 8 goals set forth in the Millennium Development Goals. Also hearing from Oaktree volunteers, all present heard from pasionate young people. By the end of the night, all were left with a sense of wanting to do more.

So, what is being done?

Between November 19 and December 1, 2005, young people from Victoria and New South Wales are travelling to Canberra to meet with prominent politicians, the heads of AusAID (australia's department for foreign aid) and other prominent personailities from our nations capital. The Oaktree Foundation, partnering with the United Nations Youth association and the Micah Challenge, are banding together under the makepovertyhistory campaign to demand australian government of one thing. More and better aid. AusAID has realised that Austyralia's young people have a lot to offer in the area of international aid and development. Now it is up to us, the young people of australia, to say to the government that yes, we care about these issues, and yes, we need action. Australia's aid does not reach the 0.7% GNI target sagreed upon through the MDGs, nor does it meet the 0.5% that is needed by 2010. This needs to change.

The Road Trip is coming.