But EVERY DAY around 30,000 people, many of them children, die as a result of extreme poverty (meaning that since the tsunami, more people have died of poverty than died in the tsunami, and countless others have a daily struggle to survive). It's important that we don't allow what's happened in the Indian Ocean to over-shadow a bigger and on-going daily tragedy.
Around 100 major campaigning organisations have got together, to push for change in 2005, under the banner of Make Poverty History.
As individuals, we cannot bring this permanent change about. Eradicating poverty requires action on a world scale, and the support of governments. For the governments to act, we need to demonstrate to our governments that we want them to act.
It's time for change: it's time for us all to act together to bring about a better world.
The symbol of the campaign is a simple White Band worn around the wrist, your arm - in fact anywhere you like that it can be seen by everyone! You can make your own, or you can buy the white bands (and by doing so, raise funds for this campaign).
To find out more - including how to purchase the white bands, and emailing Tony Blair to demonstrate your support for change - please see http://www.makepovertyhistory.org