The Chicago Council on Foreign Affairs and the ONE campaign present a public event on the Millennium Development Goals on Monday, Sept 27 at the Chicago Club. See below for more info on this fantastic event!
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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2010
PUBLIC PROGRAM
FIVE YEARS OUT: AN UPDATE ON THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS
Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Singer and Goodwill Ambassador against Malaria, UNICEF
Liesl Gerntholtz, Director, Women’s Rights Division, Human Rights Watch
Josh Lozman, Chief of Staff to the CEO and Senior Advisor on Global Health Policy, ONE
Moderated by Sheila Nix, U.S. Executive Director, ONE
With only five years to go until the 2015 deadline to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on world leaders to attend a summit in New York, September 20-22, to accelerate progress towards the MDGs. The goals—adopted at the UN Millennium Summit of 2000—aim to dramatically reduce poverty, hunger, disease, and maternal and child deaths. Join us for an expert panel discussion on the current state of the MDGs, with a particular focus on the progress of initiatives to reduce infant and maternal mortality, and what is needed to bring about sustained change by 2015.
Yvonne Chaka Chaka has been at the forefront of South African popular music for 20 years. An internationally recognized artist, entrepreneur, and humanitarian, she is also UNICEF’s goodwill ambassador against malaria, an ambassador for Roll-Back Malaria sponsored by the World Bank, the United Nations, and the World Health Organization, and a trustee of Tomorrow Trust, a program to educate orphans and other vulnerable children. She founded and presides over the Princess of Africa Foundation, a charity dedicated to fighting malaria.
Liesl Gerntholtz is director of Human Rights Watch’s women’s rights division and an expert on women's rights in Africa. She has written extensively on violence against women and HIV/AIDS in Southern Africa. Before joining Human Rights Watch, she worked for some of the key constitutional institutions promoting human rights and democracy in post-apartheid South Africa, including the South African Human Rights Commission and the Commission on Gender Equality. A lawyer by training, she has been involved in high-profile, strategic human rights litigation to promote women’s and children's rights.
Josh Lozman is currently chief of staff to the CEO and senior advisor on global health policy at ONE. He previously served as ONE’s U.S. policy director. Prior to joining ONE, Lozman was a policy consultant at the Center for Global Development and a grassroots coordinator for the Global Health Council. He earned his M.B.A. and M.P.H. from Johns Hopkins University. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Johns Hopkins’ Health Policy and Management department, where he is a Sommer Scholar.
Sheila Nix (moderator) is the U.S. executive director of ONE, and is responsible for ONE’s advocacy, communications, and campaign efforts in the United States. She has extensive experience in federal and state politics, and most recently was a senior vice president at the Strategy Group. Prior to her political career, Sheila was an associate at Arnold and Porter LLP.
This event is cosponsored with ONE.
The Chicago Club, 81 East Van Buren Street, Chicago, IL 60605
5:30 p.m. Registration and cash bar reception
6:00 p.m. Presentation and discussion
7:15 p.m. Adjournment
Learn more and register online at thechicagocouncil.org
Showing posts with label MDGs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MDGs. Show all posts
Thursday, September 16, 2010
President of Bread for the World on Worldview today
I want to invite you all to tune in to the program Worldview TODAY at noon on Chicago Public Radio (WBEZ 91.5). Jerome McDonnell will be talking to David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World, about the 2010 Millennium Development Goals Summit. You can also listen online by going to http://www.wbez.org/Program_WV_About.aspx and clicking “Listen Now” at the top of the page. Please forward this to anyone you think will be interested!
Monday, July 26, 2010
House to hear testimony on MDG's tomorrow (7/27)
From Millennium Promise...
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Dear Supporters of the Millennium Development Goals,
We are excited to announce that tomorrow, July 27, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs will hear testimony on the Millennium Development Goals--it is the first time Congress has ever held a hearing on the MDGs!
John McArthur, CEO, Millennium Promise will testify alongside Kathy Calvin, CEO, United Nations Foundation, and Scott Ratzan, Vice President, Global Health, Government Affairs and Policy, Johnson & Johnson.
The congressional committee wants to hear about the status of the Millennium Development Goals—the world's integrated targets to reduce extreme poverty by 2015—and discuss specifically what steps should be taken to ensure the achievement of the Goals.
You may watch a live feed of the hearing here: http://www.hcfa.house.gov/
On the bottom left-hand side of the page you’ll find the link to the live feed. The link is only put up when something is being broadcast -- there is currently a picture inserted in the corner as a placeholder where the link will appear for the live feed.
Of course, if you are in DC you are welcome to attend the hearing in person!
Video and text of the testimony will available soon on the Millennium Promise website (www.millenniumpromise.org).
Here are further details:
Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight
Russ Carnahan (D-MO), Chairman
Achieving the United Nations Millennium Development Goals:
Progress through Partnerships
Rayburn House Office Building
Room 2172
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
9:30 AM
Witnesses:
John McArthur, Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer
Millennium Promise
Ms. Kathy Calvin
Chief Executive Officer
United Nations Foundation
Scott C. Ratzan, M.D.
Vice President, Global Health, Government Affairs and Policy
Johnson & Johnson
Thank you!
--The Millennium Promise Team
----------------------------------------
Dear Supporters of the Millennium Development Goals,
We are excited to announce that tomorrow, July 27, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs will hear testimony on the Millennium Development Goals--it is the first time Congress has ever held a hearing on the MDGs!
John McArthur, CEO, Millennium Promise will testify alongside Kathy Calvin, CEO, United Nations Foundation, and Scott Ratzan, Vice President, Global Health, Government Affairs and Policy, Johnson & Johnson.
The congressional committee wants to hear about the status of the Millennium Development Goals—the world's integrated targets to reduce extreme poverty by 2015—and discuss specifically what steps should be taken to ensure the achievement of the Goals.
You may watch a live feed of the hearing here: http://www.hcfa.house.gov/
On the bottom left-hand side of the page you’ll find the link to the live feed. The link is only put up when something is being broadcast -- there is currently a picture inserted in the corner as a placeholder where the link will appear for the live feed.
Of course, if you are in DC you are welcome to attend the hearing in person!
Video and text of the testimony will available soon on the Millennium Promise website (www.millenniumpromise.org).
Here are further details:
Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight
Russ Carnahan (D-MO), Chairman
Achieving the United Nations Millennium Development Goals:
Progress through Partnerships
Rayburn House Office Building
Room 2172
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
9:30 AM
Witnesses:
John McArthur, Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer
Millennium Promise
Ms. Kathy Calvin
Chief Executive Officer
United Nations Foundation
Scott C. Ratzan, M.D.
Vice President, Global Health, Government Affairs and Policy
Johnson & Johnson
Thank you!
--The Millennium Promise Team
Monday, October 26, 2009
173,045,325 people Stood Up against poverty
From the United Nations Millennium Campaign....
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Dear Fellow Campaigners,
Your passion, commitment and determination have once again inspired a global movement which continues to grow beyond all expectations. You stood up in your cities, towns and villages, in your churches, mosques and temples; you stood in your colleges, schools and homes, on town squares and street sidewalks, you stood together as a global community, not only to shatter the Guinness World record but also to send a powerful message to leaders at the local, national and global level which cannot now be ignored:
"We are more determined than ever to see the Millennium Development Goals become a reality and to end poverty now!"
We know from experience that a significant proportion of activities and events do not get registered in time as many of them take place in remote rural locations with limited internet connectivity. Despite these constraints, over 3000 events spread across 121 countries were registered and more information on the scale of this mobilisation continues to flood in through phone calls, text messages and faxes! More details are at the bottom of this email and on the website www.standagainstpoverty.org.
On behalf of the United Nations Millennium Campaign (www.endpoverty2015.org) I want to thank every one of the thousands of organisers across the world at the local and national levels - social movements, faith groups, NGOs, youth organisations, women's groups, trade unions, civil society coalitions campaigning for the MDGs, local and national governments and the even larger number of volunteers, local groups and individual citizens who made this year's Stand Up and Take Action a resounding success.
We also want to thank the UN system at all levels as well as many of our global partners including the Global Call to Action Against Poverty, Art of Living Foundation, Micah Challenge, Skype, UStream, the ONE Campaign, major media partners at the global and national levels and so many others who played a pivotal role in this unprecedented mobilisation.
Together we have the power to make a difference ...
Now in its fourth year, we have seen the impact that Stand Up is making in people's lives and improving the MDG policies and practises of governments. Providing the space and platforms for ordinary citizens to have their voices heard on issues that matter to them at the national and local level. In both rich and poor countries, citizens have come together, to put the priorities of the poor and excluded groups, firmly on the political agenda and get their own governments to address them. Once again an overwhelming majority of the people who stood up were from poor countries. And as their voices grow louder, they can no longer be ignored. The sharp focus on women's rights, hunger and maternal health (in poor countries) and the elimination of trade-distorting agricultural subsidies (in rich countries) and the specific targeting of Parliamentarians made the Stand Up 2009 messaging more impactful. An outstanding example was the leadership of the Speaker of the All-Party Parliamentary Group in Bangladesh which mobilised citizens in large numbers and joined the Prime Minister in taking an oath to achieve the MDGs by 2015.
We will continue to Stand Up every day until promises to end poverty and achieve the Millennium Goals are delivered ...
Next year in September, world leaders will gather at the UN to review progress on the MDGs. With the strength of over 173 million people telling their leaders that their commitments are being closely monitored, we will take this commitment to those decision makers with renewed energy to convert the strength of these numbers into concrete policy and practice changes in our own local and national contexts. We challenge Heads of State to come to the 2010 MDG Review Summit not just with generalised statements of intent but concrete national action plans for MDG implementation that are focussed on the rights of the poor and excluded, particularly women, to meet the 2015 deadline.
To us, Stand Up once again showed the power of the MDGs in really unifying the different parts of the UN for one common cause and the extent to which the MDGs and the UN system enjoy the confidence of the public at large.
Warmest wishes and once again congratulations on this massive show of people power against poverty and inequality. I hope you will closely follow up with all the partners, organisations and individuals that you helped to mobilise and inspire them further to join our on-going campaign for the MDGs from now to 2015.
Warmest wishes
Salil Shetty
Director
Millennium Campaign
United Nations
salil.shetty@undp.org
-------------------------------------------
Dear Fellow Campaigners,
Your passion, commitment and determination have once again inspired a global movement which continues to grow beyond all expectations. You stood up in your cities, towns and villages, in your churches, mosques and temples; you stood in your colleges, schools and homes, on town squares and street sidewalks, you stood together as a global community, not only to shatter the Guinness World record but also to send a powerful message to leaders at the local, national and global level which cannot now be ignored:
"We are more determined than ever to see the Millennium Development Goals become a reality and to end poverty now!"
We know from experience that a significant proportion of activities and events do not get registered in time as many of them take place in remote rural locations with limited internet connectivity. Despite these constraints, over 3000 events spread across 121 countries were registered and more information on the scale of this mobilisation continues to flood in through phone calls, text messages and faxes! More details are at the bottom of this email and on the website www.standagainstpoverty.org.
On behalf of the United Nations Millennium Campaign (www.endpoverty2015.org) I want to thank every one of the thousands of organisers across the world at the local and national levels - social movements, faith groups, NGOs, youth organisations, women's groups, trade unions, civil society coalitions campaigning for the MDGs, local and national governments and the even larger number of volunteers, local groups and individual citizens who made this year's Stand Up and Take Action a resounding success.
We also want to thank the UN system at all levels as well as many of our global partners including the Global Call to Action Against Poverty, Art of Living Foundation, Micah Challenge, Skype, UStream, the ONE Campaign, major media partners at the global and national levels and so many others who played a pivotal role in this unprecedented mobilisation.
Together we have the power to make a difference ...
Now in its fourth year, we have seen the impact that Stand Up is making in people's lives and improving the MDG policies and practises of governments. Providing the space and platforms for ordinary citizens to have their voices heard on issues that matter to them at the national and local level. In both rich and poor countries, citizens have come together, to put the priorities of the poor and excluded groups, firmly on the political agenda and get their own governments to address them. Once again an overwhelming majority of the people who stood up were from poor countries. And as their voices grow louder, they can no longer be ignored. The sharp focus on women's rights, hunger and maternal health (in poor countries) and the elimination of trade-distorting agricultural subsidies (in rich countries) and the specific targeting of Parliamentarians made the Stand Up 2009 messaging more impactful. An outstanding example was the leadership of the Speaker of the All-Party Parliamentary Group in Bangladesh which mobilised citizens in large numbers and joined the Prime Minister in taking an oath to achieve the MDGs by 2015.
We will continue to Stand Up every day until promises to end poverty and achieve the Millennium Goals are delivered ...
Next year in September, world leaders will gather at the UN to review progress on the MDGs. With the strength of over 173 million people telling their leaders that their commitments are being closely monitored, we will take this commitment to those decision makers with renewed energy to convert the strength of these numbers into concrete policy and practice changes in our own local and national contexts. We challenge Heads of State to come to the 2010 MDG Review Summit not just with generalised statements of intent but concrete national action plans for MDG implementation that are focussed on the rights of the poor and excluded, particularly women, to meet the 2015 deadline.
To us, Stand Up once again showed the power of the MDGs in really unifying the different parts of the UN for one common cause and the extent to which the MDGs and the UN system enjoy the confidence of the public at large.
Warmest wishes and once again congratulations on this massive show of people power against poverty and inequality. I hope you will closely follow up with all the partners, organisations and individuals that you helped to mobilise and inspire them further to join our on-going campaign for the MDGs from now to 2015.
Warmest wishes
Salil Shetty
Director
Millennium Campaign
United Nations
salil.shetty@undp.org
Thursday, August 6, 2009
2009 Millennium Development Goals report
From the United Nations Millennium Campaign:
The 2009 MDG Report, leading into the 2010 MDG review conference that represents the last major recommitment before 2015, is both promising and disturbing. Actual progress has been made, but the economic crisis is cutting severely into those gains, and, at this pace, the world will fall far short of achieving the Goals.
Overall, the number of people living in poverty (under $1.25 a day) had dropped by 400 million from 1990 to 2005 (1.4 billion) despite the growth in world population, an astounding number that, on its own, is proof that the Goals are achievable. However, the economic crisis chiseled away at that progress, and 90 million more people are expected to be added back to those rolls this year. Success in reducing hunger worldwide is likewise being reversed.
That news was delivered to the Hill last week at a well-attended briefing helmed by Anita Sharma, North American Coordinator of the Millennium Campaign, Francesca Perucci from UN Stats, and Dan Carucci, Vice President for Global Health at UNF.
Carucci delivered good news on Goal 4. Deaths of children under the age of five dropped from 12.6 million a year in 1990 to 9 million a year in 2007. He specifically pointed out the dramatic surge in the delivery of bed-nets to combat malaria in Africa and the success of measles vaccination programs. The world is also nearing the goal of universal enrollment in primary education , particulary in southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, where enrollment increased by 11 and 15 percent respectively between 2000 and 2007.
On every other mark though, we're far behind pace. The most stark reminder came from Carucci: "in 2000 500,000 women died while giving birht, 500,000 died in 2005, and 500,000 will die this year." That is to say, there has been zero progress on Goal 5, reducing the maternal mortality rate by 75 percent.
The report overall is fascinating. It's rare that you get an engaging accessment of how the entire world is working toward achieving collective goals. I highly recommend at least skimming the whole thing (pdf). Here is a link to the report in pdf form: http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/pdf/MDG%20Report%202009%20ENG.pdf
The 2009 MDG Report, leading into the 2010 MDG review conference that represents the last major recommitment before 2015, is both promising and disturbing. Actual progress has been made, but the economic crisis is cutting severely into those gains, and, at this pace, the world will fall far short of achieving the Goals.
Overall, the number of people living in poverty (under $1.25 a day) had dropped by 400 million from 1990 to 2005 (1.4 billion) despite the growth in world population, an astounding number that, on its own, is proof that the Goals are achievable. However, the economic crisis chiseled away at that progress, and 90 million more people are expected to be added back to those rolls this year. Success in reducing hunger worldwide is likewise being reversed.
That news was delivered to the Hill last week at a well-attended briefing helmed by Anita Sharma, North American Coordinator of the Millennium Campaign, Francesca Perucci from UN Stats, and Dan Carucci, Vice President for Global Health at UNF.
Carucci delivered good news on Goal 4. Deaths of children under the age of five dropped from 12.6 million a year in 1990 to 9 million a year in 2007. He specifically pointed out the dramatic surge in the delivery of bed-nets to combat malaria in Africa and the success of measles vaccination programs. The world is also nearing the goal of universal enrollment in primary education , particulary in southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, where enrollment increased by 11 and 15 percent respectively between 2000 and 2007.
On every other mark though, we're far behind pace. The most stark reminder came from Carucci: "in 2000 500,000 women died while giving birht, 500,000 died in 2005, and 500,000 will die this year." That is to say, there has been zero progress on Goal 5, reducing the maternal mortality rate by 75 percent.
The report overall is fascinating. It's rare that you get an engaging accessment of how the entire world is working toward achieving collective goals. I highly recommend at least skimming the whole thing (pdf). Here is a link to the report in pdf form: http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/pdf/MDG%20Report%202009%20ENG.pdf
Monday, January 5, 2009
Change.org contest to select ideas to present to Obama
From one of my anti-poverty Facebook friends:
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Dear MDG Supporters,
As I'm sure you all know, www.change.org is sponsoring a contest to showcase innovative ideas to shape the public policies of our next administration. The top 10 ideas will be presented to President-elect Obama! Each person gets 10 votes. Here are two ideas that you might find interesting:
http://www.change.org/ideas/view/end_extreme_poverty_by_2025
http://www.change.org/ideas/view/establish_a_global_challenges_wikipedia_to_empower_problem_solvers
Directions for voting (Jan 5 - Jan 15):
1. Click the blue box that says the number of votes
2. Create an account
3. Open the confirmation e-mail and click the link.
4. Click the blue box with the number of votes again and it will record your vote!
Thanks in advance for your time, I encourage you all to vote!
----------------------------------------------
Dear MDG Supporters,
As I'm sure you all know, www.change.org is sponsoring a contest to showcase innovative ideas to shape the public policies of our next administration. The top 10 ideas will be presented to President-elect Obama! Each person gets 10 votes. Here are two ideas that you might find interesting:
http://www.change.org/ideas/view/end_extreme_poverty_by_2025
http://www.change.org/ideas/view/establish_a_global_challenges_wikipedia_to_empower_problem_solvers
Directions for voting (Jan 5 - Jan 15):
1. Click the blue box that says the number of votes
2. Create an account
3. Open the confirmation e-mail and click the link.
4. Click the blue box with the number of votes again and it will record your vote!
Thanks in advance for your time, I encourage you all to vote!
Friday, October 10, 2008
Stand Up and Take Action against hunger and poverty
Soon, millions of people around the world will get on their feet at the same time to STAND UP and TAKE ACTION against global poverty and show their support for the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Last year, the event set a Guinness World Record, with 43.7 million people from 127 countries standing up. The goal this year is to top that number, mobilizing 1% of the world's population, or 65 million people. 65 million pairs of legs standing would be impressive, but a more sobering number is 1.4 billion. That is the number of people worldwide living on less than $1.25 a day.
There still time to register and be counted! http://www.standagainstpoverty.org
From campus rallies, to prayer vigils, to blogging about the issue, to living on $2 a day for just one day, thousands of Americas will STAND UP and TAKE ACTION. In Washington, DC, STAND UP activities include:
· A luncheon discussion on Taking Action on Hunger and Poverty, hosted by UNA-USA's Council of Organizations in commemoration of World Food Day and International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, 12:00-1:30 PM, Fri. Oct. 17, 2008 at the United Nations Information Center, 1775 K Street NW, 4th Floor (UNIC Conference Room), with speakers Michael Curtin, CEO, DC Central Kitchen and Margot Hoerrner, Vice President for Outreach, Friends of the World Food Program and moderated by Anita Sharma, North American Coordinator, United Nations Millennium Campaign (details attached).
· A STAND UP and TAKE ACTION happy hour from 5:30-7:30pm, Friday, Oct. 17th at Café Citron, 1343 Connecticut Avenue, NW, and from 5-7pm. Sponsored by the UNA-National Capital Area (UNA-NCA) Young Professionals for International Cooperation (YPIC) chapter (details attached).
We're standing up for the impoverished and the UN-led action plan for cutting poverty in half by 2015. The Millennium Development Goals set eight concrete objectives for enhancing quality of life around the world by preventing diseases, providing education, ending extreme hunger, creating economic opportunities and protecting the environment. The UN Millennium Campaign and the Global Call to Action Against Poverty, co-sponsors of Stand Up, have teamed up with an array of voices, from clothing company G-Star RAW, to rapper Will.i.am, to help spread the word about the MDGs and hold world leaders accountable to their promise to end extreme poverty. The Better World Campaign has commissioned an expert paper, written by Woodrow Wilson Center scholar John Sewell, on how the next president can most effectively combat global poverty and support the MDGs.
Some ways (but not limited) to TAKE ACTION include:
· Signing ONE campaign’s pledge to the Presidential candidates to keep their commitments to fight global poverty;
· Joining faith services in worship for the Millennium Development Goals with groups such as ONE, the United Methodist Church, Micah Challenge, among others;
· Living on $2 a day and donating what you would normally spend on global poverty efforts;
· Telling the next U.S. President that you want him to improve American leadership in the world by fully supporting the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.
Even in the midst of a major financial crisis, the United States must support the world’s efforts over the next seven years to reach these ambitious goals. Be sure to join millions of people around the world on the weekend of October 17-19 as we Stand Up against poverty and in support of the MDGs.
There still time to register and be counted! http://www.standagainstpoverty.org
From campus rallies, to prayer vigils, to blogging about the issue, to living on $2 a day for just one day, thousands of Americas will STAND UP and TAKE ACTION. In Washington, DC, STAND UP activities include:
· A luncheon discussion on Taking Action on Hunger and Poverty, hosted by UNA-USA's Council of Organizations in commemoration of World Food Day and International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, 12:00-1:30 PM, Fri. Oct. 17, 2008 at the United Nations Information Center, 1775 K Street NW, 4th Floor (UNIC Conference Room), with speakers Michael Curtin, CEO, DC Central Kitchen and Margot Hoerrner, Vice President for Outreach, Friends of the World Food Program and moderated by Anita Sharma, North American Coordinator, United Nations Millennium Campaign (details attached).
· A STAND UP and TAKE ACTION happy hour from 5:30-7:30pm, Friday, Oct. 17th at Café Citron, 1343 Connecticut Avenue, NW, and from 5-7pm. Sponsored by the UNA-National Capital Area (UNA-NCA) Young Professionals for International Cooperation (YPIC) chapter (details attached).
We're standing up for the impoverished and the UN-led action plan for cutting poverty in half by 2015. The Millennium Development Goals set eight concrete objectives for enhancing quality of life around the world by preventing diseases, providing education, ending extreme hunger, creating economic opportunities and protecting the environment. The UN Millennium Campaign and the Global Call to Action Against Poverty, co-sponsors of Stand Up, have teamed up with an array of voices, from clothing company G-Star RAW, to rapper Will.i.am, to help spread the word about the MDGs and hold world leaders accountable to their promise to end extreme poverty. The Better World Campaign has commissioned an expert paper, written by Woodrow Wilson Center scholar John Sewell, on how the next president can most effectively combat global poverty and support the MDGs.
Some ways (but not limited) to TAKE ACTION include:
· Signing ONE campaign’s pledge to the Presidential candidates to keep their commitments to fight global poverty;
· Joining faith services in worship for the Millennium Development Goals with groups such as ONE, the United Methodist Church, Micah Challenge, among others;
· Living on $2 a day and donating what you would normally spend on global poverty efforts;
· Telling the next U.S. President that you want him to improve American leadership in the world by fully supporting the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.
Even in the midst of a major financial crisis, the United States must support the world’s efforts over the next seven years to reach these ambitious goals. Be sure to join millions of people around the world on the weekend of October 17-19 as we Stand Up against poverty and in support of the MDGs.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
The Candidates Speak Out About Global Poverty
"When I am President, I will strengthen the health care infrastructure crucial to reducing the spread of tuberculosis and increase U.S. funding for the Global Fund — a partnership that's already saved millions of lives from HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB. We'll meet the Millennium Development Goals, which include halving the number of tuberculosis deaths. And we will live up to our commitment to the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a successful program that my running mate Joe Biden and I have long supported…As President, I will live up to our commitment to fighting this epidemic, and together, we will make it clear that America is ready to lead again."
— Sen. Obama, October 3 statement on the launch of the XDR-TB photo exhibit by TED Prize winner James Nachtwey
"The lives of citizens of nations around the globe will be less prosperous and fulfilling without help to combat entrenched problems, such as tuberculosis, which afflicts poorer nations severely. It is critical that we face this crisis head-on with a committed global partnership. As President, I will ensure that treatment and prevention programs are funded at levels befitting a wealthy and great nation. I will have a sustained commitment to helping people in need in Africa, Asia, and elsewhere cope with the ravages of this devastating disease."
— Sen. McCain, October 3 statement on the launch of the XDR-TB photo exhibit by TED Prize winner James Natchwey
— Sen. Obama, October 3 statement on the launch of the XDR-TB photo exhibit by TED Prize winner James Nachtwey
"The lives of citizens of nations around the globe will be less prosperous and fulfilling without help to combat entrenched problems, such as tuberculosis, which afflicts poorer nations severely. It is critical that we face this crisis head-on with a committed global partnership. As President, I will ensure that treatment and prevention programs are funded at levels befitting a wealthy and great nation. I will have a sustained commitment to helping people in need in Africa, Asia, and elsewhere cope with the ravages of this devastating disease."
— Sen. McCain, October 3 statement on the launch of the XDR-TB photo exhibit by TED Prize winner James Natchwey
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Bono on Wall Street
"I am not qualified to comment on what has happened in the last week where this city has changed shape, certainly psychologically, and in terms of some people's wallets. And I'm not qualified to comment on the interventions that have been put forth. I presume these people know what they're doing. But it is extraordinary to me that you can find $700 billion to save Wall Street and the entire G8 can't find $25 billion to save 25,000 children who die every day of preventable, treatable disease and hunger." -Bono at the Clinton Global Initiative
Link to Clinton Global Initiative (Dig that Rocketeer music that introduces Pres Clinton!!!)
Link to Clinton Global Initiative (Dig that Rocketeer music that introduces Pres Clinton!!!)
Friday, September 26, 2008
Call in to ask a poverty question on Worldview today!
Here's an immediate opportunity for some Chicago media advocacy. The WBEZ program, "Worldview" will be talking about foreign policy tomorrow and they are actively inviting listener questions. This would be a good opportunity to call in and ask a question about global poverty and/or poverty-focused development assistance and what part they play in US foreign policy.
A question might point out that in November 2007 Secretary of Defense Robert Gates declared a need for “a dramatic increase in spending on the civilian instruments of national security" which included foreign assistance and development because this would make it less likely to need military force to solve crisis problems. We could ask the panelists to comment on how we are doing almost a year later on those civilian instruments, particularly poverty-focused development assistance. Or we could ask the panel how they think US lack of commitment to the UN Millennium Development Goals might be affecting our foreign relations.
Even if you can't call in, several poverty questions submitted via email or the hotline can help the chances of one question getting asked!
See details below...
Worldview Wants to Hear from You
Friday, September 26, noon-1 pm
Tune in, and call in, tomorrow as Worldview takes a look at America’s place in the world.
Host Jerome McDonnell and guests will discuss the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and will focus on issues including U.S. policy in Latin America and Russia.
Leave us a message on the Worldview Listener Hotline at 312-948-4880 or call in live during the show. Or e-mail us at worldview@chicagopublicradio.org during Friday’s show to participate in the discussion.
A question might point out that in November 2007 Secretary of Defense Robert Gates declared a need for “a dramatic increase in spending on the civilian instruments of national security" which included foreign assistance and development because this would make it less likely to need military force to solve crisis problems. We could ask the panelists to comment on how we are doing almost a year later on those civilian instruments, particularly poverty-focused development assistance. Or we could ask the panel how they think US lack of commitment to the UN Millennium Development Goals might be affecting our foreign relations.
Even if you can't call in, several poverty questions submitted via email or the hotline can help the chances of one question getting asked!
See details below...
Worldview Wants to Hear from You
Friday, September 26, noon-1 pm
Tune in, and call in, tomorrow as Worldview takes a look at America’s place in the world.
Host Jerome McDonnell and guests will discuss the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and will focus on issues including U.S. policy in Latin America and Russia.
Leave us a message on the Worldview Listener Hotline at 312-948-4880 or call in live during the show. Or e-mail us at worldview@chicagopublicradio.org during Friday’s show to participate in the discussion.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Day of Fasting and Prayer for MDGs
Today is a day of fasting, prayer and witness for the Millennium Development Goals. The Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation offer this prayer to use today and I think it's a good one...
Most loving God,
as your desire for mercy for the poor is unrelenting,
may we be unrelenting in our pursuit of mercy for all;
as your compassion for the suffering of the poor knows no limit,
may our hearts overflow with compassion for all;
as you long for justice for the poor, may we strive for justice for all.
Open our eyes to the structures of oppression from which we benefit,
and give us courage to accept our responsibility,
wisdom to chart a sound course amid complexity,
and perseverance to continue our work until it is finished.
Breathe your life-giving Spirit afresh into your Church
to free us from apathy and indifference;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Most loving God,
as your desire for mercy for the poor is unrelenting,
may we be unrelenting in our pursuit of mercy for all;
as your compassion for the suffering of the poor knows no limit,
may our hearts overflow with compassion for all;
as you long for justice for the poor, may we strive for justice for all.
Open our eyes to the structures of oppression from which we benefit,
and give us courage to accept our responsibility,
wisdom to chart a sound course amid complexity,
and perseverance to continue our work until it is finished.
Breathe your life-giving Spirit afresh into your Church
to free us from apathy and indifference;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Micah Challenge Zambia pushes for MDG's during election
This came to me from the Micah Challenge in Zambia...some press they got for advocacy regarding the Millennium Development Goals during Zambian election time. I always like to put in an African perspective when I can...
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THE POST, Friday, September 19, 2008 – Home News
A CHRISTIAN non-governmental organization has advised presidential candidates in the October 30 election to make a commitment towards the attainment of millennium development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.
And National Royal Foundation of Zambia chairperson Chief Bright Nalubamba (right) has asked presidential aspirants to meet all traditional Leaders to explain their agenda for the rural poor before asking for their votes.
In a statement, Micah Challenge Zambia national facilitator Pastor Lawrence also called on Christians in the country to vote for a person who would promote integrity, righteous and justice.
“We call on all Zambians not to vote tribe, Chibuku, party or age, but character, vision and strategy on how we will attain the millennium Development Goals,” he said.
And commenting on the heads of state meeting on the MDGs to take place in New York on September 25, pastor Temfwe called on leaders from the developing countries to urge G8 nations to fulfill the pledges they made to poor countries.
Pastor Temfwe also expressed dissatisfaction with the US$60 billion pledged by the rich nations towards health.
And chief Nalubamba said traditional leaders need to know what the presidential aspirants stood for so that people know who they were voting for.
“ There is greater need than before for the aspirants to meet the traditional leaders through out the country so that they can explain what they have for the rural poor,” Chief Nalubamba said. We have been marginalized for some time and our people remain poor so we have to know this time around what we are voting for.”
Chief Nalubamba said traditional leaders and the rural poor had the right to know what was there for them from the presidential candidates in the October 30 by-election.
He advised the candidates to reserve some days of their campaign period for a meeting with traditional leaders to discuss issues that affected the rural communities.
“We need to know how each of the candidates intends to work with traditional leaders in the fight against rural poverty,” said Chief Nalubamba. “ There should be no restriction on how should meet traditional leaders to allow the rural people to elect the best candidate. We now have to speak out strongly about traditional leaders’ effective involvement and participation in governance and development as servants of the rural poor.”
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE POST, Friday, September 19, 2008 – Home News
A CHRISTIAN non-governmental organization has advised presidential candidates in the October 30 election to make a commitment towards the attainment of millennium development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.
And National Royal Foundation of Zambia chairperson Chief Bright Nalubamba (right) has asked presidential aspirants to meet all traditional Leaders to explain their agenda for the rural poor before asking for their votes.
In a statement, Micah Challenge Zambia national facilitator Pastor Lawrence also called on Christians in the country to vote for a person who would promote integrity, righteous and justice.
“We call on all Zambians not to vote tribe, Chibuku, party or age, but character, vision and strategy on how we will attain the millennium Development Goals,” he said.
And commenting on the heads of state meeting on the MDGs to take place in New York on September 25, pastor Temfwe called on leaders from the developing countries to urge G8 nations to fulfill the pledges they made to poor countries.
Pastor Temfwe also expressed dissatisfaction with the US$60 billion pledged by the rich nations towards health.
And chief Nalubamba said traditional leaders need to know what the presidential aspirants stood for so that people know who they were voting for.
“ There is greater need than before for the aspirants to meet the traditional leaders through out the country so that they can explain what they have for the rural poor,” Chief Nalubamba said. We have been marginalized for some time and our people remain poor so we have to know this time around what we are voting for.”
Chief Nalubamba said traditional leaders and the rural poor had the right to know what was there for them from the presidential candidates in the October 30 by-election.
He advised the candidates to reserve some days of their campaign period for a meeting with traditional leaders to discuss issues that affected the rural communities.
“We need to know how each of the candidates intends to work with traditional leaders in the fight against rural poverty,” said Chief Nalubamba. “ There should be no restriction on how should meet traditional leaders to allow the rural people to elect the best candidate. We now have to speak out strongly about traditional leaders’ effective involvement and participation in governance and development as servants of the rural poor.”
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Ghana to be among 1st African countries to acheive MDG #1
From ModernGhana.com
---------------------------------------
Accra, June 20, GNA – Dr. Daouda Toure, UNDP Resident Representative in Ghana, on Friday noted that Ghana would be among the very first African countries that have achieved the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of halving poverty.
He, however, pointed out that there were other goals such as high infant mortality, high maternal mortality, among others, which were still high in the country and there was the need to take steps to achieve those targets by 2015. The MDGs were signed by 189 countries in September 2000.
The Millennium Development Goals are a set of objectives set by the United Nations to help all peoples in the world to live with minimum dignity.
Dr. Toure was speaking at the launch of the Global Monitoring Report, 2008 on the theme: “MDGs and the Environment – Agenda for Inclusive and Sustainable Development,” organized by the Christian Council of Ghana in collaboration with the International Monetary Fund, The United Nations Development Programme and the World Bank, Ghana Office.
The programme brought together policy makers, civil society groups and individuals to dialogue about development and its relation to the environment.
Dr. Toure said there was the need for policy makers and advocacy groups to relate the MDGs to the needs and priorities of the local communities, adding, “localize the goals” to suit the needs of the people.
He also noted that Ghana was one of the 10 pilot countries that the World Bank, IMF, African Development Bank (AfDB), the European Union and the UN used to test government structure and to look at areas where there was the need to seal loopholes.
Responding to questions that the level of awareness about the MDGs among the populace was low, Dr Toure said the MDGs was not supposed to be a slogan that people would recite but how they related to them.
He stressed that the MDGs were only a minimal package that the world owed to humanity.
Ms. Punam Chuhan-Pole, Economist at the World Bank, who launched the report, said Ghana was on track to achieve the goals of gender equality and access to water and there was the need for a good investment climate.
She said the world was on track to achieve the poverty reduction and gender parity goals but there were also serious shortfalls in the areas of nutrition, education, health and sanitation goals.
“Africa lags behind on all the MDGs; South Asia on most human development goals,” she said, and expressed hope that most MDGs were still achievable in most countries.
Ms Chuhan-Pole noted that, it was critical that developing countries managed their natural resources well since most of them depended such resources.
She suggested an increase in agricultural production in Africa as a way to achieve growth.
She further pointed out that one-third of the developing world’s population representing about 1.6 billion people did not have access to electricity and noted that even though aid to Africa had risen, it was mostly in the form of debt relief.
“The time to act is now,” she said, and reminded the people that it was only a few years to 2015.
Mrs Bernice Sam, National Programmes Coordinator for Women in Law and Development in Africa, a non-governmental organization of women lawyers, said achieving the MDGs was everybody’s business and called on individuals as well as government officials to make efforts to help achieve the goals by 2015.
Mr Arnold McIntyre, IMF Resident Representative, noted that it was important for countries to understand what international cooperation meant for them.
Professor Kwaku Appiah-Adu, Head of Policy Coordination, Monitoring and Evaluation and the Director of Governance Project at the Office of the President, said government was doing all it could to ensure that Ghana achieved the MDGs.
He mentioned energy, water and roads as the current government priority areas and urged developed partners to combine their poverty reduction programmes in Africa with growth-related activities where the country’s human resource base would grow.
Prof. Appiah-Adu called on stakeholders to join in the campaign to achieve the MDGs and said civil society groups could challenge the government of strategies to help facilitate the achievement of MDGs.
Source website:http://www.modernghana.com/news/170863/1/ghana-among-countries-to-halve-poverty-undp.html
---------------------------------------
Accra, June 20, GNA – Dr. Daouda Toure, UNDP Resident Representative in Ghana, on Friday noted that Ghana would be among the very first African countries that have achieved the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of halving poverty.
He, however, pointed out that there were other goals such as high infant mortality, high maternal mortality, among others, which were still high in the country and there was the need to take steps to achieve those targets by 2015. The MDGs were signed by 189 countries in September 2000.
The Millennium Development Goals are a set of objectives set by the United Nations to help all peoples in the world to live with minimum dignity.
Dr. Toure was speaking at the launch of the Global Monitoring Report, 2008 on the theme: “MDGs and the Environment – Agenda for Inclusive and Sustainable Development,” organized by the Christian Council of Ghana in collaboration with the International Monetary Fund, The United Nations Development Programme and the World Bank, Ghana Office.
The programme brought together policy makers, civil society groups and individuals to dialogue about development and its relation to the environment.
Dr. Toure said there was the need for policy makers and advocacy groups to relate the MDGs to the needs and priorities of the local communities, adding, “localize the goals” to suit the needs of the people.
He also noted that Ghana was one of the 10 pilot countries that the World Bank, IMF, African Development Bank (AfDB), the European Union and the UN used to test government structure and to look at areas where there was the need to seal loopholes.
Responding to questions that the level of awareness about the MDGs among the populace was low, Dr Toure said the MDGs was not supposed to be a slogan that people would recite but how they related to them.
He stressed that the MDGs were only a minimal package that the world owed to humanity.
Ms. Punam Chuhan-Pole, Economist at the World Bank, who launched the report, said Ghana was on track to achieve the goals of gender equality and access to water and there was the need for a good investment climate.
She said the world was on track to achieve the poverty reduction and gender parity goals but there were also serious shortfalls in the areas of nutrition, education, health and sanitation goals.
“Africa lags behind on all the MDGs; South Asia on most human development goals,” she said, and expressed hope that most MDGs were still achievable in most countries.
Ms Chuhan-Pole noted that, it was critical that developing countries managed their natural resources well since most of them depended such resources.
She suggested an increase in agricultural production in Africa as a way to achieve growth.
She further pointed out that one-third of the developing world’s population representing about 1.6 billion people did not have access to electricity and noted that even though aid to Africa had risen, it was mostly in the form of debt relief.
“The time to act is now,” she said, and reminded the people that it was only a few years to 2015.
Mrs Bernice Sam, National Programmes Coordinator for Women in Law and Development in Africa, a non-governmental organization of women lawyers, said achieving the MDGs was everybody’s business and called on individuals as well as government officials to make efforts to help achieve the goals by 2015.
Mr Arnold McIntyre, IMF Resident Representative, noted that it was important for countries to understand what international cooperation meant for them.
Professor Kwaku Appiah-Adu, Head of Policy Coordination, Monitoring and Evaluation and the Director of Governance Project at the Office of the President, said government was doing all it could to ensure that Ghana achieved the MDGs.
He mentioned energy, water and roads as the current government priority areas and urged developed partners to combine their poverty reduction programmes in Africa with growth-related activities where the country’s human resource base would grow.
Prof. Appiah-Adu called on stakeholders to join in the campaign to achieve the MDGs and said civil society groups could challenge the government of strategies to help facilitate the achievement of MDGs.
Source website:http://www.modernghana.com/news/170863/1/ghana-among-countries-to-halve-poverty-undp.html
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
When a nursing mother can eat only mud
I have a confession. For almost a year, I've immersed myself in readings about extreme poverty and theories of how to combat it. I've written a lot of my own, too. I confess...I am becoming somewhat desensitized to the hardship. Sometimes, as an advocate, I find myself skimming past the already familiar stories and statistics looking for material to respond to and use to raise awareness effectively. But this story I saw on breadblog.org stopped me in my tracks. I write today with tears in my eyes.
We know that millions are living on less than $1 a day. We know that worldwide food prices are rising. We know that people already on the edge will bear the brunt of food shortage. And we know many will not survive. But what will happen when they try to survive? How will mothers try to feed their children when there is nothing to eat?
They will eat mud.
In Haiti, the very poor are resorting to mud pies to fill their stomachs with whatever they can. The mud is rich in calcium and has been known to be consumed for its properties as an antacid. But a 16 yr old mother with a 1 month old son is eating mud as a regular meal several times a day despite the stomach pains it gives her. It's a desperate act and a direct result of rising food prices and food shortages.
Here you can see the msnbc story about this horrendous phenomenon.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22902512/
And now that you know, you can take action. You can contact your senators and urge them to pass the Global Poverty Act (S 2433) which will make achieving the first Millennium Development Goal (reducing extreme poverty in half by 2015) a matter of US foreign policy. Make your voice heard and tell your elected officials that it is unacceptable that our brothers and sisters are literally eating dirt while we feast.
We know that millions are living on less than $1 a day. We know that worldwide food prices are rising. We know that people already on the edge will bear the brunt of food shortage. And we know many will not survive. But what will happen when they try to survive? How will mothers try to feed their children when there is nothing to eat?
They will eat mud.
In Haiti, the very poor are resorting to mud pies to fill their stomachs with whatever they can. The mud is rich in calcium and has been known to be consumed for its properties as an antacid. But a 16 yr old mother with a 1 month old son is eating mud as a regular meal several times a day despite the stomach pains it gives her. It's a desperate act and a direct result of rising food prices and food shortages.
Here you can see the msnbc story about this horrendous phenomenon.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22902512/
And now that you know, you can take action. You can contact your senators and urge them to pass the Global Poverty Act (S 2433) which will make achieving the first Millennium Development Goal (reducing extreme poverty in half by 2015) a matter of US foreign policy. Make your voice heard and tell your elected officials that it is unacceptable that our brothers and sisters are literally eating dirt while we feast.
Monday, March 10, 2008
2008 Offering of Letters result: 130 letters!
I'm happy to report that the Offering of Letters at my church had a nice turnout and was quite a success. Despite a rocky start when the organizer (me) didn't set the clock ahead for daylight savings time, everything went smoothly. Bread got baked, our pastor delivered a beautiful sermon (seamlessly linking the Offering of Letters, the lesson about dry bones, his own mission trip to Senegal and a even an environmental message...he's quite a genius!), people were gathered, letters were written. We collected 130 letters to Congress! This was my first time organizing the event and I attribute the much of this year's success to my predecessors who have trained our congregation well. And by "trained", of course, I mean "educated and informed" :) I found I didn't have to convince or cajole anyone to write. People came in and sat down right away, putting pen to paper. I loved seeing youth and seniors writing at the side by side!
Thanks to all the volunteers who pulled this off and especially thanks to all the letter writers!
Thanks to all the volunteers who pulled this off and especially thanks to all the letter writers!
Friday, March 7, 2008
Offering of Letters in Evanston, IL this Sunday, 3/9
The Bread for the World 2008 Offering of Letters will be held next Sunday, March 9 at First United Methodist Church in Evanston. Immediately following worship, please join us in the Great Hall to write members of congress in support of more and better poverty-focused development assistance to eradicate extreme poverty. All, visitors and youth included, are welcome to write 3 letters: one to your representative and one to each of your senators. It only takes 90 seconds to write a letter. It might take you longer to eat the delicious homemade bread we will offer to you!
If you would like to participate, but are unable to attend, please visit this website http://www.bread.org/take-action/ol2008/sample-letter.html
It has a sample letter that to help you know the issues we are pushing for. You must include your home address on the outside envelope and on the letter itself in order to be counted! You can mail it yourself and let me know how many you send, so we can include them in our church's total.
If you have questions, feel free to comment. Or, you can visit the Bread for the World website at www.bread.org
If you would like to participate, but are unable to attend, please visit this website http://www.bread.org/take-action/ol2008/sample-letter.html
It has a sample letter that to help you know the issues we are pushing for. You must include your home address on the outside envelope and on the letter itself in order to be counted! You can mail it yourself and let me know how many you send, so we can include them in our church's total.
If you have questions, feel free to comment. Or, you can visit the Bread for the World website at www.bread.org
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
2008 Bread for the World Offering of Letters
First United Methodist Church in Evanston, IL is getting ready for the 2008 Offering of Letters on Sunday, March 9. It will involve the entire congregation in anti-poverty advocacy! If you're in town, come join us as we get inspired, learn how we can fight global poverty and take action right then and there. We will attend a worship service with messages and music focused on hunger and poverty. Then, immediately afterward, the whole congregation will move to the Great Hall where fresh, homemade bread awaits side-by-side with writing materials for each person to use to urge members of Congress to support specific poverty-fighting legislation.
This is part of Bread for the World's 2008 Offering of Letters which is getting underway across the nation from now until May. It is an advocacy event that combines the letters of hundreds of churches across the US to member of Congress. BFW members educate their congregations about a specific piece of legislation that can affect the lives of poor and hungry people. Then, people gather to write their own personal, handwritten letters to Congress. The effect of so many unique letters hitting Congress at the same time can be extraordinary.
This year, we are pushing for more and better poverty-focused development assistance—funding for programs in the U.S. budget that give people in poor countries the skills and opportunities to break the cycle of poverty permanently. These include long-term investments in things like education, agriculture, nutrition, health and clean water. The "more" part is a 5 billion dollar increase in the 2009 fiscal year. The "better" part is the passage of the Global Poverty Act which will hold the President accountable for coming up with a strategy to support the Millennium Development Goals and better coordinate our existing federal institutions affecting poverty.
For more info about the aims of this year's event or how to hold one of your own, please visit
http://www.bread.org/take-action/ol2008/achieve-in-2008.html
This is part of Bread for the World's 2008 Offering of Letters which is getting underway across the nation from now until May. It is an advocacy event that combines the letters of hundreds of churches across the US to member of Congress. BFW members educate their congregations about a specific piece of legislation that can affect the lives of poor and hungry people. Then, people gather to write their own personal, handwritten letters to Congress. The effect of so many unique letters hitting Congress at the same time can be extraordinary.
This year, we are pushing for more and better poverty-focused development assistance—funding for programs in the U.S. budget that give people in poor countries the skills and opportunities to break the cycle of poverty permanently. These include long-term investments in things like education, agriculture, nutrition, health and clean water. The "more" part is a 5 billion dollar increase in the 2009 fiscal year. The "better" part is the passage of the Global Poverty Act which will hold the President accountable for coming up with a strategy to support the Millennium Development Goals and better coordinate our existing federal institutions affecting poverty.
For more info about the aims of this year's event or how to hold one of your own, please visit
http://www.bread.org/take-action/ol2008/achieve-in-2008.html
Monday, February 25, 2008
UN Resolution 55/2
An anonymous commenter brought up an UN resolution that other people might be interested in seeing as well. UN Resolution 55/2 was adopted by the General Assembly of the UN on September 18, 2000. It is chock-full of a lot of stuff, but contains points relevant to the Millennium Development Goals and, consequently, the Global Poverty Act. It also contains language about supporting the Kyoto Protocol and other things.
Here is where you can find it: http://www.un.org/millennium/declaration/ares552e.pdf
People familiar with the MDG's will see some very familiar language here in some of the anti-poverty highlights:
"III. Development and poverty eradication
11. We will spare no effort to free our fellow men, women and children from the abject and dehumanizing conditions of extreme poverty, to which more than a billion of them are currently subjected. We are committed to making the right to development a reality for everyone and to freeing the entire human race from want.
12. We resolve therefore to create an environment – at the national and global levels alike – which is conducive to development and to the elimination of poverty. "
"19. We resolve further:
•To halve, by the year 2015, the proportion of the world’s people whose income is less than one dollar a day and the proportion of people who suffer from hunger and, by the same date, to halve the proportion of people who are unable to reach or to afford safe drinking water.
•To ensure that, by the same date, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling and that girls and boys will have equal access to all levels of education.
•By the same date, to have reduced maternal mortality by three quarters, and under-five child mortality by two thirds, of their current rates.
•To have, by then, halted, and begun to reverse, the spread of HIV/AIDS, the scourge of malaria and other major diseases that afflict humanity.
•To provide special assistance to children orphaned by HIV/AIDS.
•By 2020, to have achieved a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers as proposed in the “Cities Without Slums” initiative. "
Here is where you can find it: http://www.un.org/millennium/declaration/ares552e.pdf
People familiar with the MDG's will see some very familiar language here in some of the anti-poverty highlights:
"III. Development and poverty eradication
11. We will spare no effort to free our fellow men, women and children from the abject and dehumanizing conditions of extreme poverty, to which more than a billion of them are currently subjected. We are committed to making the right to development a reality for everyone and to freeing the entire human race from want.
12. We resolve therefore to create an environment – at the national and global levels alike – which is conducive to development and to the elimination of poverty. "
"19. We resolve further:
•To halve, by the year 2015, the proportion of the world’s people whose income is less than one dollar a day and the proportion of people who suffer from hunger and, by the same date, to halve the proportion of people who are unable to reach or to afford safe drinking water.
•To ensure that, by the same date, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling and that girls and boys will have equal access to all levels of education.
•By the same date, to have reduced maternal mortality by three quarters, and under-five child mortality by two thirds, of their current rates.
•To have, by then, halted, and begun to reverse, the spread of HIV/AIDS, the scourge of malaria and other major diseases that afflict humanity.
•To provide special assistance to children orphaned by HIV/AIDS.
•By 2020, to have achieved a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers as proposed in the “Cities Without Slums” initiative. "
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Link to read the actual Global Poverty Act
Look what I found! The Global Poverty Act itself. If you would like to look at it for yourself, take a gander at this link.
http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:S.2433:
I just read it and, as promised, it has no mention of any specific amount of money to be put into a Presidential plan for development assistance, despite what Limbaugh and Kincaid might be saying. Here are the meaty parts of it:
"SEC. 3. DECLARATION OF POLICY.
It is the policy of the United States to promote the reduction of global poverty, the elimination of extreme global poverty, and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goal of reducing by one-half the proportion of people worldwide, between 1990 and 2015, who live on less than $1 per day.
SEC. 4. REQUIREMENT TO DEVELOP COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY.
(a) Strategy- The President, acting through the Secretary of State, and in consultation with the heads of other appropriate departments and agencies of the United States Government, international organizations, international financial institutions, the governments of developing and developed countries, United States and international nongovernmental organizations, civil society organizations, and other appropriate entities, shall develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to further the United States foreign policy objective of promoting the reduction of global poverty, the elimination of extreme global poverty, and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goal of reducing by one-half the proportion of people worldwide, between 1990 and 2015, who live on less than $1 per day.
(b) Content- The strategy required by subsection (a) shall include specific and measurable goals, efforts to be undertaken, benchmarks, and timetables to achieve the objectives described in subsection (a).
(c) Components- The strategy required by subsection (a) should include the following components:
(1) Continued investment or involvement in existing United States initiatives related to international poverty reduction, such as the United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Act of 2003 (22 U.S.C. 7601 et seq.), the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 (22 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.), and trade preference programs for developing countries, such as the African Growth and Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.).
(2) Improving the effectiveness of development assistance and making available additional overall United States assistance levels as appropriate.
(3) Enhancing and expanding debt relief as appropriate.
(4) Leveraging United States trade policy where possible to enhance economic development prospects for developing countries.
(5) Coordinating efforts and working in cooperation with developed and developing countries, international organizations, and international financial institutions.
(6) Mobilizing and leveraging the participation of businesses, United States and international nongovernmental organizations, civil society, and public-private partnerships.
(7) Coordinating the goal of poverty reduction with other development goals, such as combating the spread of preventable diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, increasing access to potable water and basic sanitation, reducing hunger and malnutrition, and improving access to and quality of education at all levels regardless of gender.
(8) Integrating principles of sustainable development and entrepreneurship into policies and programs.
(d) Reports-
(1) INITIAL REPORT-
(A) IN GENERAL- Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President, acting through the Secretary of State, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the strategy required under subsection (a).
(B) CONTENT- The report required under subparagraph (A) shall include the following elements:
(i) A description of the strategy required under subsection (a).
(ii) An evaluation, to the extent possible, both proportionate and absolute, of the contributions provided by the United States and other national and international actors in achieving the Millennium Development Goal of reducing by one-half the proportion of people worldwide, between 1990 and 2015, who live on less than $1 per day.
(iii) An assessment of the overall progress toward achieving the Millennium Development Goal of reducing by one-half the proportion of people worldwide, between 1990 and 2015, who live on less than $1 per day.
(2) SUBSEQUENT REPORTS- Not later than December 31, 2012, and December 31, 2015, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees reports on the status of the implementation of the strategy, progress made in achieving the global poverty reduction objectives described in subsection (a), and any changes to the strategy since the date of the submission of the last report."
http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:S.2433:
I just read it and, as promised, it has no mention of any specific amount of money to be put into a Presidential plan for development assistance, despite what Limbaugh and Kincaid might be saying. Here are the meaty parts of it:
"SEC. 3. DECLARATION OF POLICY.
It is the policy of the United States to promote the reduction of global poverty, the elimination of extreme global poverty, and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goal of reducing by one-half the proportion of people worldwide, between 1990 and 2015, who live on less than $1 per day.
SEC. 4. REQUIREMENT TO DEVELOP COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY.
(a) Strategy- The President, acting through the Secretary of State, and in consultation with the heads of other appropriate departments and agencies of the United States Government, international organizations, international financial institutions, the governments of developing and developed countries, United States and international nongovernmental organizations, civil society organizations, and other appropriate entities, shall develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to further the United States foreign policy objective of promoting the reduction of global poverty, the elimination of extreme global poverty, and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goal of reducing by one-half the proportion of people worldwide, between 1990 and 2015, who live on less than $1 per day.
(b) Content- The strategy required by subsection (a) shall include specific and measurable goals, efforts to be undertaken, benchmarks, and timetables to achieve the objectives described in subsection (a).
(c) Components- The strategy required by subsection (a) should include the following components:
(1) Continued investment or involvement in existing United States initiatives related to international poverty reduction, such as the United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Act of 2003 (22 U.S.C. 7601 et seq.), the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 (22 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.), and trade preference programs for developing countries, such as the African Growth and Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.).
(2) Improving the effectiveness of development assistance and making available additional overall United States assistance levels as appropriate.
(3) Enhancing and expanding debt relief as appropriate.
(4) Leveraging United States trade policy where possible to enhance economic development prospects for developing countries.
(5) Coordinating efforts and working in cooperation with developed and developing countries, international organizations, and international financial institutions.
(6) Mobilizing and leveraging the participation of businesses, United States and international nongovernmental organizations, civil society, and public-private partnerships.
(7) Coordinating the goal of poverty reduction with other development goals, such as combating the spread of preventable diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, increasing access to potable water and basic sanitation, reducing hunger and malnutrition, and improving access to and quality of education at all levels regardless of gender.
(8) Integrating principles of sustainable development and entrepreneurship into policies and programs.
(d) Reports-
(1) INITIAL REPORT-
(A) IN GENERAL- Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President, acting through the Secretary of State, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the strategy required under subsection (a).
(B) CONTENT- The report required under subparagraph (A) shall include the following elements:
(i) A description of the strategy required under subsection (a).
(ii) An evaluation, to the extent possible, both proportionate and absolute, of the contributions provided by the United States and other national and international actors in achieving the Millennium Development Goal of reducing by one-half the proportion of people worldwide, between 1990 and 2015, who live on less than $1 per day.
(iii) An assessment of the overall progress toward achieving the Millennium Development Goal of reducing by one-half the proportion of people worldwide, between 1990 and 2015, who live on less than $1 per day.
(2) SUBSEQUENT REPORTS- Not later than December 31, 2012, and December 31, 2015, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees reports on the status of the implementation of the strategy, progress made in achieving the global poverty reduction objectives described in subsection (a), and any changes to the strategy since the date of the submission of the last report."
Thank you, Rush Limbaugh, but we're not there yet!
On the February 14, Rush Limbaugh read part of an inaccurate blog post by Cliff Kincaid on Accuracy in Media where Kincaid falsely stated that the Global Poverty Act, sponsored by Obama, "would commit the U.S. to spending 0.7 percent of gross national product on foreign aid, which amounts to a phenomenal 13-year total of $845 billion over and above what the U.S. already spends."
Wow, Rush! Thank you! If I had any criticism of the Global Poverty Act (which I don't really), it would be that the Act actually doesn't say that. I WISH it said that and was getting passed quickly. 0.7% of national growth is what I write about and dream about our country stepping up to provide for poverty-focused development aid. But beyond my own dreams, it is actually what our country already committed to providing when the United States signed on to the Millennium Development Goals in 2000. It's not the just audacity of hope that leads Obama and 9 other bi-partisan senators to co-sponsor this bill...it's the audacity to live up to commitments we, as a nation, have already made to the world. The actual Global Poverty Act would put the MDGs into US Foreign Policy and require that the president come up with a strategic plan to support the MDGs and report to Congress about it. No funding, no appropriations. It would require us to coordinate our existing departments to provide better foreign assistance and spend less of Rush Limbaugh's, Cliff Kincaid's, yours and my tax dollars on inefficient practices.
I hope someday we actually get to have the debate Rush was fearing, but we're not there yet...not yet!
Wow, Rush! Thank you! If I had any criticism of the Global Poverty Act (which I don't really), it would be that the Act actually doesn't say that. I WISH it said that and was getting passed quickly. 0.7% of national growth is what I write about and dream about our country stepping up to provide for poverty-focused development aid. But beyond my own dreams, it is actually what our country already committed to providing when the United States signed on to the Millennium Development Goals in 2000. It's not the just audacity of hope that leads Obama and 9 other bi-partisan senators to co-sponsor this bill...it's the audacity to live up to commitments we, as a nation, have already made to the world. The actual Global Poverty Act would put the MDGs into US Foreign Policy and require that the president come up with a strategic plan to support the MDGs and report to Congress about it. No funding, no appropriations. It would require us to coordinate our existing departments to provide better foreign assistance and spend less of Rush Limbaugh's, Cliff Kincaid's, yours and my tax dollars on inefficient practices.
I hope someday we actually get to have the debate Rush was fearing, but we're not there yet...not yet!
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