Every minute 17 children die of easily preventable diseases. What is the response from many of the sitting members and aspiring candidates from the two major parties? Watch this video to find out. If you think Australia can and should be doing more to Make Poverty History, then watch the following video and take action by writing to your national political leaders.
If you believe Australia can and should be contributing its fair share and increase our aid commitment to 0.7% of GNI (just 70 cents out of every $100 that Australia earns), please write to your leaders now. (The letter below will go to the Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott, Minister of Foreign Affairs Stephen Smith and Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop.)
Dear;
Prime Minister Julia Gillard & Minister of Foreign Affairs Stephen Smith,
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott & Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop,I would like to thank your parties for their commitment to increase Australia’s overseas aid to 0.5% of our Gross National Income (GNI) by 2015. I am concerned however that although this is a substantial improvement on our current level of overseas aid, it still falls well short of the 0.7% of GNI required if we are to do our fair share towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The Make Poverty History coalition has been running public electoral forums on this issue for a number of months in the lead up to the election. I recently watched a compilation video including comments from some of the MPs and other candidates who have so far attended these events.
I was surprised to learn for instance that Australia ranks a lowly 16th (out of the world’s 23 richest nations) in terms of our contribution in overseas aid. And that a decade after committing to meet the MDGs, neither of the two major parties yet has a timetable for increasing our contribution to 0.7% in-line with the commitments of other rich nations.
Having 0.7% as an “aspirational” goal, or waiting to grow Australia’s economic “pie” still further, isn’t good enough.
I was even more surprised and saddened to learn of our ranking given we are just one of a handful of countries to have escaped the global financial relatively unharmed. With so little debt in relation to other rich nations, Australia can and should be doing more.
A commitment to 0.7% will not only bring Australia into line with the contributions of other rich nations, but more importantly, it will help to transform the lives of hundreds of thousands of poor people living in poverty around the world.
With 17 children dying from preventable diseases every minute in developing countries, and knowing that doing our fair share could substantially reduce this toll, I remind you that Every Minute Counts.
July 30th, 2010 at 2:51 pm
Greetings to all in MPH,
I believe that Australia should do even better than 0.7% GDP.
Where there is the will, ……… there is a way.
I long for the day when Australia becomes known worldwide not as a greedy selfish nation, but a caring, and generous nation.
This will undoubtably increase our good-will with many countries that look at us in not so nice terms in the present day, due to our previous record of relating with other countries.
For example,…… the way our own Aboriginal people were treated by us in the past and sadly still today, is actually a national disgrace.
When MPH started, I thought ok, …. now the politicians will take notice!!
How sad to know now, that they are still afraid to commit to being generous and to help their fellow humans. In Australia we are very fortunate that we live in a country of abundant natural resources and we can actually afford to be generous.
Thank you all for caring and working in MPH
From Edward
July 30th, 2010 at 5:07 pm
Make sure you share this around everyone!
July 31st, 2010 at 10:28 pm
Everything starts with one step. Lets get .7% and then look at increasing it.
August 3rd, 2010 at 11:58 pm
I think that Make Poverty History should start their own political party. Finding the 500 members needed shouldn’t be too hard. I think Lobbying to political parties who don’t take them seriously isn’t effective enough. If they had 1-4% of the Australian vote, then things may be different.
August 11th, 2010 at 12:40 am
Hmmm… Australia’s Socialist Alliance and Greens parties both support Make Poverty History type policies.
August 16th, 2010 at 7:13 am
Keep up the great work, MPH!
August 28th, 2010 at 5:00 pm
Hi,
I have recently launched a new website http://www.bleedingindebt.com against the froudellent actions of the banks.
We need to educate the people on this. There should be no poverty in this world. The IMF and World Bank is responsible for so much poverty, hunger and debt. People need to know the truth before they will act.
Please use, link or share this information with others.
Kind Regards,
Andrew Webb
August 29th, 2010 at 2:39 pm
With loads of information on this site, the one thing I was unable to find, was the wording of the actual PLEDGE!!
This is rather disconcerting, and with time running out I really need to know the wording, for the event I am planning.
Would you please email me asap with the text of the Pledge so I can continue with the job in hand.
Thanks heaps
Johanna Haasjes
September 2nd, 2010 at 12:33 pm
Johanna – we’re not sure what you’re referring to.
The text of the letter to the MPs is displayed above in the blue box – is this what you were after?
September 3rd, 2010 at 2:32 pm
hi everyone! my name is Kimberley but i like to be called kim.
i am a student and i would like to make a difference!!
i think it is not right that children don’t have enough rights for them! it kills me inside everytime i see an add on the tv about this area and what is happening. so i am writing a letter to my local council or spokesperson to help the good people make a change in this world and that those children over there can have a chance at life, because that is what every single person born on this planet diserves! A CHANCE AT LIFE!
every 3 seconds a child dies from poverty that is not right so help make a difference and find out what you can do to help that 3 seconds become not at all!
thank you
September 11th, 2010 at 11:14 am
Making Poverty History does not win votes in Australia. It didn’t even rank on any party’s agenda in the recent election. I can tell you one country however where it did matter and as a result, was a much stronger demonstration of the democratic process. Rwanda held its second democratic election in its history. Being a republic saw the return to office of H.E. President Paul Kagame who received 93.8% of the national vote. On his agenda was making poverty history.
September 24th, 2010 at 5:23 am
Extremely useful and informative article. I wish i can do all of that in a short period of time. But for sure doing those will produce results. I will try to spread your words through my blog and link it back to you. Thanks a lot for those tips