On September 20th the United Nations will meet to consider the steps required to accelerate progress to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and halve global poverty by 2015.
Add your voice by signing the letter below, calling on the Australian government to work with other UN members to ensure that an MDG rescue plan is adopted and that governments work diligently to ensure its implementation.
Sign the letter:
Dear;
Prime Minister Julia Gillard & Minister of Foreign Affairs Kevin Rudd,I urge the Australian government to work with other UN members to ensure that a Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) rescue plan, incorporating the following 10 points, is adopted at the upcoming meeting of the UN General Assembly and that governments work diligently to ensure its implementation.
1. Each donor country establish and publish an annual timetable to reach their existing aid volume commitments and beyond that to reach 0.7% and ensure that aid is provided on a long term and predictable basis.
2. Through additional aid and restructuring of current aid ensure that critical education, health, food, agriculture, water and sanitation services are adequately funded. Specifically we are asking the Australian government each year to commit approximately $ 400m for basic education, $ 1200m for health, $ 500m for water and sanitation and at least $ 350m for food security and agriculture. We are also calling on the Australian government to provide its fair share of replenishment funding for the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Malaria, and TB
3. Broaden the decision making base for international economic governance by increasing developing country representation in the IMF and World Bank and make the African Union a member of the G20.
4. Take concrete, measurable and monitored steps towards women being equally involved in all development planning, implementation and review from the global to the local level. Establish strong laws opposing violence against women in every country and undertake national campaigns in each country actively led by each national leader.
5. Rapidly accelerate implementation of Paris and Accra Aid Effectiveness principles (including harmonisation with and use of developing country systems and plans, greater coordination and reduced dependence on Western technical assistance) with annual review of progress.
6. Put renewed efforts into the WTO process and particularly tackle issues of reducing developed country subsidies and improved access to markets for developing countries.
7. The world community to establish new forms of finance such as the Financial Transactions Tax (Robin Hood style tax), an International Finance Facility for Development (development bonds) or expanded debt relief programs in order to attain the 0.7% development finance commitment and fund additional costs of climate adaptation in developing countries.
8. Increase efforts in the UN and G20 to reduce opportunities for corruption and tax avoidance.
9. Agree to an effective international agreement to limit climate change to 2C or less, establish frameworks to encourage green business development internationally and the transfer of low carbon technologies and ensure developed countries meet their commitments to fast track and long term climate financing for adaptation programs in developing countries made at Copenhagen in December 2009.
10. Ensure civil society involvement in the planning, implementation and review of all development programs and establish an effective and wide-ranging consultation process to develop the post MDG framework between 2012 and 2014.
September 15th, 2010 at 11:01 am
Whilst many member nations may have doubts concerning the UN’s overall effectivenes in handling the worlds problems,it none the less still remains as the only (almost)truly international forum in which such issues can be raised. I very much doubt the Australian Government could dispute the need to support most of the 10 motions outlined above and the UN is definately the correct forum to air them.
September 15th, 2010 at 12:23 pm
Stand up ! Take action !
September 15th, 2010 at 12:59 pm
Having just seen Kevin Rudd’s first news conference as Foreign Minister I was heartened to see that his first 2 major objectives related to the humanitarian crisis in Pakistan and the urgency of refocusing on the MDG’s that were so sidetracked by the GFC. It was clear that he was intent on using his reported prodigious energy to effect significant positive outcomes in these two areas. I wish him well in these important endeavours.
September 16th, 2010 at 5:39 pm
I’am Just starting to Study International Studies at University and today’s lecture was about the roles of the UN and EU and there capacity to make change. I agree with Robert that that the UN is the only forum that we have to discuss these issues however, i do think there needs to be some major changes in the way the decisions are made especially when it comes to the security council and those nations Vito powers.
September 17th, 2010 at 10:37 am
Poverty needs to be made history. It is completely unfair that Australia, the United States and the UK get privileged, while other countries are starving. Yes, some people do stand up and make fundraisers to donate money to those less fortunate then us, but our prime ministers need to do something about it. That photo of a little boy dying, and the eagle watching him die before it kills the little boy, is disgusting, because the photographer didn’t do anything to help him. This is what needs to stop. Our world is pathetically selfish and someone needs to solve this issues before it gets way out of hand.
September 17th, 2010 at 10:48 am
agreed
September 17th, 2010 at 1:21 pm
I did not see the photo, but obviously it was a heart wrenching scene. However, I disagree with the comments re the photographer. Where should he have taken the boy? And once there, if the child had not already died, how was he to get any priority help to the child when in all likelihood he was but one of thousands standing in the same line, asking for a miracle. No, by documenting the scene through photography, he will have been able to stir more people to take action through that than by trying in vain to save the one child
September 17th, 2010 at 1:31 pm
You people are smart! Povertu really does need to be stopped. I have seen first hand what it is like with the beggars in Sri Lanka. Some people even have little babies who are extremely skinny and sick. It is so sad!
September 17th, 2010 at 2:31 pm
(Y)
September 18th, 2010 at 12:21 am
Poverty is bad and unnecessary!, the thing is we all have the power to make a difference, its just that 1. people are to lazy to do anything about it and 2. they know nothing about it.
for a start how are we going to make poverty history, if we cant even keep poverty off the floors of our own country? America is one of the most beautiful and well known countries in the world, but they fail to help every person in need in their own country, there is a large number of people becoming homeless in america and the United States need to help themselves first before they can start helping 3rd world countries.
Everyone needs to get involved and together if we all try we can make a difference!!!
September 18th, 2010 at 9:44 am
UN General Assembly President Praises Venezuela for [Millenium] Development Goals Progress:
http://venezuelanalysis.com/news/5450
‘Speaking about the report he received from the Venezuelan National Institute for Statistics regarding the progress the country has made on the goals, Treki said: “What Venezuela has achieved with regards to the Millennium Development Goals should serve as a model for all other countries.”
‘The report from the institute states that Venezuela has already achieved a great majority of the goals with five years to spare.’
September 18th, 2010 at 11:32 am
Make the elimination of poverty a priority and share what wealth God has given us.
September 20th, 2010 at 12:17 pm
People are aware of Poverty is just that they’re not taking action.
If they do, we can make a difference.
But some people don’t chose to do that.
September 22nd, 2010 at 8:54 pm
this needs to happen now!!