The dramatic surge in food prices has plunged millions of poor people and many net food importing poor countries into a food crisis. Consequently, it has also put at risk their chances of achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. Whilst the focus has been on the impact on the MDG1 of reducing poverty and hunger, given the close inter-connectedness between all the 8 MDGs, the impact on these sections of the poor on health, education and livelihoods more broadly, cannot be underestimated.
Under the heading “Deepening local democratic governance to eradicate poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goals," the delegates to the Forum discussed potential ways of strengthening the role of Local Authorities both in the North and the South in the achievement of the MDGs.
In Bangladesh, government officials, professors and anti-poverty campaigners recently demanded a National Sharing Meeting on the progress of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The officials also presented a shadow report on December 9 in an event organized by SUPRO, a national network of grass roots organizations, at the Press Club in Dhaka.
Twenty-five-year- old Katuri Kodanda Pani from the village of Ipurupalem in Andhra Pradesh who is preparing for the civil service exams, won the first prize in the nation-wide contest, titled Mera India Bridge the Gap. The contest asked young people in the 18 to 35 year age group to think of ideas, which could help India, meet its commitment on millennium development goals (MDGs).
For the second year in a row, the Philippines sent the loudest voice worldwide in calling for an end to extreme poverty, with 36.1 million Filipinos participating in various events during the three-day global Stand Up, Take Action Against Poverty campaign of the United Nations Millennium Campaign (UNMC) last Oct. 16 to 18.
Events in Nepal at Stand Up
In Nepal, the President will read a Stand Up Pledge with members of the Constituent assembly at an event organized by the National Planning Commission and UN in Nepal at the President’s Official residence, broadcast live on national television. This will be followed by a concert hosted by the Millennium Campaign and Art of Living, where thousands of people are expected to gather in a large open-air theatre in the heart of Kathmandu on October 16 to Stand Up for peace and the reduction of poverty in Nepal.
In first press conference, the UNMC Indonesia introduced to the media several SUTA Ambassadors who are Indonesia’s high profiles including film producer, TV artist and host, singer and others.
End world poverty by the year 2015. That was the promise the leaders of 189 countries around the world made at the United Nations Millennium Summit in 2000.
To ensure that this promise would not be in vain, they signed the Millennium Declaration outlining eight key global development goals: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger; achieve universal primary education; promote gender equality and empower women; reduce child mortality; improve maternal health; combat HIV/Aids, malaria and other diseases; ensure environmental sustainability; and develop a global partnership for development.
The Millennium Campaign in India is supporting Unnati Features and the Women's Feature Service in a new contest which aims to focus the attention of India's young adults on the issues that will impact their future.
The contest, called "Mera India, Bridge the Gap," asks Indians between the ages of 18-35 to explain what needs to be done to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and rank the most important actors in the fight against poverty. Winners will receive cash prizes at a special function in New Delhi.
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Bangladesh can still achieve its millennium development goal to cut poverty by half before the deadline in 2015 if the government follows right policies, ensures accountability and reaches resources to the disadvantaged people, a UN official said.
Minar Pimple, deputy director of United Nations Millennium Campaign, Asia, said Bangladesh has to identify challenges ahead and give a big push to achieve the target in the remaining six years.
The UN official spoke to the FE last week while he was in Dhaka to attend a seminar on poverty.
