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.
Following reports that the Philippines, including other Asian countries, is in danger of not halving extreme poverty rates by 2015, the United Nations (UN) Millennium Campaign, together with various civil society organizations, urged the administration of President Aquino to immediately come up with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Breakthrough Plan for the country in time for the UN General Assembly next month in New York.
MANILA, Philippines, July 6, 2010—The President is in place. Now the real work begins. This is what the United Nations Millennium Campaign and partner organizations reminded the Philippines government, following the inaugural address of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III on June 30.
Dreams within reach
The recently enacted Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, which guarantees free and universal elementary education, marks a momentous step in India's journey to fulfil the fundamental right to education. The Bill will ensure that more than eight million children and young people, most of them girls, between the ages of six and 14 will now get the opportunity to go to school.
Bhubaneswar (Women’s Feature Service) – In her ninth month of pregnancy, Laxmi Bhatra from Orissa’s Anchala village in the tribal dominated Kosagumuda block of Nawrangpur district, suddenly felt unwell. On seeing his wife’s condition, Kamlochan, a landless worker, got on to his bicycle, tied a hapless Laxmi loosely to him, and peddled 15 kilometres along a hilly pathway to a six-bed health facility. When he got there, instead of admitting the visibly suffering woman, the local doctor gave her some medication and sent her home.
I vote for MDGs
STORY: Amen
May 13, 2010- Dominican Republic swimming champion Marcos Diaz is set to swim across the border of Papua New Guinea and Indonesia tomorrow morning, in the first of four continental crossings to raise awareness of the Millennium Development Goals.
Diaz is expected to begin the swim at 7:00am from Wutung Village in Papua New Guinea. He will swim across the border and arrive at the Indonesian village of Mabo, just before Jayapura city. Marcos will touch land after swimming approximately 16-18 kms parallel to the shores. He will be escorted by several boats.
The Campaign developed a comparative matrix of the presidential candidates’ programs on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) based on their official platforms. The matrix aimed to educate and encourage Filipino voters to exercise their democratic rights during the May 10 election by evaluating programs before selecting their MDG President—the official who will commit to the achievement of the MDGs by 2015.
Orai, Uttar Pradesh (Women’s Feature Service) – Orai, the nondescript headquarters of Jalaun district in Uttar Pradesh (UP), has an amazing story to tell the world. Lying in the neglected Bundelkhand region, Orai, which has a large Dalit (‘downtrodden’) population, not only experiences acute water scarcity, its literacy levels are low and unemployment levels, high.
