10 February 2005
WAR ON POVERTY GAINS MOMENTUM
At long last there is genuine hope that the issue of world poverty may be addressed rather than ignored.
The recently concluded World Economic Forum offered hope that issues such as poverty and climate change may finally be recognized as priority issues for world leaders. Participants in the annual meeting of world political and business leaders called for the implementation of a series of concrete measures designed to yield immediate and long-lasting results, including the adoption of technology to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, the creation of a fund to accelerate financial aid to the poorest nations and the removal of trade barriers that deprive developing countries of the dividends of global economic growth.
Tim Costello, the chief executive of World Vision Australia, in a letter to the Melbourne "Age" welcomed the outcomes of the meeting and commended the call of Prime Minister Howard for the elimination of trade barriers erected by western countries (which would also significantly benefit Australia).
However as Mr Costello pointed out trade is just one of the four issues that along with debt cancellation, aid and improved governance, need to be addressed together if the Millenium Development Goal of halving poverty by 2015 is to be achieved. It was therefore disappointing to find that the Australian Prime Minister was the only world leader to speak against the proposal to grant debt relief - even more disappointing given the declining and dismal level of aid provided by Australia in recent years (usually with conditions attached).
It is difficult to escape the suspicion that the Australian government is motivated more by self-interest than a genuine desire to improving the lot of the world's poor.
As momentum builds for action at the global level to address the issue of poverty, the current moment provides a crucial opportunity for all of those concerned with the building of a more just world to at least lend their voice to support the current campaigns.
Why not let your representative in the Australian Parliament know your views on this issue?
The recently concluded World Economic Forum offered hope that issues such as poverty and climate change may finally be recognized as priority issues for world leaders. Participants in the annual meeting of world political and business leaders called for the implementation of a series of concrete measures designed to yield immediate and long-lasting results, including the adoption of technology to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, the creation of a fund to accelerate financial aid to the poorest nations and the removal of trade barriers that deprive developing countries of the dividends of global economic growth.
Tim Costello, the chief executive of World Vision Australia, in a letter to the Melbourne "Age" welcomed the outcomes of the meeting and commended the call of Prime Minister Howard for the elimination of trade barriers erected by western countries (which would also significantly benefit Australia).
However as Mr Costello pointed out trade is just one of the four issues that along with debt cancellation, aid and improved governance, need to be addressed together if the Millenium Development Goal of halving poverty by 2015 is to be achieved. It was therefore disappointing to find that the Australian Prime Minister was the only world leader to speak against the proposal to grant debt relief - even more disappointing given the declining and dismal level of aid provided by Australia in recent years (usually with conditions attached).
It is difficult to escape the suspicion that the Australian government is motivated more by self-interest than a genuine desire to improving the lot of the world's poor.
As momentum builds for action at the global level to address the issue of poverty, the current moment provides a crucial opportunity for all of those concerned with the building of a more just world to at least lend their voice to support the current campaigns.
Why not let your representative in the Australian Parliament know your views on this issue?
Comments:
Post a Comment
