6 July 2005
A START ON THE WAY TO "MAKE POVERTY HISTORY" - BUT WHAT COMES NEXT?
Thanks to the publicity given to the Make Poverty History campaign through the Live 8 concerts, awareness about global poverty and what is needed to overcome it has never been greater, which has the potential to make life significantly better for the world's poor.
What is needed to be done to eliminate poverty is not in dispute. In September 2000, at the United Nations Millennium Summit, world leaders agreed to a number of specific and measurable development goals - now called the Millenium Development Goals - a set of development targets agreed by the international community, which centre on halving poverty and improving the welfare of the world's poorest by 2015. International financial organizations such as the IMF and World Bank have pledged to work towards the implementation of those goals.
It is recognized that action is required on four broad fronts if the issue of poverty is to be addressed.
- a one-off cancellation of the unpayable debt currently borne by the worlds poorest nations,
- an increase in the level of aid from developed nations to 0.7% of GNI (Gross National Income),
- the introduction of fair trade rules and
- improved standards of government in the poor nations themselves.
All of the areas require action.
The injustice of the world's current financial system is simply illustrated by the example of Nigeria which borrowed $5 billion, has paid $16 billion to date and still owes $32 billion (see Jubilee Australia website). Nigeria's debt, along with that of many other countries, will not be cancelled in the proposals likely to be approved following the current G8 meeting. The recent announcement re debt relief therefore represents a step forward but does not solve the debt crisis.
The pledges from a number of countries to increase their level of aid is similarly a positive sign but again pressure will need to be maintained to ensure promises are kept and that nations continue to lift the amount of aid to that required to implement the MDG's.
There is less optimism about the prospect of progress in making trade fair. The commercial interests of powerful trading nations, influential lobby groups and large corporations work to prevent the difficult choices governments need to make in order to ensure the trade system work for the environment and the common good. More information on this issue can be found at the website of the UK based Trade Justice Movement
Finally there is a need to maintain current efforts to improve governance and eliminate corruption if aid is to be effective. Click here for several articles on this issue.
Supporters of the "Make Poverty History" campaign are encouraged to again wear white wrist bands in September and December to coincides with the UN Conference on the Milleniuum Development Goals and Ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organization respectively.
What is needed to be done to eliminate poverty is not in dispute. In September 2000, at the United Nations Millennium Summit, world leaders agreed to a number of specific and measurable development goals - now called the Millenium Development Goals - a set of development targets agreed by the international community, which centre on halving poverty and improving the welfare of the world's poorest by 2015. International financial organizations such as the IMF and World Bank have pledged to work towards the implementation of those goals.
It is recognized that action is required on four broad fronts if the issue of poverty is to be addressed.
- a one-off cancellation of the unpayable debt currently borne by the worlds poorest nations,
- an increase in the level of aid from developed nations to 0.7% of GNI (Gross National Income),
- the introduction of fair trade rules and
- improved standards of government in the poor nations themselves.
All of the areas require action.
The injustice of the world's current financial system is simply illustrated by the example of Nigeria which borrowed $5 billion, has paid $16 billion to date and still owes $32 billion (see Jubilee Australia website). Nigeria's debt, along with that of many other countries, will not be cancelled in the proposals likely to be approved following the current G8 meeting. The recent announcement re debt relief therefore represents a step forward but does not solve the debt crisis.
The pledges from a number of countries to increase their level of aid is similarly a positive sign but again pressure will need to be maintained to ensure promises are kept and that nations continue to lift the amount of aid to that required to implement the MDG's.
There is less optimism about the prospect of progress in making trade fair. The commercial interests of powerful trading nations, influential lobby groups and large corporations work to prevent the difficult choices governments need to make in order to ensure the trade system work for the environment and the common good. More information on this issue can be found at the website of the UK based Trade Justice Movement
Finally there is a need to maintain current efforts to improve governance and eliminate corruption if aid is to be effective. Click here for several articles on this issue.
Supporters of the "Make Poverty History" campaign are encouraged to again wear white wrist bands in September and December to coincides with the UN Conference on the Milleniuum Development Goals and Ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organization respectively.
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