U.N.: World Faling to Reduce Poverty

U.N.: World Failing to Reduce Poverty

Wednesday September 7, 2005 9:46 PM

By ALEXANDRA ZAVIS

Associated Press Writer

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AP) - Time is running out for world leaders to keep their promises to roll back poverty and millions of people will die needlessly over the next decade without drastic changes, the U.N. warned in a major report Wednesday.
The stark findings were presented to the 191 U.N. member nations a week before they meet in New York for a summit to review progress toward the Millennium Development Goals. The targets set in 2000 include halving extreme poverty, reducing child deaths by two-thirds and achieving universal primary education by 2015.

The goals are ``a promissory note, written by 189 governments to the world's poor people,'' said Kevin Watkins, chief author of the 2005 Human Development Report. ``That note falls due in less than 10 years time, and without the required investment and political will, it will come back stamped 'insufficient funds.'''

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Life expectancy in Botswana has fallen by 20 years since the 1970s to just 36. A Zambian has less chance of reaching 30 than a person born in England at the dawn of the Industrial Revolution in 1840.

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In many countries that are making progress, it is only the wealthiest who are benefiting. The gap between child mortality rates among rich and poor is increasing in countries like Ghana, Zambia and Uganda.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5262536,00.html

:sarcasm:

... the harmful positions he took in the recent G8 conference led by Blair, where Blair wanted to set decisive goals in combating poverty. (IIRC)