In the year 2000, all the nations of the world, including Australia, came together and for the first time in history they all agreed on 8 global goals to help end poverty. These 8 goals are known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). By 2015, the MDGs aim to:
- Halve Extreme Poverty and Hunger
- Primary Education for All Children
- Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women
- Reduce Child Deaths
- Improve Maternal Health
- Combat HIV/AIDs, Malaria and other Diseases
- Environmental Sustainability and Clean Water/Sanitation
- A Global Partnership, including more and better aid
As a wealthy country, Australia has promised to help fund the MDGs and help end poverty. Along with other wealthy nations, Australia has repeatedly agreed that our ‘fair share’ is to give 0.7% of our national income towards fighting global poverty. That’s just 70 cents in every $100. Many other wealthy nations are already giving 0.7% – including the UK who have kept their aid promises despite a struggling economy. Australia has the strongest economy of all the wealthy nations, and yet the Australian Government is one of the least generous and is falling far behind on its aid promises under the MDGs.
MOVEMENT TO END POVERTY is a joint petition of the Make Poverty History and Micah Challenge coalitions. Collectively, the aid sector is aiming to get 500,000 signatures by September to demonstrate strong public support for increased aid. I encourage you to sign the petition and share it with your family and friends. Let's try and hold government to one of the promises!
