With a precision learned over centuries, Chile's tectonic plates released their ferocious energy on the night of February 26th. The phenomenon that occurs every 25 years, chose this 2010, to devastate almost a third of the country, reminding us of our fragility and humbling us as human beings.I am an intern here at Make Poverty History and I am also a Chilean, here studying in Canada. The news was terrifying for me to hear and especially hard because I was so far from my family and my friends. Now I feel I am in mourning for my people and my country.
Geological time doesn't understand or know anything about human affairs, and as much as humans can understand more and more about these enormous forces, we cannot control them. Instead we must seek to be effective in what we can control by working together to build an environment of peace with the hope of prosperity.
The tragic events in Chile, and the massive destruction suffered by Haitians on January 12th, cause us to think about the model of social coexistence we are working so hard to build at Make Poverty History.
Submitted by Lucy on February 15, 2010 - 4:12pm.
We all know who Robin Hood is: the legendary folk hero gallivanting around medieval England stealing from the rich to give to the poor. He wriggles out of impossible situations, ambushes unsuspecting rich men with Little John and charms his way into Maid Miriam’s heart.
Now, a new Robin Hood has the potential to make a lasting difference in the world. Today’s incarnation of Robin Hood could help global leaders achieve the millennium development goals, fight extreme poverty around the world and find solutions to climate change adaptation. This same tax also has the potential to deter some of the risky market transactions that have devastating effects on the global economy.
Submitted by Lorena on February 11, 2010 - 3:48pm.
From January 27 to 31, top business leaders, international political leaders, selected intellectuals and journalists met in Davos, Switzerland, in the WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM ANNUAL MEETING 2010 to discuss the most pressing issues facing the world.
The combination of food and financial crisis trapped an estimated 50 to 90 million people in extreme poverty in 2009. How can the Millennium Development Goals for 2015 be met in the wake of the economic crisis?
Answer this and other questions watching the VIDEO "Meeting the Millennium Development Goals" at the World Economic Forum.
Submitted by Lorena on February 11, 2010 - 1:31pm.
Government leaders cannot solve global challenges on their own any more. In today's much flatter world, it is everyday people --and, critically, their personal networks-- who have the potential to be the world's big new problem solvers. Haiti's post-earthquake emergency has vividly displayed the need for coordinated best efforts from non-profits, companies, individuals, online communities, governments and the UN system. The same mindset of partnership, urgency, and "all hands on deck" is also required to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, the world's integrated targets for tackling extreme poverty by 2015.
Submitted by Kelly on January 29, 2010 - 11:38am.
Sometimes wishes can come true.
For months now, a coalition of 7 Canadian NGOs working with vulnerable mothers and children in low income countries, has been lobbying the government to take this on as a Canadian G8 Legacy Project.
As he prepared to depart for the World Economic Forum meetings in Davos, the Prime Minister did just that…announcing that Canada would make the plight of the 500,000 million women who die in childbirth and the 9 million children who don’t make it to the age of 5 every year, a top priority for the G8.
