The United Nations Summit on the Millennium Development Goals opened in New York City. The Episcopal Church report by Mary Frances Schjonberg reveals a mixed view of the present and future.
Videos from the Summit can be found here
Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation (EGR) “was formed in 2006 as a Christ-centered grassroots national organization seeking to build an effective and dynamic movement to heed the call within the Episcopal Church to alleviate extreme global poverty by working through the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).” It is a way for Episcopalians to get involved with the MDGs.
Episcopal Relief and Development is another way to work towards fulfilling the goals
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has today issued a video message to mark the opening of the United Nations Summit on the Millennium Development Goals in New York.
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In his video message, the Archbishop speaks of the need for the Anglican Church to work in harmony with governments and NGOs around the world in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by the deadline of 2015. The Archbishop marks the many achievements but also highlights the urgent need for stronger partnerships, between governments and other sectors of society, including faith communities, in tackling poverty, hunger, disease and injustice.
The Archbishop identifies the values and vision underpinning a global response to the challenges of poverty and injustice, which are reflected in communities of faith: “Here there are resources not only in terms of skills and persons but of vision and of energy; of faith. A sense of deep obligation, a sense that our welfare is absolutely bound up with the welfare of our neighbour.”
“It’s in that light that we as communities of faith would want first to declare our commitment to these goals but also to declare our willingness to join in the task… We want to appeal to our governments not to step back from the commitments they have made, to make the best use of their own resources and to build up the resources of others for work together towards a world that we can be proud to live in – a world in which our responsibility for each other is truly and fully exercised, where we can really celebrate the life and welfare of all.”
The MDGs are as follows:
Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education
Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women
Goal 4: Reduce child mortality
Goal 5: Improve maternal health
Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability
Goal 8: Develop a Global Partnership for Development