Nothing less than the stars

Published by rudy Date posted on July 12, 2009

NINE years ago, world leaders set far-sighted goals to free a major portion of humanity from the shackles of extreme poverty, hunger, illiteracy and disease.

They established targets for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women, environmental sustainability and a global partnership for development.

In short, they adopted a blueprint for a better world—and pledged to spare no effort in fulfilling that vision.

We have made important progress in this effort, and have many successes on which to build. But we have been moving too slowly to meet our goals.

Today, we face a global economic crisis whose full repercussions have yet to be felt.

At the very least, it will throw us off course in a number of key areas, particularly in the developing countries. At worst, it could prevent us from keeping our promises, plunging millions more into poverty and posing a risk of social and political unrest.

That is an outcome we must avoid at all costs. We cannot allow an unfavorable economic climate to undermine the commitments made in 2000.

On the contrary, our efforts to restore economic growth should be seen as an opportunity to take some of the hard decisions needed to create a more equitable and sustainable future.

The right policies and actions, backed by adequate funding and strong political commitment, can yield results. Fewer people today are dying of AIDS, and many countries are implementing proven strategies to combat malaria and measles, two major killers of children.

The world is edging closer to universal primary education, and we are well on our way to meeting the target for safe drinking water.

However, many challenges remain and are likely to become even more difficult in the current economic climate.

Early indications are that, not surprisingly, the poor have suffered most from the upheaval of the past year. The numbers of people going hungry and living in extreme poverty are much larger than they would have been had progress continued uninterrupted.

Economic hardship has pushed tens of millions of people into vulnerable employment and increased the number of those who, though employed, do not earn enough for themselves and their families to rise above the poverty line of $1.25 a day.

Rather than retreat, now is the time to accelerate progress toward the Millennium Development Goals and to strengthen the global partnership for development. If the global community responds constructively to the crisis, the goals can still be achieved.

Honoring the commitment to increase aid is critical. Equally important is ensuring that the interests of the developing countries, and especially the poorest ones, remain central in negotiations on trade.

We must also “seal the deal” on a new climate change regime in Copenhagen in December.

The global community cannot turn its back on the poor and the vulnerable. We must strengthen global cooperation and solidarity, and redouble our efforts to reach the MDGs.

Nothing less than the viability of our planet and the future of humanity are at stake. –Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary-General, United Nations

April 2025

World Day for Safety and Health at Work
“Safety and health at work every day!”

Invoke Article 33 of the ILO constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations against serious violations of Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government
(NUG) of Myanmar.
Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideos

Time to support & empower survivors. Time to spark a global conversation. Time for #GenerationEquality to #orangetheworld!

Monthly Observances:

March – Women’s Role in History Month
April – Month of Planet Earth

Weekly Observances:
Last Week of March: Protection and Gender Fair Treatment of the Girl Child Week
Last Week of April – World Immunization Week

Daily Observances:
Mar 25 – International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transallantic Slave Trade
Mar 27– Earth Hour
Apr 21 – Civil Service Day
Apr 22 – World Earth Day
Apr 28 – World Day for Safety and Health at Work

Trade Union Solidarity Campaigns

No to Trafficking

Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!

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