Showing posts with label MDG. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MDG. Show all posts
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Auction for Action: A UNICEF Fundraising Online Auction Project
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
28th International AIDS Candlelight Memorial on May 15!
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In line with the 28th International AIDS Candlelight Memorial there will be a candle lighting activity and a yoga session on May 15 at the Glorietta 3 Park in Ayala, Makati City from 3:30PM to 7PM.
The yoga activity in partner with the annual candlelight event for HIV/AIDS entitled Yoga for Life: Touching Lives, will be supported by Yoga instructors such as Roland dela Cruz, Jeannie Javelosa, Tesa Celdran, Marilen Elizalde, Marc Carlos, Lex Bonife and Rebecca de Villa. It encourages participants of the activity to live a healthy and well life, inner peace, and self empowerment especially the advocates of HIV/AIDS awareness and those living with AIDS. For those who want to participate must bring extra clothes and mats for the yoga session.
The yoga activity in partner with the annual candlelight event for HIV/AIDS entitled Yoga for Life: Touching Lives, will be supported by Yoga instructors such as Roland dela Cruz, Jeannie Javelosa, Tesa Celdran, Marilen Elizalde, Marc Carlos, Lex Bonife and Rebecca de Villa. It encourages participants of the activity to live a healthy and well life, inner peace, and self empowerment especially the advocates of HIV/AIDS awareness and those living with AIDS. For those who want to participate must bring extra clothes and mats for the yoga session.
Monday, October 18, 2010
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
Bangkok, 17 October 2010— Decent and productive work is one of the most effective ways to fight poverty and accelerate the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, says the United Nations Millennium Campaign in observance of the 2010 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
This year’s observance focuses on decent work, meaningful employment, income-generating livelihoods under the theme of ‘From Poverty to Decent Work: Bridging the Gap.’ The theme underlines that combating poverty is linked to the satisfaction of basic social needs, including education, health, food, sanitation, shelter and clothing, as well as the provision of sufficient work opportunities as stipulated in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
“Different facets of poverty are manifested in every MDG being off track. When a child doesn’t go to school or a family cannot afford health or sanitation, the underlining cause is poverty,” says Minar Pimple, Regional Director, UN Millennium Campaign Asia and the Pacific Regional Office.
Almost 70% of the world’s poor live in Asia and the Pacific region, according to the UN Asia-Pacific Regional MDG Report 2009/10. Whilst Asia and the Pacific is anticipated to serve as the engine that pulls the global economy out of recession, the same report shows a contrast picture to that speculation. Hundreds of millions of people in this region are still left in appalling destitution—living on less than $1.25 a day, lacking clean water and sanitation, their families devastated by the tragic and needless deaths of mothers and children.
“Asia and the Pacific region are at greater risk of losing development gains made during the past decade and even plunging deeper into poverty should the global economic crisis persist. Thus the fight against poverty is of extreme urgency and should be put at the forefront of national development policy. It must go hand in hand with efforts to accelerate the achievement of the MDGs,” he continues.
A clear resonance of the global call against poverty was made last month when millions of people around the globe joined the annual Stand Up Take Action Make Noise campaign, sending a message to end poverty to the world leaders gathering at the Millennium Development Goals Summit in New York.
The subsequent MDG Summit agreed on an action agenda to intensify the global poverty fight, recognizing the importance and urgency of investing in economic and social policies that foster job creation and promoting decent labour conditions as measures to eradicating poverty, strengthening economies and building peaceful and stable societies.
Echoing the UN Secretary-General’s message on this occasion, Mr. Pimple emphasizes that, “Widespread economic uncertainty and fiscal austerity should not be excuses to do less. Rather, they are reasons to do more to meet the target of ending global poverty by the 2015 target. One way of doing so is to strive to expand job opportunities and safe working conditions everywhere.”
This year’s observance focuses on decent work, meaningful employment, income-generating livelihoods under the theme of ‘From Poverty to Decent Work: Bridging the Gap.’ The theme underlines that combating poverty is linked to the satisfaction of basic social needs, including education, health, food, sanitation, shelter and clothing, as well as the provision of sufficient work opportunities as stipulated in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
“Different facets of poverty are manifested in every MDG being off track. When a child doesn’t go to school or a family cannot afford health or sanitation, the underlining cause is poverty,” says Minar Pimple, Regional Director, UN Millennium Campaign Asia and the Pacific Regional Office.
Almost 70% of the world’s poor live in Asia and the Pacific region, according to the UN Asia-Pacific Regional MDG Report 2009/10. Whilst Asia and the Pacific is anticipated to serve as the engine that pulls the global economy out of recession, the same report shows a contrast picture to that speculation. Hundreds of millions of people in this region are still left in appalling destitution—living on less than $1.25 a day, lacking clean water and sanitation, their families devastated by the tragic and needless deaths of mothers and children.
“Asia and the Pacific region are at greater risk of losing development gains made during the past decade and even plunging deeper into poverty should the global economic crisis persist. Thus the fight against poverty is of extreme urgency and should be put at the forefront of national development policy. It must go hand in hand with efforts to accelerate the achievement of the MDGs,” he continues.
A clear resonance of the global call against poverty was made last month when millions of people around the globe joined the annual Stand Up Take Action Make Noise campaign, sending a message to end poverty to the world leaders gathering at the Millennium Development Goals Summit in New York.
The subsequent MDG Summit agreed on an action agenda to intensify the global poverty fight, recognizing the importance and urgency of investing in economic and social policies that foster job creation and promoting decent labour conditions as measures to eradicating poverty, strengthening economies and building peaceful and stable societies.
Echoing the UN Secretary-General’s message on this occasion, Mr. Pimple emphasizes that, “Widespread economic uncertainty and fiscal austerity should not be excuses to do less. Rather, they are reasons to do more to meet the target of ending global poverty by the 2015 target. One way of doing so is to strive to expand job opportunities and safe working conditions everywhere.”
Friday, October 15, 2010
Accessible and Safe Water for All on Blog Action Day 2010
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According to World Health Organization, every year there are 1.4 million reported child mortality because of water related diseases like diarrhea, most this cases happens in developing countries in Asia and Africa. The main reason of those reported death is because of most of the people on this nations doesn’t have access on clean and safe water.
The United Nations declares 2005-2015 as International Decade for Action on Water for Life, putting importance on water and how it will affect on the achievement of the United Nations Millennium Development Goal at the same time this is our 2010 Blog Action Day to put emphasize on water as basic and important to the lives of everyone. Mentioning the UN MDG, water plays a vital role on the 4 Goals, (MDG 1) Eradication of Hunger and Poverty, (MDG 4) Reduce Child Mortality, (MDG 6) Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases and (MDG 7) Ensure Environmental Sustainability.
In our campaign to achieve the MDGs 1, 4 and 6, water plays a very important role, in Africa children and women who are basically front liners of hunger were forced to bring a water container in their back which weighs more than their weights in order to bring home safe water for their family. But because of the scourging heat of the sun and long walk, some of them end up drinking unsafe water that leads to waterborne diseases and leads to their death because even medical help can hardly reach them. Africa is one of the developing nations that are suffering of safe water scarcity. In the International Decade Action for Water for Life, Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary General give emphasize on the importance of sanitation in regards to water. "Access to sanitation is deeply connected to virtually all the Millennium Development Goals, in particular those involving the environment, education, gender equality and the reduction of child mortality and poverty" he says.
In the Human Development Report 2006 of the United Nation Development Programme, in 2006 there’s only 62% of world population has access to improved sanitation which includes clean water, but the sad part is on the 2015 even we reach the half of sanitation in the MDG Target 10 there is still 1.7 billion people without access of basic sanitation. When we talk about sanitation in water as our campaign for the MDGs 4, 6 and 7, water doesn’t only thirst quencher, but it connects to human hygiene, as mention in the International Decade Action on Water for Life, they emphasized on water as basic and improved sanitation.
Connecting Water and Sanitation, we end up on one of the major reason why water became unsafe and hinders the achievement of sustainable environment. Water pollution is the product of human irresponsibility. Human throws their waste on the water and pollutes it with chemicals, in the end water like seas and rivers as basic source of food can no longer sustain our needs. Sometimes, those chemicals and garbage thrown in the sea and rivers blocks the flow of water, we Filipinos saw the wrath of Ondoy and Pepeng that kills hundreds and leaves thousands homeless.
Sometimes we missed the basics and sometimes we see it not that important because it is not popular as it not shown on headlines on media. Water is a basic human need, but most of us don’t give importance on the conservation and preservation of water. Sadly, for countries who neglect it, doesn’t see how it is precious more than gold in other countries that is facing drought and kills each other just to have water. Let Blog Action Day on Water, be an eye opener along with the campaigns of UNICEF, WWF, GreenPeace, UNDP, WFP and other NGOs that water conservation and preservation is now, not tomorrow neither next month and next year.
The United Nations declares 2005-2015 as International Decade for Action on Water for Life, putting importance on water and how it will affect on the achievement of the United Nations Millennium Development Goal at the same time this is our 2010 Blog Action Day to put emphasize on water as basic and important to the lives of everyone. Mentioning the UN MDG, water plays a vital role on the 4 Goals, (MDG 1) Eradication of Hunger and Poverty, (MDG 4) Reduce Child Mortality, (MDG 6) Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases and (MDG 7) Ensure Environmental Sustainability.
In our campaign to achieve the MDGs 1, 4 and 6, water plays a very important role, in Africa children and women who are basically front liners of hunger were forced to bring a water container in their back which weighs more than their weights in order to bring home safe water for their family. But because of the scourging heat of the sun and long walk, some of them end up drinking unsafe water that leads to waterborne diseases and leads to their death because even medical help can hardly reach them. Africa is one of the developing nations that are suffering of safe water scarcity. In the International Decade Action for Water for Life, Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary General give emphasize on the importance of sanitation in regards to water. "Access to sanitation is deeply connected to virtually all the Millennium Development Goals, in particular those involving the environment, education, gender equality and the reduction of child mortality and poverty" he says.
In the Human Development Report 2006 of the United Nation Development Programme, in 2006 there’s only 62% of world population has access to improved sanitation which includes clean water, but the sad part is on the 2015 even we reach the half of sanitation in the MDG Target 10 there is still 1.7 billion people without access of basic sanitation. When we talk about sanitation in water as our campaign for the MDGs 4, 6 and 7, water doesn’t only thirst quencher, but it connects to human hygiene, as mention in the International Decade Action on Water for Life, they emphasized on water as basic and improved sanitation.
Connecting Water and Sanitation, we end up on one of the major reason why water became unsafe and hinders the achievement of sustainable environment. Water pollution is the product of human irresponsibility. Human throws their waste on the water and pollutes it with chemicals, in the end water like seas and rivers as basic source of food can no longer sustain our needs. Sometimes, those chemicals and garbage thrown in the sea and rivers blocks the flow of water, we Filipinos saw the wrath of Ondoy and Pepeng that kills hundreds and leaves thousands homeless.
Sometimes we missed the basics and sometimes we see it not that important because it is not popular as it not shown on headlines on media. Water is a basic human need, but most of us don’t give importance on the conservation and preservation of water. Sadly, for countries who neglect it, doesn’t see how it is precious more than gold in other countries that is facing drought and kills each other just to have water. Let Blog Action Day on Water, be an eye opener along with the campaigns of UNICEF, WWF, GreenPeace, UNDP, WFP and other NGOs that water conservation and preservation is now, not tomorrow neither next month and next year.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
MDG 6: Spreading Awareness, Not the Virus
Last May 2010, a news from Malawi caught the attention of HIV/AIDS advocates and UNAIDS where a gay couple (Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga) was sentenced with 14 years imprisonment with criminal charges of "indecent practices between males" and "unnatural offenses." Both were jailed in December 2009 and released after five months after charges against them were cleared. In some countries in Africa, homosexual relationships are considered a criminal case, and UNAIDS opposes the idea of criminalizing individuals because of sexual orientation. With this kind of mindset towards the third sex, who mostly are victims of HIV/AIDS aside from the sex workers and drug addicts, it hampers the campaign of UNAIDS, HIV/AIDS advocates and non-government organizations (NGOs) to prevent the spread of the virus from one “unknown” victim to another because they were forced to go underground of the fear to be imprisoned.
Combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases are part of the United Nation Millennium Development Goal and it falls to number 6. In spite of the new technologies and “freedom” for most nations, the others see people living with AIDS as “modern lepers,” some still thinks that the virus can be transferred through sharing of public toilet, shaking hands, sweat and even just talking to the person. This is how I see it in countries that impose travel restrictions to those who are infected with the virus. It is a form of discrimination for these countries, despite having signed and agreed on the creation of UN MDG in 2010, where combating diseases, especially AIDS, were mentioned.
In the 122nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union last March 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand, UNAIDS appealed to the remaining 52 countries that have oppressive travel restrictions against people with AIDS, to lift these conditions. Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS challenges the leaders to encourage their legislators in creating a law that will safeguard the rights and welfare of people living with AIDS.
In countries like the Philippines, there are NGOs and certain health centers that offer minimal cost medical check-ups in order to test if a patient is positive or not with HIV. Former Department of Health Secretary and now the Senior Health Adviser of United Nations Population Funds (UNFPA), Dr. Esperanza Cabral went out at the streets of Metro Manila during the Valentine’s Day to distribute condoms and informed everyone on how they can prevent the spread of the virus. The Philippines has Republic Act 8504 or The Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998, where it states that the law will defend the HIV/AIDS patients from any form of discrimination from workplace, schools, hospital, and other establishments. We may have laws like RA 8504 but in reality, the said act is weak and discrimination is rampant in some offices and establishments.
The challenge for this year’s Stand-Up Take Action and Make Noise for the MDGs is call on leaders who are going on the UN Assembly in New York to create an international policy that will strengthen the rights of people living with AIDS and lift the travel restrictions. For leaders to allocate budget for information drive and testing where their countrymen will have full awareness about HIV/AIDS and to become responsible by spreading awareness to the society, and enlighten them to help prevent spreading the said virus.
***
For HIV/AIDS testing, you may visit Social Hygiene Clinic - Manila Health Department at2nd Floor,208 Quiricada Street, Sta. Cruz, Manila. For inquiries, please call +63(2)711-6942 and look for Dra. Diana Mendoza or Ms. Malou Tan, Mondays to Fridays , from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You can also call the Philippine National AIDS Council (PNAC) at +63(2)7438301 local 2553 for counseling. Some of the accredited HIV/AIDS treatment hubs include Philippine General Hospital (PGH - contact number +63(2)5218450), San Lazaro Hospital (SLH - contact number +63(2)7408301 local 6000), and Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM - contact number +63(2)8072628 local 801). For other AIDS hotlines you may call the following: Lunduyan Foundation INC at +63(2)4214953, Pinoy Plus Association INC at +63(2)5244507, Remedios AIDS Foundation INC at +63(2)5240924, and Positive Action Foundation Philippines INC at +63(2)8326239.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
MDG 1: Standing Up for the 1 Billion Hungry
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WFP and FAO launch the campaign “1 Billion Hungry” to educate everyone about the present situation of those who are under extreme poverty and victims of calamities such as drought that are facing hunger. This campaign takes part on the quest of the United Nation Millennium Campaign (UNMC) to achieve MDG number 1, which is eradication of poverty and hunger. Three-fourths of the world’s population is experiencing chronic hunger, especially in Asia and the Pacific and Sub-Sahara Africa regions. The campaign involves hunger fighters, advocates, and individuals to take part with this advocacy to be part of the one billion people who will stand up for the one billion hungry and reaching out to them. A signature campaign is currently ongoing on FAO’s website (http://www.1billionhungry.org) as sign of support.; There are also donation pages at WFP’s website (http://www.wfp.org) to raise funds to support their projects that include nutrition for children and pregnant women who are front liners of hunger, school meal, calamity and agricultural support.
WFP also opened its donation page to Paypal users for easy transfer of financial support for its projects. For every five dollars donated, it would give healthy school meals for a child, or $25 dollars could provide nutritious food for a new mother and her child.
On September 20 to 22, world leaders will convene at the United Nations headquarters in New York for the UN MDG Summit. Leaders from nations that are facing chronic hunger should have concrete and comprehensive projects from their countrymen, and at the same time, establish global relationship to strengthen the support coming from developed nations. The countdown towards 2015 begins as MDG 1 challenges us on how we would fight hunger, and be part of the one billion people helping the one billion hungry. As FAO and WFP said, “One billion people live in chronic hunger and I’m mad as hell.” Let’s be aware of it, stand up, take action, and make noise to achieve MDG 1!
Thursday, September 16, 2010
When people begins to Stand Up, Take Action and Be Heard for the MDGs
This year’s Stand Up and Take Action to End Poverty campaign (SUTA) of the United Nations, organized by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN Millennium Campaign (UNMC) and various UN agencies, is very special since this is a pre-event for the upcoming UN Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Summit, which will be held on 21st to 22nd of September, 2010 at New York.
Happening on September 17-19, 2010, the goal for this year’s SUTA is to make noise or making the world leaders hear the concerns of the people who want the MDGs to be fulfilled. Aside from making noise, SUTA would like to encourage all the citizens to take action by joining other MDG advocates to monitor their leaders and government offices with their implementation of their projects that will help to eradicate poverty and hunger, achieve and promote universal primary education, to lessen child mortality rate, promote gender equality, execute comprehensive maternal care, combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, to have sustainable environment, and to establish strong global relationship among nations.
In my two years of supporting the MDG campaign of the United Nations and working with various UN agencies as an advocate such as in World Food Programme (WFP), UNAIDS, UNDP, non-government organizations such as WWF-Philippines, Greenpeace Philippines, Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines (DSWP), Probe Foundation’s Mulat Pinoy, Philippine Legislators' Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD), Philippine National AIDS Council (PNAC) and other much more,I saw the issue the pertinent issues that pertain mostly to human rights, health and the effects of climate change to the humanity. I would like to emphasize on the 50 peso test (US$1.25 test) of UN Millennium Campaign (UNMC), where I was one of those who took the challenge on how a person can live for a day with that amount of money. However in reality, 50 pesos is not for a single person, but for a family with four to five members. I had doubts on how 50 pesos could provide the family members with decent food and shelter, provide children with right nutrition, education and health care and same with the maternal care that women needs especially those who is bearing a child.
According to United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA) in its Women Delivers Congress, everyday there are 11 mothers around the world that die during child bearing. Like other reproductive health advocates, I believe that mothers should not die in giving birth. Sadly, in developing nations like the Philippines, the number and the equipment in health centers are not sufficient to serve its patients. In the case of the Philippines, there are only 9 health centers from every 13-15 urban or rural barangays (villages).
Aside from maternal and child healthcare, one of the major concerns of the MDG is the eradication of hunger and poverty. WFP and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of UN launched the 1 Billion Hungry campaign to let the world know that there are more than a billion hungry mouths to feed and most of them are children and women. The campaign challenges individuals to take part and aid the hungry, and everyone has the chance to start that change.
Same challenge that UNAIDS calls individuals and advocates spreading awareness and not the virus in combating HIV/AIDS. With the mindset of “modern lepers” toward the people with AIDS, UNAIDS and other NGOs are faced with the problem on how to halt the spread of virus, like in the case of Malawi where they imprisoned a gay couple because of the sexual preference and other countries imposing travel restrictions to those who had the virus. In the 110th Parliamentary Assembly in Bangkok, Thailand, one of the challenges that were raised to the leaders was to put down travel restrictions and impose a law that would safeguard the welfare of people with AIDS.
Each one has the responsibility to take part in making poverty, history. Let’s all Stand Up to show unity, Take Action on issues concerning their respective nations, and Make Noise so that their leaders going to the UN Summit will hear and have no excuses not to fulfill their promise. 2015 is just a few sleeps away!
Visit www.standupphilippines.ph to get updates on the SUTA 2010 here in the Philippines and www.endpoverty2010.org for our campaign towards the 2015 MDG deadline.
Happening on September 17-19, 2010, the goal for this year’s SUTA is to make noise or making the world leaders hear the concerns of the people who want the MDGs to be fulfilled. Aside from making noise, SUTA would like to encourage all the citizens to take action by joining other MDG advocates to monitor their leaders and government offices with their implementation of their projects that will help to eradicate poverty and hunger, achieve and promote universal primary education, to lessen child mortality rate, promote gender equality, execute comprehensive maternal care, combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, to have sustainable environment, and to establish strong global relationship among nations.
In my two years of supporting the MDG campaign of the United Nations and working with various UN agencies as an advocate such as in World Food Programme (WFP), UNAIDS, UNDP, non-government organizations such as WWF-Philippines, Greenpeace Philippines, Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines (DSWP), Probe Foundation’s Mulat Pinoy, Philippine Legislators' Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD), Philippine National AIDS Council (PNAC) and other much more,I saw the issue the pertinent issues that pertain mostly to human rights, health and the effects of climate change to the humanity. I would like to emphasize on the 50 peso test (US$1.25 test) of UN Millennium Campaign (UNMC), where I was one of those who took the challenge on how a person can live for a day with that amount of money. However in reality, 50 pesos is not for a single person, but for a family with four to five members. I had doubts on how 50 pesos could provide the family members with decent food and shelter, provide children with right nutrition, education and health care and same with the maternal care that women needs especially those who is bearing a child.
According to United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA) in its Women Delivers Congress, everyday there are 11 mothers around the world that die during child bearing. Like other reproductive health advocates, I believe that mothers should not die in giving birth. Sadly, in developing nations like the Philippines, the number and the equipment in health centers are not sufficient to serve its patients. In the case of the Philippines, there are only 9 health centers from every 13-15 urban or rural barangays (villages).
Aside from maternal and child healthcare, one of the major concerns of the MDG is the eradication of hunger and poverty. WFP and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of UN launched the 1 Billion Hungry campaign to let the world know that there are more than a billion hungry mouths to feed and most of them are children and women. The campaign challenges individuals to take part and aid the hungry, and everyone has the chance to start that change.
Same challenge that UNAIDS calls individuals and advocates spreading awareness and not the virus in combating HIV/AIDS. With the mindset of “modern lepers” toward the people with AIDS, UNAIDS and other NGOs are faced with the problem on how to halt the spread of virus, like in the case of Malawi where they imprisoned a gay couple because of the sexual preference and other countries imposing travel restrictions to those who had the virus. In the 110th Parliamentary Assembly in Bangkok, Thailand, one of the challenges that were raised to the leaders was to put down travel restrictions and impose a law that would safeguard the welfare of people with AIDS.
Each one has the responsibility to take part in making poverty, history. Let’s all Stand Up to show unity, Take Action on issues concerning their respective nations, and Make Noise so that their leaders going to the UN Summit will hear and have no excuses not to fulfill their promise. 2015 is just a few sleeps away!
Visit www.standupphilippines.ph to get updates on the SUTA 2010 here in the Philippines and www.endpoverty2010.org for our campaign towards the 2015 MDG deadline.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
UN Millennium Campaign launches 2010 Stand Up, Take Action Campaign
Manila, Philippines, August 16, 2010–The United Nations (UN) system in the Philippines launched the 2010 Stand Up, Take Action campaign on August 11, 2010 to push the government to accelerate progress on the achievement of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The MDGs are eight goals that world leaders committed to achieving by 2015 during the MDG Summit in New York in 2000. The MDGs are eight concrete, specific, and time-bound targets on improving the lives of the world’s poorest people. These goals are: 1) end extreme poverty and hunger; 2) achieve universal primary education; 3) promote gender equality and empower women; 4) reduce child mortality; 5) improve maternal health; 6) combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; 7) ensure environmental sustainability; and 8) develop a global partnership for development.
Stand Up, Take Action is a global initiative against poverty that mobilizes citizens all over the world to compel their world leaders to achieve the eight MDGs by 2015, as committed in the Millennium Declaration signed in 2000.
“The year 2010 is very special because it marks the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Millennium Development Goals Declaration. It also signals the beginning of the five years left for the Philippines to fulfill its commitment to put an end to poverty and hunger and other development challenges, such as lack of access to education, high child and maternal mortality rate, diseases and environmental destruction by 2015,” said Dr. Jacqueline Badcock, Resident Coordinator of the UN System in the Philippines.
Dr. Leonor Briones, Social Watch Philippines lead convenor, discussed the importance of localizing the MDGs. “When the first report from the government on the MDGs came out, we insisted that the MDGs be localized. We insisted that the overall figures be broken down in terms of regions, in terms of provinces, in terms of municipalities,” Briones said. She emphasized the role of local governments and the citizens in achieving the MDGs. “In the experience of Social Watch, we have been most successful when we partnered with local government officials.” Dr. Briones reported that analyzing the 33 percent national level of poverty, the poorest regions in Mindanao have poverty levels that goes as high as 97 percent where mostly indigenous and Muslim people reside. National figures do not automatically reflect the actual state of the MDGs.
“There are still many people who do not have the notion of a national government or a national budget, even the Millennium Development Goals,” Briones revealed. “The Millennium Development Goals is not for showing off in the United Nations. The MDGs are for us.The MDGs are for the Filipino people.”
The UN Millennium Campaign in the Philippines has declared September 13 to 19 as MDG Week, during which various Stand Up, Take Action activities will be spearheaded by socio-civic and private organizations nationwide as part of a concerted, multilateral effort to push for the achievement of the MDGs. Among the marquee events identified are: the weeklong exhibits and discussions at the House of Representatives, the launch of the Citizen’s MDG Report, the Bike for MDGs, simultaneous reading of the Khutba in Mindanao, and the nationwide noise-making activity called the “Make-a-Noise for the MDGs Day,” to be held at exactly 12 noon on September 18. The Stand Up, Take Action campaign will conclude with the MyStreet Party, to be held on the same day at the Ayala, Makati grounds.
With this year’s theme of citizen-led monitoring of the MDGs, Jaime Garchitorena, founding member of Young Public Servants, also launched the MyStreet Portal, a web-based tool that aims to become the collaborative platform for local government units, national government, civil society organizations, media and citizens to monitor the MDGs through the delivery of basic goods and services at the local level.
The Philippine government, represented by Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman also signified its commitment to achieve the MDGs. Sec. Soliman recognized the actual state of the Philippines in terms of the development of MDGs. She presented the major government initiatives to address the issues of poverty, social injustice, and employment among other social crises in the country including the Conditional Cash Transfer program, convergence of key projects led by different government agencies and empowerment of people to improve their socio-economic status. These are just the very basic social protection measures to address the MDGs. According to Sec. Soliman, “What I think we need to work on in addition to the convergence and complementation of my co-servants in government is precisely active citizenship in helping us monitor all these programs that I have just talked about.”
As a symbol of commitment and unified efforts to achieve the MDGs by 2015, UN representative Dr. Jacqueline Badcock, CSO representative Dr. Leonor Briones, and government representative Sec. Dinky Soliman, participated in the ceremonial Millennium Development Goal Countdown to the 2015 UN Review Summit.
The MDGs are eight goals that world leaders committed to achieving by 2015 during the MDG Summit in New York in 2000. The MDGs are eight concrete, specific, and time-bound targets on improving the lives of the world’s poorest people. These goals are: 1) end extreme poverty and hunger; 2) achieve universal primary education; 3) promote gender equality and empower women; 4) reduce child mortality; 5) improve maternal health; 6) combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; 7) ensure environmental sustainability; and 8) develop a global partnership for development.
(UN Resident Coordinator Jacqueline Badcock, Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman and Social Watch Lead Convenor Leonor Briones)
Stand Up, Take Action is a global initiative against poverty that mobilizes citizens all over the world to compel their world leaders to achieve the eight MDGs by 2015, as committed in the Millennium Declaration signed in 2000.
“The year 2010 is very special because it marks the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Millennium Development Goals Declaration. It also signals the beginning of the five years left for the Philippines to fulfill its commitment to put an end to poverty and hunger and other development challenges, such as lack of access to education, high child and maternal mortality rate, diseases and environmental destruction by 2015,” said Dr. Jacqueline Badcock, Resident Coordinator of the UN System in the Philippines.
Dr. Leonor Briones, Social Watch Philippines lead convenor, discussed the importance of localizing the MDGs. “When the first report from the government on the MDGs came out, we insisted that the MDGs be localized. We insisted that the overall figures be broken down in terms of regions, in terms of provinces, in terms of municipalities,” Briones said. She emphasized the role of local governments and the citizens in achieving the MDGs. “In the experience of Social Watch, we have been most successful when we partnered with local government officials.” Dr. Briones reported that analyzing the 33 percent national level of poverty, the poorest regions in Mindanao have poverty levels that goes as high as 97 percent where mostly indigenous and Muslim people reside. National figures do not automatically reflect the actual state of the MDGs.
“There are still many people who do not have the notion of a national government or a national budget, even the Millennium Development Goals,” Briones revealed. “The Millennium Development Goals is not for showing off in the United Nations. The MDGs are for us.The MDGs are for the Filipino people.”
The UN Millennium Campaign in the Philippines has declared September 13 to 19 as MDG Week, during which various Stand Up, Take Action activities will be spearheaded by socio-civic and private organizations nationwide as part of a concerted, multilateral effort to push for the achievement of the MDGs. Among the marquee events identified are: the weeklong exhibits and discussions at the House of Representatives, the launch of the Citizen’s MDG Report, the Bike for MDGs, simultaneous reading of the Khutba in Mindanao, and the nationwide noise-making activity called the “Make-a-Noise for the MDGs Day,” to be held at exactly 12 noon on September 18. The Stand Up, Take Action campaign will conclude with the MyStreet Party, to be held on the same day at the Ayala, Makati grounds.
With this year’s theme of citizen-led monitoring of the MDGs, Jaime Garchitorena, founding member of Young Public Servants, also launched the MyStreet Portal, a web-based tool that aims to become the collaborative platform for local government units, national government, civil society organizations, media and citizens to monitor the MDGs through the delivery of basic goods and services at the local level.
The Philippine government, represented by Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman also signified its commitment to achieve the MDGs. Sec. Soliman recognized the actual state of the Philippines in terms of the development of MDGs. She presented the major government initiatives to address the issues of poverty, social injustice, and employment among other social crises in the country including the Conditional Cash Transfer program, convergence of key projects led by different government agencies and empowerment of people to improve their socio-economic status. These are just the very basic social protection measures to address the MDGs. According to Sec. Soliman, “What I think we need to work on in addition to the convergence and complementation of my co-servants in government is precisely active citizenship in helping us monitor all these programs that I have just talked about.”
As a symbol of commitment and unified efforts to achieve the MDGs by 2015, UN representative Dr. Jacqueline Badcock, CSO representative Dr. Leonor Briones, and government representative Sec. Dinky Soliman, participated in the ceremonial Millennium Development Goal Countdown to the 2015 UN Review Summit.
Friday, August 13, 2010
CSOs, UN, Philippine Government meet to fast-track achievement of MDGs
Manila, Philippines, August 13, 2010–With almost a month left before the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Review +10 Summit in New York, civil society organizations (CSOs) led by the United Nations Civil Society Advisory Committee (UN-CSAC), Caucus of Development NGO Networks (CODE-NGO) and Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) held a three-day consultation on August 2-4 with Philippine government officials, the UN and development partners to come up with strategies to fast-track the achievement of the MDGs.
Organized in partnership with the MDG Achievement Fund (MDG-F), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Millennium Campaign, the tri-sectoral conference aimed at providing an alternative roadmap for the country’s development through inputs to the Midterm Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP).
“With [President] Benigno Aquino’s mantle of leadership, the table is set and the doors have reopened for meaningful engagement of all sectors of society,” said Veronica Villavicencio, UN-CSAC member and Executive Director of the Peace and Equity Foundation, in her welcome remarks during the event. “We come together as interested parties and advocates in crafting the MTPDP 2011-2016 and collaborators to move financing for the MDGs in its final achievement stretch up to 2015.”
The CSO proposals were presented to the National Economic and Development Authority and other government agencies including the Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Agrarian Reform and the Department of Budget and Management; the UN Resident Coordinator Jacqueline Badcock; representatives of the Australian Agency for International Development, European Union and various UN donor and partner agencies.
Among the key recommendations were the expansion of the Conditional Cash Transfer program for the poorest of the poor, which should be clearly linked to job and livelihood generation, as well as asset reform programs to ensure sustainability, and increased and automatic appropriations for education, health and mass housing.
The recommendations also incorporated elements of the CSO Charter for accelerating MDG achievement which was drafted during the Asia-Pacific CSO consultation held on 1-2 August in Jakarta, Indonesia. The CSO Charter served as input for the Special Ministerial Meeting for the MDGs Review in Asia and the Pacific which was held last August 3-4 in Jakarta, showing that the Philippines is facing the same issues being confronted by the Region.
The CSO Charter include core messages pushing for the accelerated achievement of the MDGs through an MDG Breakthrough Plan, the MDG’s focus on the vulnerable such women and their children, indigenous peoples, and the socially excluded, and the importance a citizen-led monitoring accountability process to address accountability and transparency issues in the government.
Government agencies were asked to respond to the assessment and recommendations of the civil society sector.
According to Florencio “Butch” Abad, Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management, “We want the budget to benefit the poor in a substantial way.” Secretary Abad further emphasized the Department’s commitment to transparency, echoing the Aquino administration’s flagship goals of good governance, accountability and transparency while urging more active citizen monitoring and participation in the planning and budgeting process.
The results of the tripartite consultation will be the basis of the Alternative Roadmap for MDG Progress, which will be launched on September 13, 2010. The document will be turned over to the President to contribute to the development of the new MTPDP.
“It must be noted that MDGs are inter-related goals that cannot be fully achieved separately,” said Jacqueline Badcock, UN Resident Coordinator. “We may have to cram fifteen years of development efforts into five years. Still, I am confident that with all of us working together, the MDGs can still happen in this country.”
The MDGs are eight specific, concrete and time-bound goals that 189 world leaders committed to achieving by 2015. These goals are: 1) end extreme poverty and hunger; 2) achieve universal primary education; 3) promote gender equality and empower women; 4) reduce child mortality; 5) improve maternal health; 6) combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; 7) ensure environmental sustainability; and 8) develop a global partnership for development.
Organized in partnership with the MDG Achievement Fund (MDG-F), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Millennium Campaign, the tri-sectoral conference aimed at providing an alternative roadmap for the country’s development through inputs to the Midterm Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP).
“With [President] Benigno Aquino’s mantle of leadership, the table is set and the doors have reopened for meaningful engagement of all sectors of society,” said Veronica Villavicencio, UN-CSAC member and Executive Director of the Peace and Equity Foundation, in her welcome remarks during the event. “We come together as interested parties and advocates in crafting the MTPDP 2011-2016 and collaborators to move financing for the MDGs in its final achievement stretch up to 2015.”
The CSO proposals were presented to the National Economic and Development Authority and other government agencies including the Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Agrarian Reform and the Department of Budget and Management; the UN Resident Coordinator Jacqueline Badcock; representatives of the Australian Agency for International Development, European Union and various UN donor and partner agencies.
Among the key recommendations were the expansion of the Conditional Cash Transfer program for the poorest of the poor, which should be clearly linked to job and livelihood generation, as well as asset reform programs to ensure sustainability, and increased and automatic appropriations for education, health and mass housing.
The recommendations also incorporated elements of the CSO Charter for accelerating MDG achievement which was drafted during the Asia-Pacific CSO consultation held on 1-2 August in Jakarta, Indonesia. The CSO Charter served as input for the Special Ministerial Meeting for the MDGs Review in Asia and the Pacific which was held last August 3-4 in Jakarta, showing that the Philippines is facing the same issues being confronted by the Region.
The CSO Charter include core messages pushing for the accelerated achievement of the MDGs through an MDG Breakthrough Plan, the MDG’s focus on the vulnerable such women and their children, indigenous peoples, and the socially excluded, and the importance a citizen-led monitoring accountability process to address accountability and transparency issues in the government.
Government agencies were asked to respond to the assessment and recommendations of the civil society sector.
According to Florencio “Butch” Abad, Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management, “We want the budget to benefit the poor in a substantial way.” Secretary Abad further emphasized the Department’s commitment to transparency, echoing the Aquino administration’s flagship goals of good governance, accountability and transparency while urging more active citizen monitoring and participation in the planning and budgeting process.
The results of the tripartite consultation will be the basis of the Alternative Roadmap for MDG Progress, which will be launched on September 13, 2010. The document will be turned over to the President to contribute to the development of the new MTPDP.
“It must be noted that MDGs are inter-related goals that cannot be fully achieved separately,” said Jacqueline Badcock, UN Resident Coordinator. “We may have to cram fifteen years of development efforts into five years. Still, I am confident that with all of us working together, the MDGs can still happen in this country.”
The MDGs are eight specific, concrete and time-bound goals that 189 world leaders committed to achieving by 2015. These goals are: 1) end extreme poverty and hunger; 2) achieve universal primary education; 3) promote gender equality and empower women; 4) reduce child mortality; 5) improve maternal health; 6) combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; 7) ensure environmental sustainability; and 8) develop a global partnership for development.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Let’s Walk the World to End Hunger on June 6
On June 6, join hunger fighters and advocates of the World Food Programme as we start the annual walk to create awareness of one of the major problem in the society and that is hunger. Aside from the awareness campaign is that it will raise funds that will support WFP efforts in reaching of malnourished children and mothers around the world.There are 200 countries participating in this event including the Philippines where it happen in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, participants will pay P250 for registration fee where they will get singlets and certificates from WFP-Philippines for the Fun Run on this event. All collected funds will be used for the WFP-PH projects. For individuals and group who wanted to join the event here in the Philippines visit http://www.walktheworld-pilipinas.org/.
For other countries like Brazil, USA, Canada, Italy, Ghana and other countries who participate actively on WFP campaign can visit http://walktheworld.wfp.org/ to know more of the project. WFP also invites those who cannot join the event by walking virtually; they can donate online and post their photos on the wall of WFP’s Virtual Walk http://walktheworld.wfp.org/wall.
The issue of hunger falls in United Nation Millennium Development Goal # 1; Eradication of Hunger and Poverty, a serious global problem that affects almost three-fourths of the world especially the developing country. We had seen Haiti, Africa, India and even the Philippines. Hunger is a global issue that everyone is involved and there is no way that you cannot take part of this global campaign to end hunger and giving hope to all children and mothers in all parts of the world. Let’s stand up and take action by start walking to END HUNGER.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
I Vote for the fulfillment for the UN Millennium Developmental Goals
May 10, 2010 marks the date for the Philippine Election and this election like in other countries that happen this year the elected president will be playing a very important role that will shape the fulfillment of the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) or also known in the campaign End Poverty 2015.This will not be a political party promotion or a campaign for someone who is running. 2010 marks the last 5 years of the campaign and it is important that anyone who will be sitting on the position knows what the MDGs are and how they will lead their nation to eradicate hunger along with the remaining 7 MDGs.Here are the 8 United Nation Millennium Developmental Goals created last September 2000 with the 189 member-states of UN, headed by the former UN Secretary General Koffi Annan now replaced by Ban Ki-moon:
1. Eradication of Extreme Poverty and Hunger – In 2005, 1.4 billion people or one quarter of the population of the developing world where Philippines in included, lived below the international poverty line, or less than $ 1.25 a day in 2005 prices. The $1.25 dollar is 45-50 pesos in Philippine money where if budgeted it cannot give a decent meal to the family of 4-5 members. Most of them, fathers doesn’t have decent regular job, and they mostly live as informal settlers or worse on street.2. Achieve Universal Primary Education – In the developing nation, net enrolment in primary education reaches 88% in 2007 and declines to 83% in 2000. In a country like the Philippines that has high literacy rate, the number of the population of children moving from Grade 1 to Grade 2 drops, and worse from the population of children there 53% who are not even enrolled in the first grade. Aside from the drop out is the quality of education that degenerates because of the lack of competent teachers that is able to teach the children and even the facilities in schools which includes decent classroom and educational references and kits.
3. Promote Gender Equality and Women Empowerment – The aim of MDG # 3 is to eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education in other countries. Also the issue of women being discriminated from employment to avoid maternal related cases that will affect the company operations. In the Philippines the issue of domestic violence remains and hard to confront by the government even there are laws concerning this matter. Domestic violence doesn’t only pertain to women as victims, in some cases men are the fatalities of this vehemence. There are laws that will solve this case the government is weak to go beyond the walls of “home” or the private lives of the couple.
4. Reduce Child Mortality – In developing regions as a whole, the under-five mortality rate decreased from 99 deaths per thousand live births in 1990 and 77 in 2008. Child mortality is one of the effects of poverty where family cannot afford of bring their children to doctors for medication or checkups. The scarcity of health centers in some barangays contributes on problems like this.
5. Improve Maternal Health – In developing countries maternal mortality declined or marginally from 480 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1990 to 450 per 100,000 live births in 2005. Despite of the partial improvement, I believe that women should not die in giving life. There is no concrete law that will guide women in their maternal rights and health and sometimes even the Catholic Church opposes the formulation of possible laws like the reproductive health bill that promotes the use of artificial contraception where the church is promoting the natural method of “contraception”.
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and other diseases – Globally, the new HIV infection rate increases from an estimated peak of 3.5 million in 1996 to 2.7 million in 2008, a decline of 30%. In the case of the Philippines there increase in the population of people living with AIDS, and most of infected case were men who had same sex contact. The controversial Department of Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral receives woes from the Catholic Church and other conservative groups when she gives away condom during Valentine’s Day.
7. Environmental Sustainability – MDG # 7 aims to integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programs and reverse the loss of environmental resources. But during the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark last December shows that there are no concrete plans that will be implemented on the decrease of carbon emission in all states and countries by 2%, sadly there are no mitigation plans created along the guidelines for adaptation and policies. Philippines is one of the developing countries who faced the wrath of nature where Luzon submerge from heavy rainfalls during Typhoon Ondoy and Pepeng. Hundreds died, wounded and lost their homes.
8. Global Partnership – the partnership of developed and developing countries should be open, rule-based, predictable, non-discriminatory trading and financial system. But during the recession even the powerful and first-world countries suffers and encounter hardship in partnering with developing countries.
Sadly, while I am writing this blog reports on some polling machines were burned along with schools were it was delivered, while in some part of the country there people who died because of political rivalry. Most of us do vote because of political affinity, and we are missing the real issue in our country. I already have my candidates, but the most important is that instead naming my candidates here is having the statement that everyone should be having in their mind not only for the Filipinos, but everyone around the world and that is I vote for the eradication of hunger and poverty, I vote to achieve universal primary education, I vote for gender equality, I vote for a proper children and maternal health care, I vote to combat AIDS, Malaria and other diseases, I vote to have a sustainable environment, and I vote for a global partnership that we will gain peace and camaraderie among nations. How about you, what's your vote?
Friday, April 23, 2010
Join KC Concepcion and WFP's Auction to Fight Child Hunger in Mindanao
April 23, Manila – KC Concepcion, United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) Philippines Ambassador against Hunger, launches an online auction of personal items on 23 April to raise funds to provide schoolchildren in conflict-affected areas of Mindanao with nutritious meals.With the theme “KC’s Closet Fights Child Hunger,” the auction will include Ms. Concepcion’s personal effects such as bags and dresses featured during some of the important events of her life. The items are available on Ebay Philippines at www.stores.ebay.ph/KCsClosetFightsChildHunger where potential buyers can view the weekly collection. In addition to items from Ms. Concepcion, other celebrity friends will also be joining the cause and auction off their own personal items.
“I am inviting everyone to support this worthy cause. Together we can help give these children who have been affected by the conflict an incentive to attend and stay in school and give them an opportunity for a better future,” said Ms Concepcion.
All proceeds from the auction will support WFP’s Emergency Food for Education program, implemented in close collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, which provides daily hot school meals to 70,000 pupils in the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, and Lanao del Norte.
“WFP is very pleased with our National Ambassador’s personal initiative to help raise money and awareness for our operations in Mindanao. We are very proud of KC’s dedication to actively fight against child hunger,” said Mr. Stephen Anderson, WFP Country Director and Representative.
Additional contributions are urgently needed to enable WFP to reach affected populations with appropriate food support on a sustained basis through a variety of relief and rehabilitation interventions, including support through everyday Food-for-Education activities.
Since 2006, WFP in the Philippines has been supporting conflict-affected populations in Mindanao, and also supports the Government of the Philippines natural disaster response on a case-by-case basis. WFP is also currently providing emergency relief and early recovery assistance for populations in Luzon affected by Tropical Storm Ketsana and Typhoon Pepeng.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
DOH Sec. Cabral on AIDS, Maternal Health, Child Mortality and Church
March 13, Makati City – During the Mulat Pinoy Kapihan series of Philippine Center for Population and Development (PCPD) and the Probe Foundation in Bo’s Coffee in Glorietta 5, Makati City on the topic of population and health, the controversial Department of Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral answered questions concerning HIV/AIDS, maternal health issue and child mortality and her debate with the Catholic Church.
Watch the full video of my interview with DOH Sec. Cabral.
Sec Cabral is a brilliant woman who's in my opinion a champion of women and health care in DOH and know how to stand if it is needed despite of conflict of belief and faith.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
What happened in Copenhagen Summit last year?
March 17, Crowne Plaza, Ortigas Center – In the Second Forum on Climate Change: A Post-Copenhagen Debriefing and Prognosis on the Way Forward, Bernarditas de Casto-Muller, senior negotiator on climate change and South Centre advisor, discussed what really happened on Copenhagen Summit last December 2009 that frustrates all environmentalists and advocates. According to the news, the summit that happened in Denmark was a failure, because there were no clear directions from the world leaders to lessen carbon emissions and other environmental hazards. The biggest disappointment though was that US President Barack Obama didn’t give any clear stand on the issue that developing countries are waiting.
According to Muller, in the 12th Conference of the Parties to the Climate Change Convention (COP 12) in Bali, Indonesia, there’s a comprehensive process to enable the full, effective and sustainable implementation of the Convention through a long-term cooperative action, now, up to beyond 2012, in order to reach an agreed outcome and adopt a decision at the fifteen session. This was indicated in the Bali Action Plan and the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action (AWG-LCA) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. She mentioned that there were five key points/elements that summarized the idea of COP12: shared vision, mitigation, adaptation, technology development and transfer, and provision of financial resources. The ultimate objective of COP was stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate change. In the case of the Philippines, its meant to limit below 2 degrees Celsius temperature increase. Unfortunately, it is too late to prevent the 2 degree Celsius limit of increase. The only thing that we can do now is adaptation through the use of technology and proper financing for mitigation plans.
According to Muller, the perceptions on COP 15 in Copenhagen, Denmark were:
* Had numerous routes and byways: G8/MEF; G20; bilateral meetings; “vulnerable countries”; the “circle commitment”; funded “consultants” of developing countries
* Waiting for the US
* Killing Kyoto?
* Developed countries stalling at negotiating tables
* Myth and message to media: “G77 is blocking the negotiations”
* Block negotiations and if everything else fails “Blame China”
According to Muller the reasons on the failure of Copenhagen were:
* A travesty of the intergovernmental process with no respect for the sovereign of States
* Exclusion of Parties: Climate change affects all countries, and most of all, poor, developing countries: given one hour to decide their future
* No transparency of procedures
* Made a parody of negotiations
* Ministers, & in particular Presidents, do not negotiate
* Nobody can act for all countries but only their own
The COP decision to “take note of” of the accord:
* Recognizes “scientific view” of limit of temperature increase below 2 C
* Only “pledge and review” of emissions reductions for the developed countries
* Disconnect between pledges and achievement of “scientific view”
* Denial of historical responsibilities means denial of commitments on financing and technology, the hey to the balance of common but differentiated responsibilities
(The objective of COP15)
Muller strongly claimed that the developing countries are experiencing the effect of climate change and also the developed countries. In the case of COP, it is hard for a leader to decide for the whole world because he or she can only speak for his or her country and that is the dilemma in COP. However, Muller remained is positive for the COP16 at the Cancun, Mexico on November 29 to December 10, 2010 which would continue to undermine the inter-governmental process and work out agreements at the bilateral, regional, or issue-focused meetings to strengthen the accord on adaptation, mitigation, financing and technology transfer. Climate Change falls on the category of United Nation Millennium Developmental Goal # 7: Environmental Sustainability.
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