I had learned about the United Nations Millennium Goals in my Human Geography class last year. I remember thinking when I first read the list back in the fall, "WOW..these people have high expectations! This is impossible!" But then I thought, these problems need to be fixed. It is a good thing that they have set the standards so high.
There are 8 goals with the first goal being: Eradicate extreme hunger and poverty.
I am not sure if this one goal will ever be met if the goverment will not step up to the plate.
The remaining goals are all achievable. Such as, achieving universal education and combat HIV/AIDS. I believe that many people in the U.S. can be very selfish and materialistic. We should be activists in playing a huge part in achieving these goals.
I also wanted to share my opinions after viewing PBS News Hour Interview with Jeffery Sachs.
- Sachs states we are not on course to achieve the U.N. Millenium goals right now. However he states that, "We can get on course with modest steps." Sachs continues with
talking about a silent tsunami underway all the time in Africa. Every month 1,500 children die in Africa of Malaria. This disease is preventable by a simple $1 bed net. It is the developed countries obligation to save these children and to distribute medicine. $2 to $3 dollars per person a day could save more than a million lives. Our country needs to at least take small steps towards the direct of irradicating poverty. It is really taking cents off of every paycheck. Americans pride themselves in being one of the most powerful countries in the world. Shouldn't it be our obligation to help the poor who cannot help themselves?
I agree that the government needs to step up to achieve these goals. Other organizations do a great job at helping eliminate poverty, but they do not have the power or resources needed to make a such a large impact with long lasting affects without the hand of the government.
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