9 years down. Only 6 more to go. Taking the pulse of the global battle against poverty. Is the world on track to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015? We explore that this week on Listen Up.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: How important are the Millennium Development Goals to you? Email us at listenup@listenuptv.com

For more information on our guests and resources click "Watch Episode" below.

Context

Welcome to 2009! Time does fly. It was in 2000, that the international community vowed to make the world a better place. To combat poverty, hunger, and deadly disease. To improve equality, education and environmental sustainability.

189 nations signed on to what would become known as the Millennium Development Goals – or MDGs.
Now more than half-way to the target date of 2015, is the world on track?

Here at Listen Up we’re exploring that question. We’ll speak with an artist and advocate who's been closely connected with the United Nations and the MDGs for his thoughts on the goals and why they matter. And we’ll hear from front line workers from around the globe for their thoughts on the world's progress.

It was at the United Nations Millennium Summit in September, 2000 that world leaders adopted the Millennium Declaration, pledging to “spare no effort to free our fellow men, women and children from the abject and dehumanizing conditions of extreme poverty.”

Eight, specific time-bound goals would be created. The MDGs.

One year later, UN Secretary General Kofi Anan presented a “road map,” outlining strategies for achieving the goals. Annual reports have measured global progress toward the goals ever since. And now, Listen Up is taking its own measured report.

Guests

William Ho
Artist, Humanitarian
www.williamhoart.com

C.B. Samuel
Poverty Activist, India

Commissioner Christine MacMillan
International Director for Social Justice, Salvation Army

Dr. Jean Chamberlain Froese
Founder, Save the Mothers
www.savethemothers.org

Paul Cook
Advocacy Director, Tearfund
www.tearfund.org

Joel Edwards
Director, Micah Challenge International
www.micahchallenge.org

Resources

What are the MDGs?
www.un.org/millenniumgoals
www.un.org/millenniumgoals/2008highlevel/pdf/newsroom/MDG%20Overview%20FINAL.pdf

What is our progress?
www.un.org/millenniumgoals/2008highlevel/pdf/newsroom/MDG_Report_2008_Progress_Chart_en_r8.pdf

How can I help?
www.un.org/millenniumgoals/takeaction.shtml

www.makepovertyhistory.org or www.makepovertyhistory.ca/

www.micahchallenge.org/english/do/aim2/

What Tony Blair has to say about the MDGs
http://tonyblairfaithfoundation.org/projects/faiths-act/

Bill Gates Addresses the UN on the MDGs
www.gatesfoundation.org/speeches-commentary/Pages/bill-gates-united-nations-2008.aspx

What Jesus had to say about "making poverty history"
http://www.micahchallenge.org/global/prayer_resources/documents/434.doc 

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