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U.N. drawing blueprint to halve world poverty
Mon Jul 1, 5:10 PM ET
By JIM KRANE, Associated Press Writer
UNITED NATIONS - In 2000, the United Nations ( news - web sites) declared that halving poverty and boosting education had moved from a lofty ideal to a concrete goal.
On Monday, the U.N. announced it was drawing up a road map to get there.
"There's no time to lose," said Jeffrey D. Sachs, the Columbia University economist and a special adviser to U.N. Secretary-general Kofi Annan ( news - web sites). "We can't go on every day with thousands and thousands of people dying because they're too poor to stay alive."
In its September 2000 millennium summit, U.N. member countries agreed to an all-out effort to bring a billion people out of extreme poverty, reverse the spread of HIV ( news - web sites) and malaria and achieve universal primary education ? all by 2015.
For now, the most specific prescriptions have called for the wealthiest 22 countries to double their aid to the poorest ? from dlrs 50 million to dlrs 100 million. The proposal would allow poor countries to spend dlrs 30-40 per person, per year on public health, instead of the current level of dlrs 13 or less.
This effort goes further.
Sachs said he would lead a team of a more than 200 experts in writing a "road map" of 10 volumes, each of which will propose solutions to areas such as disease, lack of education and lack of drinking water.
Sachs promised the reports will name names, excoriating rich countries for tightfisted aid policies and trade barriers that block poor countries' exports. He said the report will also lambaste poor governments whose regimes balk at basic reform.
"We're going to tell it very straight," Sachs said.
The report will be written over three years, with the first volume released later this year. As each volume is released, Sachs said the United Nations will begin pressuring countries to undertake the reforms identified.
Simple advances, like providing clean water and sanitation to the world's poor, could save 20,000 lives a day, Sachs said.
"These problems aren't taking care of themselves, by any means," Sachs said.
U.N. drawing blueprint to halve world poverty
Mon Jul 1, 5:10 PM ET
By JIM KRANE, Associated Press Writer
UNITED NATIONS - In 2000, the United Nations ( news - web sites) declared that halving poverty and boosting education had moved from a lofty ideal to a concrete goal.
On Monday, the U.N. announced it was drawing up a road map to get there.
"There's no time to lose," said Jeffrey D. Sachs, the Columbia University economist and a special adviser to U.N. Secretary-general Kofi Annan ( news - web sites). "We can't go on every day with thousands and thousands of people dying because they're too poor to stay alive."
In its September 2000 millennium summit, U.N. member countries agreed to an all-out effort to bring a billion people out of extreme poverty, reverse the spread of HIV ( news - web sites) and malaria and achieve universal primary education ? all by 2015.
For now, the most specific prescriptions have called for the wealthiest 22 countries to double their aid to the poorest ? from dlrs 50 million to dlrs 100 million. The proposal would allow poor countries to spend dlrs 30-40 per person, per year on public health, instead of the current level of dlrs 13 or less.
This effort goes further.
Sachs said he would lead a team of a more than 200 experts in writing a "road map" of 10 volumes, each of which will propose solutions to areas such as disease, lack of education and lack of drinking water.
Sachs promised the reports will name names, excoriating rich countries for tightfisted aid policies and trade barriers that block poor countries' exports. He said the report will also lambaste poor governments whose regimes balk at basic reform.
"We're going to tell it very straight," Sachs said.
The report will be written over three years, with the first volume released later this year. As each volume is released, Sachs said the United Nations will begin pressuring countries to undertake the reforms identified.
Simple advances, like providing clean water and sanitation to the world's poor, could save 20,000 lives a day, Sachs said.
"These problems aren't taking care of themselves, by any means," Sachs said.
