Millenium Development Goals...

I wanted to take a minute to write about something awesome I did this week. I spent Thursday fasting and praying, and it was amazing!

Last Thursday the UN convened for a special, high-level meeting to specifically talk about the Millenium Development Goals. That is HUGE! The UN has a lot to talk about but to this group of powerful world leaders, the MDGs are so important that they felt it best to have a meeting only to speak about them! Awesome. Amazing. and so much more.
So what are the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)? Specifically, they are eight goals:
1. Eradicate 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
8. Create a global partnership for development with targets for aid, trade and debt relief.

But, in reality, the MDGs are so much more. They are a recognition by world leaders that something CAN and SHOULD be done about issues of poverty and inequality. Set for the year 2015, the MDGs are an agreed upon set of goals that can be achieved. Poor countries have pledged to govern better, and invest in their people through health care and education. Rich countries have pledged to support them, through aid, debt relief, and fairer trade.

Countries are not, however, the only groups who have vowed to take action in making these goals a reality. Beginning even before the MDGs were signed in 2000, the Episcopal Church has said the church plays a crucial role in bringing an end to poverty (check out this awesome article about why Christians should care about the MDGs). In 2003 (during the first General Convention after the signing of the MDGs), a resolution was passed that: -endorsed the achievement of the MDGs -challenged all dioceses and congregations in fund development -urged all Episcopalians to contact their elected representatives and advocate that the US government fulfill their agreement.

To continue their support, the Episcopal Church observed last Thursday as a day to Fast, Pray, and Witness. ((For those who have never fasted before, "fasting" is a way to actively pray by choosing to forgo some of our daily pleasures (like three square meals, soda, sweets, or any food at all). When you get hungry or tempted by a cold glass of Coke, you use that emotion to pray for those that do not have such pleasures. It is an amazing way to become spiritually connected to people all over the world. For more information on last Thursday check out this website: http://www.e4gr.org/sept25.html

peace+,
kiera