Noble ideas, feel-good moments
Discussion of MDGs should not come at the expense of
the truth:
For 10 years, numerous committees, international and local
organizations and independent researchers have tirelessly mulled over
all sorts of indicators, numbers, charts and statistical data relating
to extreme poverty and hunger, universal primary education, gender
equality, child mortality, and so on.
Poverty and hunger, road blocks to achieving Millennium
Development Goals. AFP |
The conclusions derived from all the data weren’t necessarily grim.
And the sincerity of the many men and women who have indefatigably
worked to ensure that the eight international development goals - agreed
to by all 192 UN member states and over 20 international organizations –
were fully implemented, cannot in any way be discounted.
They were the ones who brought the issue to the fore, and they
continue to push forward with resolve and determination.
Flawed concept
The problem lies with the concept itself, and with the naive trust
that governments and politicians – whether rich or poor, democratic or
authoritarian, leading global wars or trying to steer clear from the
abyss of famine - could possibly share one common, selfless and
unconditional love for humanity, including the poor, the disadvantaged,
hungry and the ill.
The utopian scenario might be attainable one day, but it certainly
won’t be happening anytime soon. So why commit to such goals, with
specific deadlines and regular reports, if a genuine global consensus is
not achievable? Since its inception, the United Nations has been a
source of two conflicting agendas.
One is undemocratic, and championed by those who wield the veto power
at the Security Council (UNSC). The other is egalitarian, and it’s
embodied in the General Assembly. The latter reflects the global mood
and international opinion much more accurately than the former, which is
largely dictatorial and caters only to power.
As a result, two conflicting sets of ideas and behaviors have emerged
in the past six decades. One imposes sanctions, leads wars and destroys
nations, and the other offers a helping hand, builds a school, and
shelters a refugee.
The latter offers assistance, albeit on a relatively small scale. The
former spreads devastation and destruction on a grand scale.
The Millennium Goals evolved from this very dilemma, which continues
to afflict the United Nations and undermine its noble principles.
For now, MDGs would have to settle for being a true reflection of
peoples’ aspirations, but with little expectation of achievable results.
Being optimistic
That does not mean that there is no good news. On the contrary, there
will always be reasons to compel us to push further towards desired
change. Since September 8, 2000 – the day in which the General Assembly
adopted the Millennium Declaration – many encouraging results have been
reported.
Although the progress, as reported during the 2005 World Summit of
leaders, was still falling short from the target dates, much has been
achieved. On June 23, Charles Abugre, United Nations MDG campaign
Director for Africa presented the 2010 Millennium Development Goals
Report in Berlin. The same report was simultaneously presented in New
York and Paris.
According to its findings, the 2008 food and 2009 financial crises
didn’t stop progress, but they certainly made the goal of reducing
global poverty by half “more difficult to achieve.
“Indeed, significantly less people are reportedly living on less
income, though, according to Aburge, bringing “poverty down to 15
percent of the global population” is less likely.
Aburge has also said that progress has been made throughout the
world, with the distressing exception of Central Asia, which is “ripped
by war and armed conflicts.
“In areas such as child mortality rate and combating epidemics, there
has been little or no progress. More, “environmental degradation
continues at an alarming pace,” according to Abugre.
“CO2 emissions have even increased by almost 50 percent over the past
17 years, and in spite of a minor slowdown in emissions due to the
crisis, are set to increase further.”
It’s important to mention here that some countries are much closer to
succeeding with the MDGs than others. China, for instance, has slashed
the number of its poor by a huge margin, while others have fallen deeper
into poverty.
Individual assessment
While the numbers offer a strong enough reason to maintain a global
push for reducing poverty, there is little evidence to suggest that the
improvement is in any way related to the global pledge of 2000. It may
well be a reflection of the state of affairs of individual countries.
For example, China’s economic progress is hardly related to the
September 2000 meet, and Afghanistan never really opted for the US-NATO
invasion of 2001, which eliminated any realistic chance for the country
to ever meet such seemingly lofty standards.
In its constant search for consensus, the General Assembly’s goals
hardly view development from a critical perspective. They do not take
into account the way in which structural adjustment policies, designed
by international bodies such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
and the World Bank forced poor countries into debt and extreme poverty
in the first place.
They also ignore the way in which rich and powerful countries, in
their quest for military, economic and political dominance ensure the
subordination of poor, politically fragile, and militarily weak
countries.
Of course, delving into the real issues would undermine the futile
search for consensus, threatening the image of the General Assembly.
These are left instead to the Security Council or those members of the
UNSC, whose “opinion” is the only one that truly counts, and who
regularly go on to prescribe decisive and cruel policies.
All of this is not to say that the millennium goals should be
relegated. Every noble effort should be supported and lauded.
But unwarranted optimism can border on folly if one intentionally
ignores the dynamic of lasting change, whether at a micro or macro
levels.
– Third World Network Features. The writer is an
internationally-syndicated columnist and the editor of Palestine
Chronicle.com. |