Millenium Development Goals

The United Nations' Millennium Development Goals aim to reduce poverty and hunger, the spread of disease, and environmental degradation, and to protect women's and children's rights to health and education. These goals, which affect the lives of so many today and in the future, were not unreasonable goals when set in the year 2000. But six years after their adoption, little progress has been made and, at this rate, the targets will not be met by 2015. Why? Global development efforts are never easily achieved, but the world’s wealthier countries could increase the chances of success by making global poverty-reduction a priority.

While the MDGs are not the only means to changing the world, they are a start to addressing many of the most important and worsening crises in the world today. Our committee was inspired to raise awareness on campus about the Goals because we believe that knowledgeable citizens can urge their governments to act more responsibly. In the fall of 2005, we began a campaign to raise awareness about the Goals by putting up flyers around campus and table tents in the dining halls. We held a raffle and began to create an exhibit to display on campus about the MDGs.

This year, our committee will show the exhibit in conjunction with other events on UN Day (October 24). Our goal is to show the Tufts community what a difference reaching the MDGs can make in people's lives.

Our committee is young and open to new ideas, so if you are inspired, we encourage you to join us!

For more information please contact Hannah Flamm