Honda Pilot With Snow Plow

40 years of broken promises ... 40 days to make our voice heard!

Akhvlediani of Miranda, a member from Georgia W8

I was born in 1970, the year when the Beatles announced their split the following year that man landed on the moon for the first time.

In the same year the rich countries have promised to give 0.7% of their GDP in aid to support poor countries in providing essential services like health and education to their people.

Since then, Rich countries have promised to help poorer countries achieve the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015, aiming to provide, among other things, clean water, access to treatment and basic medicines and quality education for all.
40 years later, only a handful of countries have achieved the target of 0.7%. The MDGs are far from being achieved. Based on current projections, the MDG number 4, which aims to reduce deaths of children under five by two thirds, will not be achieved until 2045.

If the rich countries have provided what we are committed to giving in 1970, today we have been able to erase poverty in the world (at the level of 2005) for 22 times.
But 2010 is now and every day I meet people who can not afford basic health care and who suffer terribly as a result. I know there are millions of people around the world in a similar situation. I know, for example, that there are still 350 000 women and girls die each year due to complications during childbirth.

40 years of broken promises is unacceptable, we must ask rich nations to keep these commitments. Today missing 40 days at the G8 Summit in Canada , where 8 of the richest and most powerful of the world will gather. These nations have the power to change things, and to ensure that the world is back on track in achieving MDGs.

The success of aid as a tool to fight poverty has been clearly demonstrated. Over the past ten years 33 million more children are in class, and in 5 years there has been a tenfold increase in the coverage of antiretroviral treatment for HIV and AIDS.
Achieving the MDGs is still possible. We must not abandon these efforts, but on the contrary, we must maintain and improve.

So I wonder, will work with the G8 to keep its promises?
I believe it is our responsibility as civil society, to ensure that happens.

40 years of unfulfilled promise maintained are too many! Follow the next 40 days and help to ensure that the G8 leaders hear our voice!