Millennium Development Goal

Millennium Development Goal # 1 – Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger

First, let us address a common response to the Millennium Development Goals, “What about the poor right here in America?”

That question brings to mind the gospel passage  where Jesus was asked “Who is my neighbor?” He had just been asked  the question, “ Which commandment is the first of all?
Jesus answered, “..you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength”, Then he says,  “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:18-24).  The scribe (for once) agreed with him.

We are called to minister to those in need.  . The world of a first century Mediterranean Jew was very small compared to our knowledge of the world. Our “neighbors” are located globally, as well as locally . None of us can respond to all.  Some of us are called to minister locally and some of us are called nationally, and some of us are called to minister internationally.

We are all children of the same God. What happens here affects what happens over seas. What happens there affects us. We can no longer ignore the actual starvation of millions of persons. MDG #1 is to “Cut in half the 800 million people who live on less than $1.00 per day per person.

§         Of these 200 million are children.

§         More than 90% are suffering long-term malnourishment and micronutrient deficiency

§         Every 3.6 seconds another person dies of starvation. The large majority of these children are under the age of 5.

The mortality rates for children are huge, compared to the United States where 7 children under five years die for every 1,000 live births. For example, some of the countries of interest to us:

§         DR Congo     205 per 1,000

§         Ghana            112 per 1,000

§         Philippines      33 per 1,000

§         Honduras       40 per 1,000

§         Dominican Republic   31 per 1,000
Extreme poverty and hunger play a large part in these deaths.

Children under 5 who are moderately or severely underweight %

§         D.R. Congo      31.1%

§         Honduras         16.6%

§         Ghana              22.1%

§         Philippines       27.6%

§         Ukraine           1.0 %

§         Sudan              40.7%

The MDG goals were adopted by the United Nations in 2002. Our national Episcopal Church in June 2006 passed a resolution to work toward the achievement of the MDG’s as a mission priority. Our Diocese of Iowa in 2007 passed a resolution that each congregation would pray and study the Goals throughout the next year, would give 0.7% (seven-tenths) of their income to reduce global poverty. Also, that we would raise awareness in their congregations and would take action and advocate with their congresspersons to fulfill the promise that our government made to support achieving the MDG goals.