The following is a synopsis of the U.N. Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the 2015 targets for each MDG, and the indicators being used to monitor progress toward the targets. There are 8 goals, 18 targets, and 48 indicators. The following tabulation is based on the official United Nations site for the MDG indicators. The indicators in red were added at the MDG indicators meeting in Torino, June 2007.

U.N. Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 2015 Targets & Official Indicators MDGs 2015 TARGETS INDICATORS MDG1: Eradicate Extreme Poverty Target 1: Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people whose income is less than one dollar a day 1. Proportion of population below $1 (PPP) per day 2. Poverty gap ratio [incidence x depth of poverty] 3. Share of poorest quintile in national consumption 3a. Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all, including women and young people. MDG2: Universal Primary Education Target 2: Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people who suffer from hunger 4. Prevalence of underweight children under-five years of age 5. Proportion of population below minimum level of dietary energy consumption MDG3: Promote Gender Equality Target 3: Ensure that, by 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling Target 4: Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education, preferably by 2005, and in all levels of education no later than 2015 9. Ratios of girls to boys in primary, secondary and tertiary education 10. Ratio of literate women to men, 15-24 years old 11. Share of women in wage employment in the non-agricultural sector 12. Proportion of seats held by women in national parliament MDG4: Reduce Child Mortality Target 5: Reduce by two-thirds, between 1990 and 2015, the under-five mortality rate 13. Under-five mortality rate 14. Infant mortality rate 15. Proportion of 1 year-old children immunized against measles MDG5: Improve Maternal Health Target 6: Reduce by three-quarters, between 1990 and 2015, the maternal mortality ratio 16. Maternal mortality ratio 17. Proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel 17a. Achieve, by 2015, universal access to reproductive health. MDG6: Combat HIV & Other Diseases Target 7: Have halted by 2015 and begun to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS 18. HIV prevalence among pregnant women aged 15-24 years 19. Condom use rate of the contraceptive prevalence rate 19a. Condom use at last high-risk sex 19b. Percentage of population aged 15-24 years with comprehensive correct knowledge of HIV/AIDS 19c. Contraceptive prevalence rate 20. Ratio of school attendance of orphans to school attendance of non-orphans aged 10-14 years 20a. Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all, including women and young people. MDG7: Ensure Environmental Sustainability Target 9: Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programmes and reverse the loss of environmental resources 25. Proportion of land area covered by forest 26. Ratio of area protected to maintain biological diversity to surface area 27. Energy use (kg oil equivalent) per $1 GDP (PPP) 28. Carbon dioxide emissions per capita and consumption of ozone-depleting CFCs (ODP tons) 29. Proportion of population using solid fuels 29a. Reduce biodiversity loss, achieving, by 2010, a significant reduction in the rate of loss. MDG8: Build a Global Partnership for Development Target 10: Halve, by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation Target 11: By 2020, to have achieved a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers Target 12: Develop further an open, rule-based, predictable, nondiscriminatory trading and financial system Target 13: Address the special needs of the least developed countries Target 14: Address the special needs of landlocked developing countries and small island developing States Target 15: Deal comprehensively with the debt problems of developing countries through national and international measures in order to make debt sustainable in the long term Target 16: In cooperation with developing countries, develop and implement strategies for decent and productive work for youth Target 17: In cooperation with pharmaceutical companies, provide access to affordable essential drugs in developing countries Target 18: In cooperation with the private sector, make available the benefits of new technologies, especially information and communications 25. Proportion of land area covered by forest 26. Ratio of area protected to maintain biological diversity to surface area 27. Energy use (kg oil equivalent) per $1 GDP (PPP) 28. Carbon dioxide emissions per capita and consumption of ozone-depleting CFCs (ODP tons) 29. Proportion of population using solid fuels 30. Proportion of population with sustainable access to an improved water source, urban and rural 31. Proportion of population with access to improved sanitation, urban and rural 32. Proportion of households with access to secure tenure 33. Net ODA, total and to the least developed countries, as percentage of OECD/DAC donors' gross national income 34. Proportion of total bilateral, sector-allocable ODA of OECD/DAC donors to basic social services (basic education, primary health care, nutrition, safe water and sanitation) 35. Proportion of bilateral official development assistance of OECD/DAC donors that is untied 36. ODA received in landlocked developing countries as a proportion of their gross national incomes 37. ODA received in small island developing States as a proportion of their gross national incomes 38. Proportion of total developed country imports (by value and excluding arms) from developing countries and least developed countries, admitted free of duty 39. Average tariffs imposed by developed countries on agricultural products and textiles and clothing from developing countries 40. Agricultural support estimate for OECD countries as a percentage of their gross domestic product 41. Proportion of ODA provided to help build trade capacity 42. Total number of countries that have reached their HIPC decision points and number that have reached their HIPC completion points (cumulative) 43. Debt relief committed under HIPC Initiative 44. Debt service as a percentage of exports of goods and services 45. Unemployment rate of young people aged 15-24 years, each sex and total 46. Proportion of population with access to affordable essential drugs on a sustainable basis 47. Telephone lines and cellular subscribers per 100 population 48a. Personal computers in use per 100 population 48b. Internet users per 100 population As the old saying goes, "there are three kinds of lies: small lies, big lies, and statistics." These "global indicators" must be translated into plain and carefully nuanced English. There are already several "target versus actual" analyses which attempt to capture progress since 2000 and the outlook for further progress by 2015. But the existing data must be carefully analyzed and interpreted if they are to provide an accurate picture of real progress, both globally and regionally; for, in the "global village," no region can be left behind without potentially disastrous global consequences. A good and concise assessment of progress toward the 2015 targets is available here. Regarding the quality of MDG statistics, it will be interesting to see the assessment of the International Conference on the MDG Statistics (ICMDGS), Manila, Philippines, 1-3 October 2007. |Back to OUTLINE| 3. Current Outlook for 2015 Let us consider the objective evidence. Several credible sources of data are available, as follows: MDG Indicators Database (UNSD) - World and Regional Trends MDG Global Data Monitoring (WB) - Data by MDG and by Region MDG Report 2007 (UN) - Trends by MDG, MDG Target, Region, and Country MDG Progress Chart 2007 (UN) - - Trends by MDG, MDG Target, and Region MDG Database - Data by MDG, Indicator, and Region (DevInfo) Tracking the MDGs (UNDP) - Data by MDG, MDG Target, Region, and Country Any of the above resources provide charts showing current status and outlook to 2015. The charts are usually annotated with assessments of the data and 2015 projections for each MDG. However, there is no attempt to analyze the dynamic interactions between the 8 MDGs, let alone the inevitable interdependencies among the projects in progress for the 18 targets. The trend chart annotations are often obscure as to the rationale for "measuring" current status, with linear extrapolations to 2015. Trends are classified by color code, as listed below; the questions in red suggest ambiguities that should be resolved. Trend code is dark green if "target already met or very close to being met." If the target is already met, or close to being met, what is the meaning of projecting forward to 2015? Trend code is light green if "target is expected to be met by 2015 if prevailing trends persist, or the problem that this target is designed to address is not a serious concern in the region." What would happen if "prevailing trends" do not persist? What is the usefulness of trend analysis for a target that is not a concern? Trend code is yellow if "target is not expected to be met by 2015." If the target is not expected (in 2007) to be met by 2015, could it still be met by 2015? Trend code is red if it is a case of "no progress, or a deterioration or reversal." If there is no progress, what would trend analysis be useful for? If there is deterioration or reversal, does it mean the target cannot be met by 2015? The color codes were assigned by a team of experts at the UN Statistics Division (UNSD) based on data and estimates provided by "Food and Agriculture Organization; Inter-Parliamentary Union; International Labour Organization; International Telecommunication Unit; UNESCO; UNICEF; World Health Organization; UNAIDS; UN-Habitat; World Bank," all statistics being the latest as of June 2007. Undoubtedly, this is the best information available about progress toward the MDGs. Nevertheless, it is legitimate to wonder if several independent teams of experts, using the same sources, would arrive at the same set of color codes. The following is an exercise in "numerology" which attempts to remove ambiguity in the definitions of the color codes shown in the admittedly impressive MDG Progress Chart 2007 (UN). For this exercise, we replace the trend color codes (and their definitions) with a simpler scheme: Trend code is 1 if there is virtual certainty that achieving the 2015 targets is feasible (UNSD's dark green code) Trend code is 0 if there is uncertainty about the feasibility of achieving the 2015 targets (UNSD's light green code) Trend code is -1 if there is virtual certainty that achieving the 2015 targets is unfeasible (UNSD's yellow and red codes) The result of this exercise is shown in Table 1: Goals Targets North Africa SS Africa East Asia South Asia S.E. Asia West Asia Oceania Latin America CIS Europe CIS Asia MDG 1 Eradicate extreme poverty & hunger Reduce extreme poverty by half 0 -1 1 1 0 -1 0 -1 -1 -1 Reduce hunger by half 0 -1 0 0 -1 -1 -1 0 0 -1 MDG 2 Achieve universal primary education Universal primary schooling 0 -1 -1 -1 0 -1 -1 1 0 -1 MDG 3 Promote gender equality Equal girls’ K-12 enrolment 0 -1 1 1 0 0 -1 1 1 1 Women’s share of paid work -1 -1 0 -1 -1 -1 0 0 1 1 Gender balance in national parliaments -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 MDG 4 Reduce child mortality Reduce mortality of < 5 children by 2/3 0 -1 0 0 -1 -1 -1 0 0 -1 Measles shots 1 0 -1 -1 -1 1 -1 1 1 1 MDG 5 Improve maternal health Reduce maternal mortality by 3/4 -1 -1 0 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 0 0 MDG 6 Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis Halt and reverse spread of HIV/AIDS -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 Halt and reverse spread of malaria 0 -1 -1 -1 -1 0 0 -1 0 0 Halt and reverse spread of tuberculosis 0 -1 -1 -1 -1 0 -1 0 -1 -1 MDG 7 Ensure environment sustainability Reverse loss of forests 0 -1 1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 1 Halve proportion without improved drinking water 0 -1 0 0 1 1 -1 1 1 -1 Halve proportion without sanitation 0 -1 0 0 -1 0 -1 0 0 -1 Improve the lives of slum- dwellers 0 -1 -1 0 0 -1 -1 0 -1 -1 MDG 8 Build a global partnership for dev Youth without jobs -1 -1 1 -1 -1 -1 0 -1 -1 -1 Internet users 0 -1 0 0 -1 0 -1 1 0 0 Table 1. Feasibility Assessment of MDG 2015 Targets Table 1 can be manipulated in several useful ways. By summing across rows, it is possible to calculate a "net trend slope" (positive, zero, or negative) by MDG and by target. The "average net trend slope" for all MDGs and targets is simply the arithmetic average of the row sums. Likewise, by summing down columns, it is possible to calculate a "net trend slope" (positive, zero, or negative) by region, and the "average net trend slope" for all regions (i.e., for the world) is simply the arithmetic average of the column sums. The results are shown in Table 2: Goals Targets North Africa SS Africa East Asia South Asia S.E. Asia West Asia Oceania Latin America CIS Europe CIS Asia MDGs MDG 1 Target 01 0 -1 1 1 0 -1 0 -1 -1 -1 -3 Target 02 0 -1 0 0 -1 -1 -1 0 0 -1 -5 MDG 2 Target 03 0 -1 -1 -1 0 -1 -1 1 0 -1 -5 MDG 3 Target 04 0 -1 1 1 0 0 -1 1 1 1 3 Target 05 -1 -1 0 -1 -1 -1 0 0 1 1 -3 Target 06 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -10 MDG 4 Target 07 0 -1 0 0 -1 -1 -1 0 0 -1 -5 Target 08 1 0 -1 -1 -1 1 -1 1 1 1 1 MDG 5 Target 09 -1 -1 0 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 0 0 -7 MDG 6 Target 10 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -10 Target 11 0 -1 -1 -1 -1 0 0 -1 0 0 -5 Target 12 0 -1 -1 -1 -1 0 -1 0 -1 -1 -7 MDG 7 Target 13 0 -1 1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 1 -5 Target 14 0 -1 0 0 1 1 -1 1 1 -1 1 Target 15 0 -1 0 0 -1 0 -1 0 0 -1 -4 Target 16 0 -1 -1 0 0 -1 -1 0 -1 -1 -6 MDG 8 Target 17 -1 -1 1 -1 -1 -1 0 -1 -1 -1 -7 Target 18 0 -1 0 0 -1 0 -1 1 0 0 -2 REGIONS -4 -17 -3 -8 -12 -9 -14 -2 -3 -7 Table 2. Analysis of 2015 Targets by MDG and Region The green column shows the row sums by MDG and target. The average for all MDGs is -4.39. The blue row shows the column sums by region. The average for all regions is -7.2. Both are negative, indicating that the 2015 targets will not be met (excepting perhaps Targets 4 and 14) and regional targets will not be met either (for any region). Since the range of this metric is from -18 to +18, it would seem reasonable to conclude that neither extreme optimism not extreme pessimism; for the numbers are negative, but far from maximally negative. A "surge" of activity between 2007 and 2015 may shift the numbers from negative to positive, meaning that some of the targets are being met for some MDGs and/or regions. Well, enough of "numerology." The fact is that, as the 62nd General Assembly of the United Nations gets underway, there are serious reservations about attaining the 2015 MDG targets. As usual, the cry is for increased financial aid to expedite MDG projects. But it goes deeper than that. What everybody knows, but nobody wants to say, is that attaining the MDGs will require a much greater dosage of human solidarity that seems possible at the moment. Vested business interests continue to give higher priority to short term profits. Religious institutions continue to pursue their own agendas and extravagant consumption habits. Everyone is doing a lot of talking, but very few are actually modifying their behavior patterns of consumption and domination -- either in the secular domain, or the religious domain, or both. International crime is blooming to the tune of 2 trillion dollars annually. The United States continues to spend billions trying to establish (by force) "pax americana" in Iraq. The Vatican overtly supports the MDGs while, at the same time, lobbying against the MDG initiative on artificial birth control. International crime is simply about making money. The USA nefarious presence in Iraq is about oil. The Vatican's resistance to MDG3 is about the (presumably immoral) use of contraceptives by the poor, when the majority of Roman Catholics in the rich nations simply ignore the ecclesiastical pontifications about the issue. Global sustainability requires global solidarity. Solidarity requires non-violence. Violence, and the ensuing desintegration of human solidarity, is the root cause of the issues that the MDGs are attempting to address. Many governments are proclaiming that their countries will achieve the MDGs, and supporting their claims with fancy reports full of numbers, graphics, and politically correct statements about the progress being made. But, even if the targets are numerically attained at some point in time, the MDGs themselves are not sustainable without massive human development (growth in wisdom, including the wisdom of balancing personal self-interest and the common good). In summary: There are politically correct pseudo-solutions that do not work More financial aid, no matter how much, because a change in mindset (ethos) cannot be bought Technological fixes, because the root cause is not amenable to engineering analysis and synthesis Violence, such as physical and/or psychological scapegoating, because violence begets violence Charities, good as they are, are not sufficient and can be humiliating if not delivered with sensitivity There are politically incorrect solutions that should work Overcoming the triple addiction to extravagant consumption, wealth accumulation, and abusive power Politically and economically, it can be done. For a feasible approach, see Cobley George, Socio-Economic Democracy: An Advanced Socioeconomic System Replacing the triple addiction with a new ethos of solidarity, sustainability, and non-violence Psychologically and spiritually, it can be done -- both individually and collectively. Feasible paths to follow have been identified independently by psychologist Evelin Lindner, Human Dignity and Humiliation Studies, and theological anthropologist René Girard, Mimetic Theory of Violence, Religion, and the Scapegoat As the 62nd General Assembly of the United Nations gets underway in New York, serious reservations are already emerging about the feasibility of attaining the 2015 MDG targets. As we get closer and close to 2015, it is reasonable to expect a lot of finger pointing unless the politically correct pseudo-solutions are replaced by solutions that could work, even if they are politically incorrect at the moment. In order to have proper focus to understand these real, sustainable solutions, let us first consider the essential dimensions of the social context in which the MDGs must be sustainably achieved. |Back to OUTLINE| 4. Globalization, Egalization, and Cycles of Humiliation Psychologist Evelin Lindner, in her book Making Enemies: Humiliation and International Conflict, identifies the essential dimensions of the new social context that can be expected to prevail throughout the millennium and beyond: Globalization (the new mindset of the "global village") Globalization is the technology-driven process whereby homo economicus and nation states are gradually becoming obsolete due to the emergence of the "global citizen" and the "global village." Egalization (the new mindset about "human rights") Egalization (a term coined by Lindner) is the process whereby local, regional, and global hierarchies become egalitarian by the universal recognition of human rights. The dignity of the human person is a constant that is operative and normative at any level of any hierarchy. Dictatorships are also becoming obsolete as democracy prevails. As Lindner points out, globalization is driven by technology and can happen with or without egalization. The fact is that egalization is lagging globalization by a significant margin. Globalization makes everyone aware of who are the players that control and manipulate issues of social and environmental justice. News fly when peace and justice suffer due to neglect or abuse of human rights. News about human rights abuses quickly become intolerable for those who have been neglected or abused. Steering egalization to closely track globalization is the best way to mitigate social stress (or worst) during the transition toward an egalitarian global order. But this transition is not inevitable. It can be aborted by wars and other forms of violence. There is no way this transition can happen in the midst of violence. In order to understand why egalization lags behind globalization, it is useful to analyze the MDGs as a system within the global context defined by Lindner. This goes beyond "numerology" in that the intent is not to infer the feasibility of attaining the 2015 targets based on extrapolations of trends for each target independently of the others. The goal of analyzing the MDGs as a system is to assess the feasibility of the 2015 targets based on how the globalization and egalization forces drive the MDGs -- each one of them and all of them together -- via their interconnections. Figure 1 is an attempt to illustrate the difference between analyzing the MDGs one at a time (i.e., as a non-system) and analyzing them as they interact with each other over time (i.e., as a system). 1a. MDGs as a non-system 1b. MDGs as a system Figure 1. Global Scenario and Causal-Loop Structure of the MDGs The global scenario of increasing globalization and lagging egalization is common for any analysis of the MDGs. This is shown at the top of Figure 1. In Figure 1a, the MDGs are presented as if they were independent of each other. In Figure 1b, they are presented as a network of interconnections (the directional arrows) to account for the ways they influence each other. Keeping in mind the general social context of globalization with lagging egalization, it is noted that MDG8 is driven by MDG3. It is also noted that MDG3 drives MDG1, MDG2, MDG4, MDG5, and MDG7. The rationale is this: lagging egalization is due to the persistence of competition rather than cooperation, violence rather than peace, decisions made for self-interest without consideration of the common good. Gender inequality is the most pervasive expression of the hierarchical, non-egalitarian mindset that induces violence. Therefore, overcoming gender inequality (as we have shown in other ways in previous issues of this newsletter) is the most crucial driver for the MDGs. As long as gender inequalities persist, all the MDGs suffer including MDG6 which is driven by MDG8 and in turn influences MDG5. Eventually, there is a negative feedback loop from MDG8 to MDG3. This feedback is making people increasingly aware of the criticality of MDG3, but the corrective influence is still weak. Thus gender equality is the most crucial gateway to all the other MDGs. The bottom line is that, as long as cross-gender solidarity does not improve, the humiliations induced by gender inequality will sustain the egalization lag while globalization keeps going full speed ahead. Lindner's "Theory of Humiliation" "Humiliation is about putting down and holding down .... Based on many years of research on humiliation, I would suggest that feelings of humiliation come about when deprivation is perceived as an illegitimate imposition of lowering or degradation, a degradation that cannot be explained in constructive terms .... I define humiliation as enforced lowering of a person or group, a process of subjugation that damages or strips away pride, honor, or dignity. To be humiliated is to be placed, mostly against one's will and often in a deeply hurtful way, in a situation that is greatly inferior to what one feels one should expect. Humiliation entails demeaning treatment that transgresses established expectations. The victim is forced into passivity, acted upon, and made helpless .... Cycles of humiliation occur when feelings of humiliation are translated into acts of humiliation" (Lindner, pages 3, 171-172). The theory of humiliation is thus a theory about human and organizational behavior. Humiliations, says Lindner, are "the nuclear bomb of the emotions", and frequently lead to "cycles of humiliation". In other words, they often induce "cycles of violence." It is not a matter of whether or not it should be this way. Based on the available objective evidence, this is just the way it is. |Back to OUTLINE| 5. Obstacles to Pursue the MDGs As Lindner and others have pointed out, the most important obstacle to the MDGs is violence is all its forms. Gender violence, in the form of various gender inequalities, is the most pervasive form of violence. This is true in both society and religion. There is increasing awareness that the religious variant of gender abuse is even worst (and more resilient) than the social variant. Consider the following announcement: CONFERENCE ON RELIGIOUS CULTURE & GENDER ETHICS The idea that "men are superior to women" or "women are inferior to men" prevails in the doctrine and ritual action of most religions around the world, which makes religious groups become a tremendous obstacle in the process of constructing a society with gender equality. Therefore, it is really imperative for us to examine the gender discrimination phenomenon in different religions around the world and ascertain the reason for it in an objective manner. Hence, the theme of this conference is entitled Religious Culture & Gender Ethics. Moreover, scholars and experts in religion and gender studies from the U.S., Canada, Australia, England, Japan, Thailand, India, Singapore and Taiwan are invited to present research papers or deliver keynote speech for the theme of this conference. Location: Buddhist Hongshi College, Taiwan. Conference Date: 2007-11-24. Point of contact: 2007 International Conference on Religious Culture & Gender. Indeed, gender matters, and therefore gender violence is a key factor in suppressing the process of egalization. Social stress intensifies if globalization and egalization are "out of sync." Lindner writes: "If we imagine the world as a container with a height and a width, globalization addresses the horizontal dimension, the shrinking width. Egalization, on the other hand, concerns the vertical dimension. Egalization would mean that the container would no longer be a tall one, with masters at the top and underlings at the bottom; instead, we would have a flat container with everybody at about the same height of equal dignity. Globalization and egalization, together, describe a shrinking of our "world," both horizontally and vertically. Globalization occurs "automatically," propelled by technology, but egalization requires deliberate and committed ideological decisions. Globalization can very well occur without egalization. This is precisely what appears to be happening at present when we consider that the gap between the rich at the top and the poor at the bottom is growing, both locally and globally. Globalization without egalization is a story of the contained getting narrower and higher instead of flatter. "Globalization moves us from the arrogant belief that the planet has an infinite biosphere to be exploited and that there are always more villages to conquer and subjugate to the humble realization that Homo sapiens inhabits one single global village on a tiny planet. The second transition, egalization, pits those who believe that humiliation is an "honorable duty" against those who see it as a violation of dignity. Both transitions push away from arrogance toward humility - a great source of hope. However, when the transition does not occur smoothly, especially in situations that place different world views in opposition, humankind experiences great stress. Feelings of humiliation in the less privileged, which elites typically overtook for too long, only to panic when it was too late, heat to the boiling point. The transitions are too slow to put us on guard and too fast for safety. They permeate the relations between all citizens of the earth, international relations, our relationships with our friends and family, even how we feel about ourselves." (Lindner, page 167) In other words, the world is becoming smaller and flatter due to population growth, globalization, and egalization. The probability of humans avoiding conflict by avoiding interaction is decreasing. Population growth is inevitable especially among the poor, for whom the bed is the only consolation. Globalization is inevitable, and practically impossible to manage as long as competition is not replaced by cooperation. Egalization is humanity's hope for the future, let alone a better future. The task facing us now is to remove the obstacles along the path to egalization. This must be done locally, nationally, and globally; and must be done democratically and without violations of human rights. It is not possible to consider all obstacles in this space. Table 3 attempts to summarize the main ones: MDGs OBSTACLES MDG1 Violence and, especially, gender violence. See Culture of Violence. Corruption. See The Geography of Corruption. Excessive reliance on external financial resources The failure of most government and religious institutions to side with the victims of injustice and oppression. MDG2 Violence and, especially, gender violence. Prejudice about male superiority (often reinforced by religion). Child labor, child trafficking, children recruited as soldiers. MDG3 Violence and, especially, gender violence. Femicide. It is estimated that "gendercide" in China has resulted in the deaths of at least 50 million girls. 60 million girls are still not in school. Religious gender violence is the worst "weapon of mass destruction." See The Vatican Body-Count. Vocational gender violence. See "Religious Institutions and Women's Leadership: New Roles Inside the Mainstream", edited by Catherine Wessinger; see the section entitled "The Case of the Roman Catholic Church", pages 21-29. MDG4 Violence and, especially, gender violence. Malnutrition and lack of adequate sanitary facilities. Lack of adequate healthcare resources. MDG5 Violence and, especially, gender violence. Abortions and lack of contraceptive resources. Lack of adequate healthcare resources. MDG6 Violence and, especially, gender violence. Sex trafficking and irresponsible extra-marital sexual relations. Lack of sex education, contraceptives, and adequate healthcare resources. MDG7 Violence and, especially, abuse of the human habitat. Excessive consumption and wealth accumulation (by both secular and religious institutions). Inadequate and unfair tax systems based on annual income rather than accumulated wealth. MDG8 Violence and, especially, gender violence. Unwillingness to invest in development (to some extent due to the corruption issue). Lack of a global ethos of human solidarity and sustainable development. ALL MDGs Violence and, especially, gender violence. The lack of peace in most of the world, and especially the war in Iraq (violence begets violence). Delays in reforming the United Nations, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund. "Resources going from the poor to the rich, pollution going from the rich to the poor" (Vandana Shiva) Table 3. Summary of Obstacles to Pursue the MDGs |Back to OUTLINE| 6. Incentives to Pursue the MDGs The obstacles listed in the previous section provide good hints for the incentives needed. Since making progress toward the MDGs is mostly a matter of removing obstacles, it follows that incentives to remove the obstacles should be a high priority. Thus, if the principal obstacle is violence, the principal incentive must be rewards (including financial rewards) for keeping the peace. And, if the principal form of violence is gender violence, the need is for incentives (both carrots and sticks) to overcome all forms of gender violence and gender discrimination in social and religious institutions. As Evelin Lindner has pointed out (page 173), "engaging in the blame game does no good while the ship is sinking." Removing obstacles is not an exercise in finger-pointing. It is a "joint search for a better solution and united building of a better future." (Lindner, page 175). It is not possible to consider all possible incentives in this space. Table 4 attempts to summarize the main ones: MDGs INCENTIVES MDG1 Replace the culture of violence with a culture of peace. Resources: Evelin Lindner's Principle of Humilation. See her Breaking the Cycle of Humiliation website. Nelson Mandela's principle of Truth and Reconciliation. The priciple of "unity in diversity." See Unity in Diversity: Acceptance and Integration in an Era of Intolerance and Fragmentation Assurance that financial aid will reach the poor. To bypass the corruption while insuring that financial aid actually reaches the poor, cancel development funds channeled via corrupt governments, and replace them by direct "group to group" development projects. MDG2 Empowering girls and women through education. Educating children about the human rights of both men and women in all dimensions of private and public life. Educating children about taking good care of the human habitat. Educating children about the evils of violence and the blessings of non-violence. MDG3 The "triple dividend" of guaranteeing women’s rights Elimination of privileges and heavy taxation for businesses and other secular institutions that perpetuate exclusivist and/or abusive practices that are incompatible with human rights. Elimination of subsidies and heavy taxation for religious institutions that perpetuate exclusivist and/or abusive practices that are incompatible with human rights. Promotion of women to roles of authority -- in both secular and religious institutions. MDG4 Make contraceptives available to the poor, especially poor women. The responsible use of contraceptives reduces unintended pregnancies and infant mortality. Given assurance about financial aid reaching the intended destination, ensure financial aid is used to make available adequate children healthcare resources. MDG5 Make contraceptives available to the poor, especially poor women. The responsible use of contraceptives reduces unintended pregnancies and maternal mortality. Given assurance about financial aid reaching the intended destination, ensure financial aid is used to make available adequate maternal healthcare resources. MDG6 Make contraceptives available to the poor, especially poor women. The responsible use of contraceptives reduces unintended pregnancies and the spread of sexually transmitted infections such as HIV/AIDS. Given assurance about financial aid reaching the intended destination, ensure financial aid is used to make available adequate healthcare resources to mitigate epidemics such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis. MDG7 Given assurance about research funding reaching the intended destination, develop research programs pursuant to better understanding of the Dynamics of Coupled Natural and Human Systems. Develop pollution standards by industry and legislate heavy taxation for polluting industries. Reduce extravagant consumption and wealth accumulation, and improve distributive and environmental justice, by adequate and fair tax systems based on both annual income and accumulated wealth. A sensible solution has been proposed by Cobley George. MDG8 Assurance (audited by the UN) that financial aid bypasses corrupt governments to reach the poor. Democratically expedited reforms of the United Nations, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund. Universal use (democratically legislated) of productivity, safety, environmental, and social responsibility standards such as ISO-9000, ISO-14000, ISO-18000, and ISO-26000 ALL MDGs Work for both social justice and environmental justice. Justice is an indispensable infrastructure for sustainable peace. A sustainable peace is indispensable to attaining any of the MDGs, and especially MDG8. Table 4. Summary of Incentives to Pursue the MDGs |Back to OUTLINE| 7. Web Resources & Knowledge Taxonomy This section is a digest of recently added/updated web resources, under three categories: Information & knowledge content (usually in the form of e-books available for free download) Web sites & other resources (new/upgraded web sites, data bases, other tools) Evolution of SSNV knowledge taxonomy & links directory (summary here, full directory in a separate page) Information & Knowledge Content 2007 CORRUPTION PERCEPTIONS INDEX (CPI), Transparency International, 2007. Excerpt: "The 2007 Corruption Perceptions Index looks at perceptions of public sector corruption in 180 countries and territories - the greatest country coverage of any CPI to date – and is a composite index that draws on 14 expert opinion surveys. It scores countries on a scale from zero to ten, with zero indicating high levels of perceived corruption and ten indicating low levels of perceived corruption. A strong correlation between corruption and poverty continues to be evident." Several maps and tables that show the "geography of corruption" are free downloads. WORLD ECONOMIC SITUATION AND PROSPECTS 2007, United Nations, WESP, 2007. Excerpt: "The outlook remains mostly positive for developing countries, but a degree of moderation is also expected. Sustained high growth in China, India and a few other major emerging economies seems to have engendered synergy among developing countries so that growth in this group is more endogenous. However, a large number of developing countries remain highly vulnerable to the vicissitudes of commodity prices and the volatility of international financial markets. The report highlights the need for greater employment growth, which has not kept pace with output growth. The global economic outlook also encompasses a number of important downside risks: bursts in the housing bubbles in a number of countries, uncertainties in oil prices and mounting global imbalances. The report calls for international macroeconomic policy coordination in order to facilitate an orderly adjustment of global imbalances." The following are free PDF downloads: the Executive Summary, a Global Outlook, and the Full Report WORLD ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL SURVEY 2007: DEVELOPMENT IN AN AGEING WORLD, United Nations, WESS, 2007. Excerpt: "Greater longevity is an indicator of human progress in general. Increased life expectancy and lower fertility rates are changing the population structure worldwide in a major way: the proportion of older persons is rapidly increasing, a process known as population ageing. The process is inevitable and is already advanced in developed countries and progressing quite rapidly in developing ones. The 2007 Survey analyses the implications of population ageing for social and economic development around the world, while recognizing that it offers both challenges and opportunities. Among the most pressing issues is that arising from the prospect of a smaller labour force having to support an increasingly larger older population." Free PDF downloads by chapter. EXCLUSION, GENDER, AND EDUCATION: CASE STUDIES FROM THE DEVELOPING WORLD, Center for Global Development, September 2007. Excerpt: "Girls have achieved remarkable increases in primary schooling over the past decade, yet millions are still not in school. In Inexcusable Absence, CGD visiting fellows Maureen Lewis and Marlaine Lockheed reported the startling new finding that nearly three-quarters of out-of-school girls belong to minority or otherwise marginalized groups. This companion volume further analyzes school enrollment, completion and learning with case studies in seven countries. The technical analysis addresses the role of ethnic and linguistic heterogeneity in explaining differences across countries in school enrollment." Another good report from CGD: Inexcusable Absence: Why 60 Million Girls Still Aren't In School and What to do About It. Free PDF downloads by chapter. GLOBAL ADAPTATION: THE POST-2012 FRAMEWORK, Hans JH Verolme, WWF, Conference on Climate Changes hold in Rome (Italy), 12-13 September 2007 (free download powerpoint presentation). Excerpt: "If we are to prevent dangerous climate change global emissions will need to peak within the next decade. A fair and equitable post-2012 UN agreement is needed that significantly reduces fossil fuel emissions from industrialized countries, provides strong incentives for investment in clean energy technology, putting emerging economies on a low-carbon growth path, stops forest loss; and builds resilience in nature and people to adapt to climate change. This requires countries to resolve fundamental questions of governance, establish clear policy frameworks for finance and technology transfer, halt unsustainable land use practices, and invest in both human and natural infrastructure." GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL OUTLOOK 4 (GEO-4), UNEP, September 2007, 576 pages. From the UNEP announcement: "The fourth report in the Global Environment Outlook (GEO) series from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) provides a comprehensive, scientifically credible, policy-relevant and up-to-date assessment of, and outlook for, the state of the global environment. GEO-4 is published 20 years after the landmark World Commission on Sustainable Developments Bruntland Report of 1987. Environment for Development is the GEO-4 underlying theme and the report pays special attention to the role and im