Hindus from across the UK are being urged to demonstrate their commitment to meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by switching off their lights at 9.00p.m. (for 15 minutes); skipping a meal or making a donation to a charity on 25 September 2008.
As part of Be The Change, Hindus and people from other faiths can show solidarity and support for the plight of those less fortunate around the world suffering from hunger and poverty, denied access to education and affected by environmental degradation.
Backing the campaign, Prime Minister Gordon Brown MP says: “People with a shared moral sense are the most powerful weapon for change and faith groups through their network of followers have the power to mobilise millions across the world to make poverty history. This is why I am delighted that Britain’s Hindu community are marking the 25 September, the day of the UN’s High Level Event on the Millennium Development Goals, with a call to action for British Hindus. The Be the Change campaign sends a strong message that we each have the power to help the world’s most vulnerable and to play our part in efforts to relieve global poverty. It is through working together - as governments, business, faith communities, and civil society - that our promises to the poorest, the Millennium Development Goals, can be met."
On this day, the UN Secretary-General has invited leaders from across the world to New York to discuss the urgent action needed to honour international commitments to relieve world poverty. They will look at progress to achieve the Millennium Development Goals so far and will set out concrete plans to further mobilise governments, the private sector, NGOs, faith groups and cities to accelerate progress and get the Millennium Development Goals back on track.
The Millennium Development Goals outline how UN members plan to cut extreme poverty, on addressing issues on food prices, education for all, improving health systems and access and safeguarding the environment. Halfway to 2015, some progress has been made1 but enormous challenges remain and initiatives like Be the Change are galvanizing the imagination and support of ordinary citizens to show their concerns and to take action for people across the developing world.
Bharat Vadukul, from Sewa International and one of the organisers, adds: “Over the last few weeks we have distributed well over 60,000 leaflets, through temples and community centres, promoting this initiative and we hope that Hindus and other people can show their commitment for the Millennium Development Goals. While a great deal has already been done, if we are to meet the targets set, then it is vital for all communities to do their bit.”
Ramesh Kallidai, Secretary General of the Hindu Forum of Britain, concludes: “While switching off a light or skipping a meal may seem like a small gesture I hope in a small way it send out a powerful message that Hindus in the UK share the concerns of the world’s poorest people.”
The Be The Change campaign is supported by the National Council of Hindu Temples, Sewa International Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, Balaji Temple, the Hindu Forum of Britain, Hindu Council UK, Institute of Jainology, International Society of Krishna Consciousness, and National Hindu Students Forum.
For more information contact: Sanjay Mistry on 07810 368 772 or Bharat Vadukul on 07977 986 910.
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Notes to Editors
1. The Millennium Development Goals
In 2000, at the UN's Millennium Summit, international leaders adopted an historic pledge to cut extreme poverty in half by 2015. The Millennium Development Goals are a “roadmap” to deliver this pledge. The goals have become a universally shared framework for development. They are a means for developing countries and their development partners to assess their ability to work together to reach meaningful targets in key areas. There are 8 and they include:
· Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
· Achieve universal primary education
· Promote gender equality and empower women
· Reduce child mortality
· Improve maternal health
· Combat HIV and AIDS, malaria and other diseases
· Ensure environmental sustainability
· Develop a global partnership for development
The Goals set out time-bound and measurable targets to meet the needs of the world’s poorest.
2. What the UK is doing to accelerate progress to reach the MDGs
The UK’s development aid expenditure will continue to increase over the next three years, and by 2010 will have more than trebled in real terms since 1997. This investment will ensure we deliver the promises made by the UK at the G8 summit in Gleneagles in 2005, and help countries to accelerate their progress towards meeting the MDGs.
Education
· Between 2007/8 and 2010/11 we will increase our education spend from over £500 million to £1 billion a year. This will enable us to meet our commitment to spend £8.5 billion on education in the ten years leading up to 2015. This long-term commitment will provide predictable financing to help governments prepare long-term education plans.
· UK provides support to governments to help them develop and implement their own education sector plans.
Environment
· The UK is working with countries and international organisations to ensure environmental opportunities, as well as risks, are reflected in national poverty plans. DFID has helped over 7 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa gain access to water and sanitation over the last 4 years.
· Water - DFID is more than doubling its funding in Africa from £95 million per year in 2007 to £200 million per year by 2010. 2007 saw the launch of two major programmes: a £75 million project in support of the Ethiopian Government’s water, sanitation and hygiene programme and a £32 million initiative for Sierra Leone.
· Climate change - Together with DEFRA we will provide £800m over the next three years to the Environmental Transformation Fund to reduce poverty through environmental protection especially climate change. In the 2007 Budget £50m was allocated to protect the rainforests of the Congo Basin and a further £50m allocation was announced in January.
Hunger/Food
· At the recent G8 summit, the UK achieved a commitment to a $10 billion package for humanitarian need and better food security measures and improved agricultural output over the longer term.
· DFID is working with other donors, international organisations, the private sector and civil society to shape the Global Partnership for Agriculture and Food (GPAF), to double efforts to tackle global hunger and poverty.
· DFID announced £400 million to support international agricultural research over the next five years, to increase agricultural productivity in smallholder farming.
· So far the UK Government has announced a package of assistance worth over £800 million to tackle high food prices. This includes both short and long term measures:
o £400 million for agricultural research over 5 years
o £30 million to WFP
o £22 million for the Ethiopia safety net (July 08)
o £8 million for nutrition monitoring
o £76 million for road building in DRC
o £32 million for social protection in Mozambique and Bangladesh and
o £6.5 million for food aid and agricultural inputs for Afghanistan.
o £217 million in budget for Ghana, Uganda and Malawi.
3. Hindu Forum of Britain:
The Hindu Forum of Britain (HFB) is the largest representative body for British Hindus with over 300 member organisations from different regions around the country. HFB’s activities are broadly divided into three areas: public affairs and community consultation; capacity building and project development; and interfaith co-operation and relations to help build a cohesive and inclusive Britain. For more information see www.hfb.org.uk.