News in South Africa

At the turn of the millenium, world leaders gathered to compile a set of ambitious goals that would enhance the sustainability of the planet and its people. The United Nations development Programme (UNDP) called these goals the Millenium Development Goals or MDG's. 

One of the goals is to end global poverty. Towards this a major target is to:

Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people whose income is less than $1 a day

Next week, in New York, world leaders will meet to discuss emergency plans to address this massive task.

It is increasingly clear that the goal set will not be met. A news report from the globe and mail, among others states:

'While there has been movement toward some of the education and health goals, African hunger and malnutrition are nearly as extreme as ever. About 32 per cent of Africans today are undernourished – virtually the same percentage as in 1990 – according to a report this week by an Africa commission appointed by former British prime minister Tony Blair'.