Background
There is much to be done to arrest global hunger and poverty, and realize economic and social development. Collective and multilateral action must demonstrate its effectiveness "to perfect the triangle of development, freedom and peace," to quote Annan in his earlier Millennium Report, "We the peoples" (See U.N. General Assembly official document A/54/2000).
When you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind.
Luke 14, NRSV
The Millennium Development Goals is one such collective and multilateral document in which heads of states, having galvanized their resolve to address global hunger and poverty, accepted a set of benchmarks by which to measure their time-bound targets, datelined 2015, of halving extreme poverty, putting all children into primary school, promoting gender equality, reducing child mortality, improving maternal health, combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, ensuring environmental sustainability, and developing a global partnership for development that harness the resources and potentials of governments, nongovernmental organizations, civil society groups and the private sector.
It is important that the international community meets its obligations already enumerated in agreements related to the World Summit on Sustainable Development, began in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, and its succeeding follow-ups as well as the annual sessions of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development. The Millennium Development Goals, or MDGs, lists several commitments that the world must endeavor to meet by 2015.
Meaningful economic and social development leads to sustainable development. Sustainable development is closely linked to issues of trade and commerce, financing for development; regional development, especially of least developed, landlocked and small island developing states; debt relief; decent and productive work; information and communication technologies; population; migration; indigenous peoples; advancement of women; youth participation; the rights of peoples with disabilities; and many more.
Biblical and Theological Context
"The right to food and the right to employment are fundamental economic human rights. Societies become peaceful when the demands of justice are met. Justice becomes not only a dream but a reality when implements of war give way to implements of peace. Food and jobs, also, are implements of peace. Would that indeed, at the end of the day, no child, no woman, and no one, goes to bed with an empty stomach." (2004 Book of Resolutions, "Globalization and its Impact on Human Dignity and Human Rights," ¶309).
"We claim all economic systems to be under the judgment of God no less than other facets of the created order. Therefore, we recognize the responsibility of governments to develop and implement sound fiscal and monetary policies that provide for the economic life of individuals and corporate entities and that ensure full employment and adequate incomes with a minimum of inflation. We believe private and public economic enterprises are responsible for the social costs of doing business, such as employment and environmental pollution, and that they should be held accountable for these costs.? (Social Principles, ¶163)
Scripture references: Leviticus 19:9-10, Deuteronomy 25:12-16, Amos 8:4-6, Luke 14:13 and John 10:10
What is GBCS Doing
Informing and educating the church and society about the United Nations and its work on sustainable and social development.
Popularizing the Millennium Development Goals and inviting the church connection to discover ways to help in fulfilling the goals.
Engaging in follow up of the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development, including participation in the Second Global Conference on Financing for Development in Doha, Qatar.
