Every voice counts to save Millennium Development Goals from failure

* Any views expressed in this article are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Caritas is launching a new campaign to put pressure on governments to live up to their anti-poverty promises. 'Caritas Voices Against Poverty' aims to mobilise its supporters behind the Millennium Development Goals campaign. Please visit the website: mdg2015.caritas.org to find interactive resources, actions, downloads, blogs, and more. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are a series of targets agreed by the 189 UN member States in 2000 to build a better world for humanity by 2015. While progress has been made in improving lives, millions still live in unacceptable poverty, facing hunger, lack of rights, and disease. World leaders will meet at the UN Headquarters in New York for the High-Level Meeting 'MDG2010 Summit' to assess progress and recommit to their pledges. Our members and partners are engaging in the meeting. Caritas Internationalis Secretary General Lesley-Anne Knight said, "Right now over one billion people are suffering from hunger and malnutrition because they are so poor. Our promises to lift them out of poverty will fall short on current projections. "Caritas believes the Millennium Development Goals must be met. We made a promise and a deep moral commitment. We cannot turn our backs on the poor and vulnerable because it's inconvenient or hard. Nothing less than our collective human security and the future of our planet is at stake. "Caritas is working towards zero poverty. The Millennium Development Goals are an important milestone towards achieving that ambition. We hope that our supporters both continue and expand promotion of the MDG campaign. So please support 'Caritas Voices Against Poverty'. Falling short is not an option. Every voice counts." Global partnerships for justice need decisive investments now. In achieving the MDGs, Caritas says more than just 5 rich countries need to meet the long-promised target of giving 0.7 percent of national income in development aid. Aid needs to double to ${esc.dollar}100 billion a year - and be more efficient, effective and fair. Aid must not be tied so as to benefit the giver. Recipients must be allowed to choose and plan themselves what is best to do in their countries. More debts need to be cancelled. A poor country cannot spend money on health and education if it all goes to servicing national debt. Caritas will be following the MDG2010 Summit through its office in New York, where its Permanent Delegate to the United Nations Joseph Donnelly is a member of the General Assembly President's MDG2010 Summit Task Force. If you have a media request, please call Patrick Nicholson on + 39 334 359 0700 or email Nicholson@caritas.va