In the latest e-bulletin to the Marists Fathers and Brothers in the United States, Marist Development Director Paul Carr talks about how the United Nations' Millennium Declaration, which sets goals for eradicating poverty, developing areas of the world in need, and protecting the environment by 2015, mirrors the very goals and aspirations of the Marist Society.
The Millennium Development Goals: A VERY MARIST IDEA COMES OF AGE IN 2015
by Paul Carr
Marist Development Director
In September 2000, 189 member states of the United Nations came together and made commitments to eradicate poverty, develop areas of the world in need, and protect the environment. Many of these commitments were drawn from the agreements and resolutions of world conferences and summits organized by the United Nations during the preceding decade. A year later the UN Secretary General implemented the Millennium Declaration and unveiled formally eight goals, supported by 18 quantified and time-bound targets and 48 indicators, which became known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The MDGs focus the efforts of the world community on achieving significant, measurable improvements in people's lives by the year 2015.
Marist Ted Keating, as CMSM Peace & Justice Director, participated in two key U.N. international summits in the 1990s that eventually resulted in the formulation of the Millennium Goals. Keating then worked in the Washington efforts to further concretize them. When we look at the concerns and aspirations that make up these eight goals, we find a reflective image mirroring the aspirations of our own Marist Society. These goals are rooted in mercy, compassion, fairness and justice – and we can see the commitments transforming lives-not just for developing countries but for the rich countries that help fund development programs and for the multilateral institutions that help countries implement them.
The eight MDGs listed below guide the efforts of virtually all organizations involved and have been commonly accepted as a framework for measuring development progress:
1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
2. Achieve universal primary education
3. Promote gender equality and empower women
4. Reduce child mortality
5. Improve maternal health
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
7. Ensure environmental sustainability
8. Develop a Global Partnership for Development
Today, as Americans struggle to find mercy and fairness in our culture and institutions, these goals remind us that justice and compassion thrive as our world comes together in mercy and kindness to those on the margins.
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About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDPMA is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.