The Forum on Youth and International Cooperation was hosted by the European Club in Buenos Aires on 21st and 22nd September. One of the Panels was about Youth and MDG´s. I took part in this panel with a member of the UNDP. It was great!
Around 100 young people where ready to ask about MDG´s and the particularities of LatinAmerica.

TakingITGlobal was there. Raising the voice of the campaing and trying to enroll more people.

The Forum was a great place to promote MDG´s which are not very well known by young people.UNDP officer was excited to see all this young people ready for a debate!

Let´s hope this kind of events continue.

After mobilizing hundreds of other young people for the last months to take action on the MDGs without actually doing something concrete myself, I finally had the chance to join some of the 2nd White Band Day activities in New York this last Saturday. The New York office of the Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) had organized to join the Labor Day Parade and so many of the GCAP people that are here for the M+5 Summit this week (among them Kumi Naidoo, the chair of GCAP and many coordinators of national Campaign activities) went on the streets of New York to tell people to “wake up to poverty”. I really enjoyed the march. The group was a fantastic mixture of people from all corners of the world and many of us distributed white bands to the people watching the parade (which were unfortunately not as many as I had hoped). I also had some great conversations and got to know many of the amazing people behind GCAP.
After the parade, we went to Central Park, where we had a little rest and a brief information meeting about what (lobbying) activities GCAP is planning over the course of the M+5 Summit.

In the afternoon, Vidar, Emily and I headed to New York University where a group of students had organized a big summit for young people on the MDGs, called MDG Young Global Leaders Summit. We were there to present the work of TIG and GYAN around the MDGs and many interested young people actually came to our booth and asked questions.

In the evening, we went to the Party against Poverty” in the Club Deep. Ben, one of the guys who had organized the event in New York, had promoted the event during the Labor Day Parade in the morning and we were able to get our name on the guest list. I was very enthusiastic before I went there: Ben had promised a fashion show with GCAP clothes (Make Poverty History underwear!), and Kumi agreed to say a few words to the crowd. But when I arrived at the nightclub, I was soon getting disappointed. There was no speech, no fashion show and no other information about GCAP or what this party was for. The only hint was a table at the entrance where volunteers were selling white bands for the Katrina victims (!!!). I was really disappointed and felt that it was a shame to have a party against poverty, if it is organized in such a way. Party and poverty are two things that are not going together from an ethical perspective, so if you decide to organize a party against poverty, then you should at least ensure that enough information is given out for people to know why the party is organized and what the issues are that are being addressed.
But well, I hope that the parties in other cities (as this was a global initiative with parallel parties in 8 cities on 3 continents) provided more information for people and that it actually helped to raise awareness about the MDGs. And after all, I got at least a good impression about New York’s nightlife and I enjoyed a great day with lots of activities.

The White Band Day 2 (September 10th) and the UN Millennium +5 Summit (14 -16 September) are coming soon. Loads of news about different celebratory events/campaigns all around the world made me so excited! I could feel a heat igniting people's determination to alleviate extreme poverty worldwide. Still, wonder why here in Vietnam, my beloved homeland, there is no such atmosphere on this occasion.

Every now and then, coming across some "high-class" news like this 2 below, I somehow felt not satisfied at all. General overview can always lure the truths. There are more voices from civil society that need raising, but they still seem to be a missing bit in the jigsaw puzzle at the moment.

But behold! I'm planning to organize an online forum for youth to question representatives from our government and to discuss with the Vietnam GCAP group about what have been going on here. It may BE A CHANGE :)

------------------

VIETNAM IS PROUD OF ACHIEVEMENTS IN IMPLEMENTING MDGs

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/social/2005/09/486304/

The Vietnamese people are proud of their important achievements in implementing the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which have been praised by the UN and international community, said Ngo Anh Dung, Vice Chairman of the NA Committee for External Relations.

Mr Dung said that with the renovation policy initiated by the Party, Vietnam has actively and effectively contributed to the achievement of the MDGs, and with its high and increasing growth rate over the past 20 years. Vietnam has successfully implemented the comprehensive national strategy on poverty alleviation. By 2004, Vietnam had reduced the poverty rate by nearly three fifths, surpassing the millennium goal of halving the poverty rate by 2015 far ahead of schedule.

Moreover, Vietnam has made progress in almost all areas of the MDGs, such as education, gender equality, healthcare, disease prevention, and sustainable environmental protection.

The Vietnamese National Assembly has actively and effectively contributed to the national achievements by building a legal framework, allocating budget funding, assisting and supervising the implementation of socio-economic development policy, as well as by actively and comprehensively combining MDGs with the country's socio-economic development targets and plans, encouraging all people to take part in implementing them.

The Vietnamese National Assembly has hosted many important inter-parliamentary activities, including the 23rd General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Organisation (AIPO) in 2002, and the Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership in 2004, and Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum in 2005. These activities vividly reflected the international friendship, unity and coordination among regional parliaments in a series of regional and global matters. The close cooperation and mutual support among parliaments and governments at national, regional, inter-regional and world levels have contributed to the effective implementation of MDGs.

Vietnam's significant achievements have been highly praised by international friends, including the UN Development Programme. Jordan Ryan, Resident Representative of UNDP in Vietnam, has spoken highly about Vietnam's great socio-economic development achievements with the important role of the Vietnamese National Assembly and the renewal of the law making body's activities.
He said because of Vietnam's achievements and its prestige in the world, many developing countries want to share Vietnam's experiences in implementing MDGs. Vietnamese NA Chairman Nguyen Van An will have interesting meetings with many other speakers of parliaments, while he is in New York to attend the World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments scheduled for September 7-9.

At the conference, Chairman An will present Vietnam's viewpoint in global matters and convey a message from the Vietnamese National Assembly and people to law makers and people throughout the world, expressing Vietnam's gratitude for their valuable assistance to Vietnam's national construction. The Vietnamese National Assembly pledged to continue actively contributing to the inter-parliamentary cooperation for the MDGs, for peace, stability, prosperity and equality for humankind.

Source: VNA
--------------------

VIETNAM MAKES PROGRESS IN IMPLEMENTING UN MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS

http://www.vov.org.vn/2005_09_02/english/economics1.htm

In December 2000, 189 nations adopted the Millennium Declaration at the UN Summit. The United Nation's Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are represented by eight major statements covering 33 global issues anticipated this century, so that the world can unite in development. Vietnam started to implement its programme immediately after signing the joint statement, and during the past five years, the country has gained remarkable achievements in the implementation of the MDGs.

The major MDGs include eradicating extreme poverty and hunger; achieving universal primary education; promoting gender equality; reducing child mortality; improving maternal health; combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; ensuring environmental sustainability, and building a global partnership for development. Based on the Socio-economic Development Strategy's annual and five-year targets, Vietnam has made remarkable achievements in implementing the MDG.

Over the past 10 years, Vietnam has successfully achieved the goal of halving the proportion of poor and hunger according to international standards in comparison with the early 1990s. With the current poverty rate of 10 percent, Vietnam reached the goal two years early. According to the World Bank poverty standard, the poverty rate also halved in the period of 1993-2004, reducing from 58 percent to 24 percent.

More Vietnamese children have completed primary education, since the Government set up a national education system. The 2001–2005 National Targeted Programme on Training and Education aims to ensure that by 2015, all boys and girls will be able to complete primary school.

Deputy head of General National Economic Department Nguyen Tu Nhat highly valued the education achievements Vietnam has made in his report to the United Nations.

"After many years of focusing on deploying the Universal Primary Education Programme, Vietnam achieved the national standard regarding illiteracy elimination and universal primary education in 2000," Mr Nhat elaborated. "In 2002, the literacy rate for children and adults aged from 15 to 24 reached 94 percent. In general, education universalisation has achieved remarkable successes across the country. At the beginning of the 2001-2002 school year, the universal primary education rate across each region was at least 90 percent."

In terms of gender equality, Vietnam has achieved significant success in promoting gender equality and women empowerment. Gender disparities in education and labour-employment have fallen and the participation of women in leadership and management is increasing. Approximately 50.8 percent of population is women, which made up 48.2 percent of total labour force that plays a significant role in the socio-economic development of the country.

Regarding the goal of ensuring environmental sustainability, Vietnam has gained achievements in increasing forest coverage and the proportion of the population with access to clean water and sanitation, and solid waste collection and treatment. Over the past 10 years, the constantly increasing proportion of forest coverage was a key achievement. Forest coverage proportion has been growing steadily to reach 38 percent in 2005. The proportion of population with access to clean water and better sanitation continues to grow. Vietnam has been recognised for achieving such significant progress thanks to appropriate rural polices.

When discussing the implementation of the MDGs in Vietnam, chief of planning and social policy at the UN Children’s Fund Vietnam Country Office Dan Seymour highlighted the importance of forward planning when implementing the MDGs in Vietnam.

"This millennium development process is a good opportunity at this point of time in Vietnam, especially as we look to the Vietnamese development plan for 2006-2010," Mr Seymour said. "This is an important time in Vietnam’s national planning process, and at this point we’re looking forward to the development goals from development declarations to end goals at the same time that we’re thinking forward to the plan, procedures, policies, and programme for the next five-year period."

While it has gained some remarkable achievements relating to the MDGs, Vietnam is still facing a lot of difficulties and challenges. Vietnam is still a poor and developing country. The economic structuring from a centrally planned economy to the socialist-oriented market economy has been slow. In addition, the income gap between people from different sectors and different areas has increased remarkably. Despite these difficulties, these MDGs are of significance to help Vietnam realise its strategic programmes and plans to implement the country’s socio-economic targets.

Source: VOV

Youth and the MDG: Radio Program Launches

Voice of the Youth Network, Philippine Resources for Sustainable Development and DZME Radyo Uno 1530 kHz Release

Manila, August 13th 2005 - Philippine Resources for Sustainable Development together with "Lakas Kabataan - Tinig Kabataan Fully Charged!" a radio program of Voice of the Youth Network ( voty.org), launched today "YOUTH VOICES ON AIR: Walking the Talk on MDG."

Starting with its first segment a day after the International Youth Day, the 2-month radio program, to be aired every Saturday, 12-1 pm, aims to build youth-led multi-stakeholder partnerships for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals(MDG) by raising awareness on the Goals among Filipino youth through a multi-media platform.

In the march to raising awareness on the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), the Philippines , most notably through its extensive pool of non-government organizations (NGOs) and development-oriented institutions, is progressively gaining public support and continually reaching out to key stakeholders to do their share to achieve the Goals and targets.

Yet there is an evident lack of inclusive participation and active engagement of and by young people in this important process of building community consciousness of the MDG. It is unfortunate that avenues available for Filipino youth to participate in the campaign is either limited or simply not there.

By making use of ICTs, the project will involve key stakeholders and decision-makers from the Government, private sector, civil society, and, most importantly, young people in an interactive debate on pressing global and national issues related to the MDG; and nurture a vibrant community of Filipino youth advocating and working for the MDG

An introductory song capturing each weekly episode's featured Goal will be played to enliven the discussions. These songs sung by Filipino artists were written in Tagalog and English and compiled as an MDG awareness album that will soon hit the airwaves. A first of its kind in the MDG Campaign circuit!

Tune into DZME RADYO UNO 1530 kHz

http://www.millenniumcampaign.org/site/apps/nl/content3.asp?c=grKVL2NLE&b=190470&ct=1293811

YOUTH VOICES ON AIR:

Walking the Talk on the

MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS


"ON LINE VOICES ON THE MDGs" Episode 1

As presented by:

Philippine Resources for Sustainable Development (PRSD) And Voice of the Youth (VOTY) Network

On air at:

DZME 1530 kHz Ang Radyo Uno (The Radio One)

Saturdays 12 – 1pm

FULLY CHARGED!!!

Mabuhay! Greetings from the Filipino Youth!

"L akas – Kabataan (Youth Power) - Tinig Kabataan (Voice of the Youth): RECHARGED!" enters its Second year on the Airwaves with a BANG!


VOTY Network is now " FULLY CHARGED!" in Informing, Inspiring, Involving and Empowering the Filipino Youth as it welcomes a partnership with Philippine Resources for Sustainable Development (PRSD) in launching and airing YOUTH VOICES ON AIR: Walking the Talk on the MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS!

A re the young Filipinos aware of the MDGs? What's the point? What's the buzz? Where are we now? What's in store for us? Who's working on it? What can we do about it?

These are just some of the questions the Filipino Youth would aim to answer during the 9 – part DZME Radio Series of PRSD and VOTY dedicated to each of the MDGs.

"ON LINE VOICES ON THE MDGs" is a cyber newsletter based onthe weekly transcripts of each episodes of the radio program.

August 13, 2005

Take it from Lilo: "NOONE GETS LEFT BEHIND."

What's the point of these young people talking about the MDGs on-air on a typical Saturday noon? (When they could just hang out on a mall or watch a noontime TV Show or sleep).

It's high time for young people who would inevitably inherit everything, to care about all the opportunities and of course, all the problems ahead and the actions to solve these problems.

As Bob Sagun, 25 years old and founder of PRSD puts it… "We should raise awareness among the Filipino youth on how important the MDGs are and how they could act on it" through "building multi-stakeholder partnerships towards its achievement in the country".

For 18 yr. old Angelicum Oda , VOTY director for ICT and Volunteer for the UNV Philippines, "it's a great opportunity to share what VOTY and other organizations has done to spread awareness on the MDGs and how the youth can replicate these to their own communities."

Still, not all Filipinos are aware of the MDGs and that the whole world is actually aiming for them since it's formation as a result of the Millenium Declaration. This is despite the fact, that in June 2005, the Philippines already launched the second progress report of the MDGs for the first five years.

Our first guest resource speaker, Spanish Sandra Romero , program officer of the UN Volunteer – Philippines, believes that Filipino awareness on the MDGs is still very low. "We have to share the information with everybody and make the media more educative."

S o why should the youth care about the MDGs? Sandra stresses that the youth are often misconstrued as a generation in the midst of crisis in identity. That's why, " the MDGs are a very good excuse to tell everyone that the youth actually have something to fight for, like ending poverty, where young people can work all together".

TO RECHARGE THE EFFORT

A Promise to the People

A gain, what's the point of having the MDGs in the first place?

Of course, it's every citizen's and every country's dream to end poverty, have gender equality, education for all, live a healthy life etc. even before the MDGs are conceived. So, now the UN has set a target date countries in the world to accomplish these dreams… 2015.

Angelicum explains that the UN has somehow reformatted these goals and actions into such blueprint to boost their efforts. VOTY chief operating officer, Ion Gonzaga, 22, believes that the target date on achieving the MDGs is necessary unlike other programs simply fail because they don't have specific deadline.

As for the Philippines, Sandra says that the entire government has agreed and signed for the MDGs and has committed itself to its achievement. VOTY founder Choy Gonzales, adds that the government has incorporated the MDGs to its Medium Term Development Plan or MTDP.

For Bob, even if we can say that the MDGs in a sense, is just a paper... "What's more important is that 200 governments signed this document and we can always refer to it when a country does not act on its commitments."

"And that the Filipino youth should make the government know that we are aware of the promise they made and that they should keep it," Angelicum adds.

More than anything else, the Philippines signing the MDG is a promise and commitment to the Filipino people. It's not just a deal with the United Nations as an international agency.

In other countries, Angelicum says that the young people in Vietnam especially the UNV, have been organizing events and projects and the monthly basis so as not to stop the cycle for the whole year. They are disseminating information by discussing the MDGs in all of the schools in one of the capitals, something worth duplicating here.




SPREAD THE NEWS

Resty Flores, 18, student of Polytechnic of the Philippines, inquires what the UNV and other organizations have been doing to spread the news about the MDGs. In fact, he testified that majority of the students in his university are not aware of it if not for VOTY, he wouldn't know what the MDGs are all about.

Sandra says that UNV has started several programs in other universities, like in De La Salle, Ateneo and University of the East and their response has been supportive. She says that a great start is for the Department of Education to include the MDGs in the curricula. Angelicum adds that partnership with universities is a project under the United Nations' Information Technology Service, wherein volunteers are sent to help out for IT applications and the like.


U NV, PRSD and VOTY are more than willing to coordinate with universities and conduct forums to make students aware that they are actually helping out in accomplishing the MDGs through their community development works.


WHAT HAPPENS AFTER 2015?

What happens if the country fails to accomplish the MDGs after 2015? Is there a sanction? (Quite candid, yet a serious question.)

Sandra explains that there are no sanctions for the government, but perhaps it's a good proposal. The accountability is very much a question in all the countries. The MDGs are very general goals though they have specific targets. It is a design to link the government with the civil society and international communities. UN created the MDGs as a good resource and reference for agencies, local and national government.

It doesn't have to end in 2015 and right now, we should work, assess and evaluate. 10 more years to go and the Filipino Youth, VOTY and PRSD are more than willing to take that challenge!

Stay Tuned for the next episodes of Youth Voices on Air: Walking the Talk on the MDGs as we randomly discuss, debate, talk and act on each of the goals.


PROFILES

Sandra Romero came first in the Philippines in 2003 and stayed for one and a half year as a representative of a Spanish NGO. She came back in the country January 2005, now as a program officer of the UN Volunteer Philippines. UNV tackles several advocacies focusing on the volunteerism, youth, gender issues, HIV/AIDS, peace and development and ICT. Sandra has traveled in the country and loves Sagada and Pagudpod.

Angelicum Oda is one of the most active UNV Philippines volunteer since 2002. He created its website, www.UNV-Ph.org. He's been featured in several broadsheets, papers and television programs after receiving international recognition for creating www.youngmdg.com which awarded him travels to Jamaica and Los Angeles this year. He says that it's an honor to work with the UNV because of its wider scope of beneficiaries.

HEAR IT FIRST: TAYO – TAYO SONG

The theme song and anthem of the Millennium Development Goals in the Philippines, entitle "TAYO – TAYO" was launched and first aired in Lakas Kabataan – Tinig Kabataan: FULLY CHARGED!!! The Philippines is the first country to have a song for the MDG, which would surely be a hit!

Several acclaimed Filipino Singers and Artists have collaborated for free to create such an inspiring and cool song that is truly fit for the Pinoy's taste. Aside from the "Tayo-tayo" MDG theme, there are also singles dedicated to each of the goals.

Some of the artists featured in the song are: Lea Salonga, Sharon Cuneta, Gary V., Ariel Rivera, Kitchie Nadal, MYMP, Rico Blanco, Aiza Siguerra, Christian Bautista, APO Hiking Society and Freddie Aguilar and a lot more. The song is available to download online for free at www.UNV-ph.org

Also in LKTK, the Youth Power 2005 Conference and Expo theme song was first played. "Youth Power" was interpreted by Brenan Espartinez. Songs of upcoming bands like Strawberry Experience was also first aired in LKTK.

"ON LINE VOICES ON THE MDGs" episode 1 – a cyber newsletter

Written by MR. DJ Emsie Reyes

VOTY Media Director, Co-host of LKTK: FULLY CHARGED!

Contact: [email protected] www.voty.org