4.15.2008

The end of end of the begining of poverty

At the Monterrey Financing for Development Conference in 2002, world leaders pledged “to make concrete efforts towards the target of 0.7%” of their national income in international aid. In today’s dollars, that would amount to almost $200 billion each year.
Donor Countries and 0.7% Commitment

Countries already at 0.7%


ODA in 2005 as
% of GNI (gross national income)

Denmark 0.81%

Luxembourg 0.87%

Netherlands 0.82%

Norway 0.93%

Sweden 0.92%



Recent Commitment to Reach 0.7%

Belgium Reach 0.7% by 2010

Finland each 0.44% by 2007 and 0.7% by 2010

France Reach 0.5% by 2007 and 0.7% by 2012

Ireland Reach 0.7% by 2007

United Kingdom 0.47% by 2007-2008 and 0.7% by 2013

All members of the EU 15 0.56% by 2010 and 0.7% by 2015

Public perceptions reflect support for higher levels of aid. When asked what percentage of the federal budget they think goes to foreign aid, Americans' median estimate is 25% of the budget, more than 25 times the actual level. Only 2% of Americans give a correct estimate of 1% of the budget or less. When asked how much of the budget should go to foreign aid, the median response is 10%. Only 13% of Americans believe that the percentage should be 1% or less. Over 60% of Americans believe that contributing 0.7% of national income to meet the Millennium Development Goals is the right thing to do.



Here

It looks like poverty has a perceptual deficit on the eyes of some rich world citizens. Nothing that wouldn't be expected. It's just a profound and fantasy based narrative about their influence on the world's health (end). We always tend to assume larger deeds than the factual actions we make.

But, there is another side of the story, one that is guided by the vision of the enlightened countries, like Sweden. Their moral correctness stand for their actions. Hope we had more of this, and not just little hearts on the chests of powerful people.

Oh World, if you had a voice you would say: "what am I?"

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