One billion people live on less than $1.00 a day...that’s roughly one out of every six people on the planet!  Could you?  Probably not!  Is anybody doing anything to eradicate poverty and make the world a better place?  The answer is yes!

At the start of the new millennium, leaders from 191 nations, including The United States, agreed on a plan to cut extreme global poverty in half by 2015.  Together, they created the Millennium Development Goals  (MDGs).  What are they?

1.      Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.

2.     Achieve universal primary education for children.

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.     Create a global partnership for development.

You are not alone in asking what you, as just one person, can do to make the world a better place.  But it is up to you to start the change by choosing to do something.  If you feel overwhelmed start small and simple.  Pray actively for the world’s poorest countries.  Raise awareness in your church and community.  Make a lifestyle change.  Give at least 0.7% of your family income to organizations like Episcopal Relief and Development that fight extreme poverty and hunger.  Donate time, talents and treasure.  This is not a one-time solution to a simple problem.  Start on the road and be open to where it takes you.  It will be a life-time investment in the Kingdom of God.

Visit www.er-d.org/mdg for prayer guides, books, activities, photos, stories and more!

“RESOLVED, that the Vestry of Christ Episcopal Church set a goal to begin in 2007 to give a minimum of 0.7% of the annual parish budget to fund international development programs, directing the Finance Committee to include this provision in the proposed budget for 2007.”

Contact:  Gay Eure  344-0783

Additional Links

Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation: Broad-based communication and education, the following website is a network of relationships as well as an internet presence that provides a clearinghouse of information about the MDGs.

www.e4gr.org

To subscribe to the Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation weekly email "What Can One Do?" go to mkinman@gmail.com.

What is the ONE Campaign?  ONE:  The Campaign to Make Poverty History is an effort by Americans to rally Americans -- ONE by ONE -- to fight global AIDS and extreme poverty.  Founded in 2003, ONE has more than 100 faith-based and humanitarian partners that work together -- to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and make poverty history.  www.one.org

Become a "One" Episcopalian to make poverty history.  www.episcopalchurch.org/ONE

Seed how the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is participating.

www.elca.org/advocacy/one

"Emmanuel's Gift" directed by Lisa Lax and Nancy Stern.

While being born with physical handicaps presents challenges no matter where you're born or under what economic circumstances, in many respects it's even more difficult when you're raised in Ghana, a third world nation where much of the country's population lives in severe poverty and conventional wisdom has it that those born with physical deformities have been cursed by the gods, and are fit to do little more than eke out a living as beggars.  Emmanuel's Gift is a documentary which chronicles Emmauel Ofosu Yeboah's remarkable life and his courageous journey as a handicapped person growing up in Ghana.  (Rated G)