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September 04, 2006
Public not private - the key to ending global poverty
Oxfam has just brought out its latest report: “In the Public Interest: health, education, and water and sanitation for all”
The September 1st report looks at what has worked up to now when addressing these issues, what has not worked, how public society is picking up some of the pieces, but acknowledging the essential need of both governments of developing and developed countries to work together in order to increase their success.
“Change is possible, but it will take concerted action by developing country governments, supported, not undermined, by rich countries, and held to account by active citizens demanding their rights.”
As a conclusion to the report they write the following:
"Within a generation, for the first time in history, every child in the world could be in school.
Every woman could give birth with the best possible chance that neither she nor her baby
would die. Everyone could drink water without risking their lives. Millions of new health
workers and teachers could be saving lives and shaping minds.
We know how to get there: political leadership, government action, and public services,
supported by long-term flexible aid from rich countries and the cancellation of debt.
We know that the market alone cannot do this. Civil society can pick up some of the pieces,
but governments must act. There is no short cut, and no other way.
To achieve these goals, developing country governments must fulfil their responsibilities,
their citizens must pressure them to do so, and rich countries must support and not
undermine them."
‘Poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions
of human beings. And overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice.
It is the protection of a fundamental human right; the right to dignity and a decent life.
While poverty persists, there is no freedom.’
Nelson Mandela's speech at launch of Make Poverty History campaign, Trafalgar Square, London, 3 February 2005
Take a closer look at the report.
About Oxfam.
Posted on 4 September 2006 in Nonprofit, Corporate Responsibility, Development
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