Adrian Lovett: World poverty is real and must be tackled now
From a speech by the campaigns director of Oxfam to a UN Development Programme conference, in Paris
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Action without thought and understanding is irresponsible. But thought and understanding without action is unforgivable. Unforgivable when we know the urgency. When we reclaim statistics as the people they truly are.
Action without thought and understanding is irresponsible. But thought and understanding without action is unforgivable. Unforgivable when we know the urgency. When we reclaim statistics as the people they truly are.
The lost security and dignity of an African family in dire poverty - among the quarter of a billion more living on less than a dollar a day by 2015 if we do not act. The lost life chances of a child - one of the 97 million who will still be out of school in 2015 if we do not act.
The lost lives of the unluckiest children - among the 45 million more who will die before 2015 if we do not act.
Thirty thousand children die every day because of the effect of poverty. One child every three seconds. Imagine if that were here, in Paris. Or Berlin. London. Or New York.
Another child every three seconds. If we had the power? How long would we wait? Before we said "Stop".
What we must remember about the Millennium Development Goals - one of the great things about them - is that they are outcome-focused.
By 2015, we want children in school - so we must start paying for it now. By 2015, we want to halve poverty - so we must support families in developing decent and sustainable livelihoods now. By 2015, we want to reverse the spread of Aids - so we must make life-saving action possible now.
It's this sense of urgency - coupled with a belief that 2005 presents a unique opportunity - that drives the Make Poverty History campaign. This coalition is not fundamentalist. It is pragmatic and real.
Just like Jubilee 2000 - which prompted Bill Clinton to comment: "I know a big tent when I see one" - this coalition defies the normal boundaries of ideology, geography and culture.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments