Today is the start of the G8 and G20 summits of world leaders about sustaining global economies and course correction for achieving the lofty and laudable Millennium Development Goals (including halting the global HIV/AIDS crisis, ending poverty worldwide, providing universal education, achieving gender equality, improving child and maternal health, increasing environmental sustainability, and creating a global partnership).
At each year’s summit meetings (this year in Ontario, Canada), protesters raise their voices outside the meetings, but we can all assert our priorities that we’d like leaders of the world’s nations to heed. With all the “8” and “20” talk, I’m pretty fond of another number: ONE. Pop over to the website for ONE (an activity I recommend doing with some regularity to check on the most recent issues) and learn more about some of the global priorities and progress. There, you’ll find a petition to the leaders of the G8/G20 to try and secure a promise to train and recruit 3.5 million healthworkers to make sure no mother ever has to give birth alone.
From the ONE web petition (sign here):
Overview
The facts are shocking: Every year more than 300,000 women die in pregnancy and childbirth; 3.6 million children die within their first month of life; and 5.2 million more die before they reach 5 years of age.
On June 25, 2010, G8 leaders will meet to sign onto a new maternal and child health initiative. ONE is asking for a commitment to recruit and train 3.5 million additional healthcare workers as part of a comprehensive package to help mothers and children in the developing world.
Change by Doing 