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If you missed Obama's speech at the United Nations High Level Meeting on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), here is a bullet point summary.
Please note that all annotations in bold are my additions. This summary is not verbatim. It is an interpreted summary.
- Obama started his speech discussing historic significance of the Human Rights Charter, etc.
- Development in one nation is tied with another. Development in any nation also also serves our interests [as American’s].
- Progress towards the MDGs has occurred.
o But, progress on some goals (e.g. MDGs 4 and 5) hasn’t gone far enough
o If we continue to keep on the same trajectory we wont succeed and achieve the MDGs.
- It is hard work, but progress is possible.
- US has rebuilt multilateral engagement. Rebuilding USAID. To make sure USA will be global leader in aid/development.
- New global development policy by USA-
o USA is changing the way we define development.
§ Poverty à prosperity.
§ Trade policies [the USA currently subsidizes sugar, cotton and milk and other tropical commodities]
o Polio funding [polio is over 95% eradicated. This investment is crucial]
o Funding for global fund to combat HIV/AIDs/Malaria and other diseases.
o The USA will lead in times of crisis- Haiti and Pakistan.
o The USA will be "Creating conditions in which assistance is no longer needed”
- The US will partner with countries that are willing to take the lead.
- New emphasis on "Broad Based Economic Growth."
o Used the analogy of South Korea as an example.
o Keep pushing for a Doha Round that is balanced
o Leading global effort to combat corruption.
§ Disclosure of payments to foreign governments by corporations is now mandatory in the USA.
§ USA will focus on Tanzania because he considers it to be transparent.
- Focus on investment in women and women entrepreneurs.
- Final Message to developed countries: Let’s honor our commitments. Resolve to put an end to hollow promises that are not kept. Focus not on money but on results.
- Final message to developing countries: your leadership is crucial. Only you and your people can make the sustainable investments of your people. We can be partners, but you must take the lead.
- Closing statement: No one nation can do everything and do it everywhere. Just as this work cannot be done by one government. Business, NGOs etc are crucial. Division of labor is crucial.
Update: You can see the full text of Obama's comments on the Whitehouse site. |
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