Thursday, May 17, 2007
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Foreign Aid in the Budget
Ben's blog
Gillian's Blog
"We will spare no effort to free our fellow men, women and children from the abject and dehumanising conditions of extreme poverty, to which more than a billion of them are currently subjected."
Merkel vows to press G8 on Africa aid pledges
" BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel, holder of the G8 presidency, said on Tuesday she would press rich nations to fulfil aid pledges to Africa made two years ago but some critics said Germany itself was a laggard.
Under Britain's presidency in 2005, the Group of Eight leading industrialised countries promised to double aid to Africa by 2010 and wipe out more than $40 billion of poor nations' debt."
link
Studies show Government needs to increase aid
Studies show Government needs to increase aid
Thursday, 10 May 2007, 9:46 am
Press Release: Oxfam
Oxfam New Zealand Media Backgrounder
Recent studies show Government needs to increase aid levels
Oxfam New Zealand have called on the government to increase its development assistance levels for the forth-coming budget, following the release of several reports showing that New Zealand is still giving some of the lowest levels of aid per capita.
"A series of reports released over the past month indicate that New Zealand delivers quality aid, but the overall level of aid per capita is still far too low," says Barry Coates, Executive Director of Oxfam New Zealand. "We're really hoping the government will act on the chorus of concerns about its aid levels with a substantial increase in this year's budget."
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Currently, New Zealand's overseas aid comprises 0.27% of its Gross National Income (GNI). The New Zealand budget for 2007/2008 will be delivered on 17 May 2007.
Recent research includes:
• On 1 May 2007, the Global Campaign for Education released its 2007 annual report, ranking New Zealand with a 'C' grade for significantly increasing the amount of bilateral basic education aid provided. According to the report, this grade could have been significantly higher had the government committed to meet the 0.7 percent aid target. Oxfam is a member of the Global Campaign for Education (GCE), a worldwide movement established in 1999 to ensure that governments act now to deliver the right of every girl, boy, woman and man to a free, quality education. www.campaignforeducation.org
• On 4 April 2007, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) released donor figures for the year 2006, which showed that New Zealand is the sixth lowest foreign aid giver, based on the percentage of gross national income (GNI) spent on overseas development assistance. The figures show that in the past year the New Zealand government had maintained its level of aid as a proportion of GNI at 0.27 percent. www.oecd.org
• On 9 March 2007, Oxfam released a report that found the UN Central Emergency Response Fund's potential to help millions of people was not being reached because contributions to the Fund by wealthy countries including New Zealand were falling short. According to the report, New Zealand has pledged US$1 million or half its fair share of the amount required. www.oxfam.org.nz/news.asp?aid=1393
Successive New Zealand governments have repeatedly pledged to meet the United Nations target to give 0.7 percent of their GNI in development assistance by 2015. In September 2005, the Labour Party announced it would increase the ODA budget as a percentage of GNI to 0.35 percent by 2010; however since then there has been no increase.
ENDS
link
Oxfam welcomes increase in foreign aid
Oxfam welcomes increase in foreign aid
Monday, 14 May 2007, 1:33 pm
Press Release: Oxfam
Oxfam welcomes increase in foreign aid
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday 14 May
Oxfam welcomes the increase in overseas development assistance announced today as part of the Government's 2007-2008 Budget.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced that the Government would meet their election promise and increase their foreign aid assistance to 0.35 percent of Gross National Income (GNI) by 2010-11. New Zealand's expenditure on overseas aid will be progressively raised from the current 0.27 percent over the next three years. This represents a significant injection of millions more dollars for some of the world's poorest and most vulnerable peoples.
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"Our government aid has proven to be extremely effective, and we are delighted that the increase in development assistance will help those in desperate need of our help," says Oxfam New Zealand's Executive Director Barry Coates.
Coates, who attended today's announcement, said that the extra money would be invaluable in the Pacific, where much of New Zealand's assistance is spent.
"The Pacific is facing multiple pressures. An increase in assistance is desperately needed to combat the interrelated problems of economic stagnation, high youth unemployment, destruction of natural resources, conflict and crime, poor health and pandemics, poor governance and natural disasters, including those related to climate change."
"This increase in aid is an investment. A prosperous, sustainable and peaceful region is not only of benefit to those living in poverty, but to every kiwi. The Government should be congratulated for recognising this."
The announcement comes after ongoing lobbying and campaigning from organisations such as Oxfam, who have long called for an increase in New Zealand's aid levels.
The increase in aid spending places New Zealand half-way toward the globally-agreed United Nations target of 0.7 percent of GNI by 2015. Oxfam will continue working with others to encourage cross-Party support to establish a timetable to meet the UN agreed target of 0.7 percent.
link
Monday, 14 May 2007, 1:33 pm
Press Release: Oxfam
Oxfam welcomes increase in foreign aid
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday 14 May
Oxfam welcomes the increase in overseas development assistance announced today as part of the Government's 2007-2008 Budget.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced that the Government would meet their election promise and increase their foreign aid assistance to 0.35 percent of Gross National Income (GNI) by 2010-11. New Zealand's expenditure on overseas aid will be progressively raised from the current 0.27 percent over the next three years. This represents a significant injection of millions more dollars for some of the world's poorest and most vulnerable peoples.
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"Our government aid has proven to be extremely effective, and we are delighted that the increase in development assistance will help those in desperate need of our help," says Oxfam New Zealand's Executive Director Barry Coates.
Coates, who attended today's announcement, said that the extra money would be invaluable in the Pacific, where much of New Zealand's assistance is spent.
"The Pacific is facing multiple pressures. An increase in assistance is desperately needed to combat the interrelated problems of economic stagnation, high youth unemployment, destruction of natural resources, conflict and crime, poor health and pandemics, poor governance and natural disasters, including those related to climate change."
"This increase in aid is an investment. A prosperous, sustainable and peaceful region is not only of benefit to those living in poverty, but to every kiwi. The Government should be congratulated for recognising this."
The announcement comes after ongoing lobbying and campaigning from organisations such as Oxfam, who have long called for an increase in New Zealand's aid levels.
The increase in aid spending places New Zealand half-way toward the globally-agreed United Nations target of 0.7 percent of GNI by 2015. Oxfam will continue working with others to encourage cross-Party support to establish a timetable to meet the UN agreed target of 0.7 percent.
link
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Oxfam: G8 nations must deliver on promise
"Launched a month ahead of the next G8 meeting, in Heiligdamm, Germany, the report says that instead of meeting the target of $50-billion (about R350-billion) annually - set in Scotland, in 2005 - development aid actually fell last year, the first time since 1997.
Ten times more money was being spent by governments on arms, and four times more by America on the war in Iraq. The shortfall in aid by 2010 would be a staggering $30-billion, based on current trends.
The report rejects the assertion that aid doesn't work, saying that especially African governments have increased their spending on the eradication of poverty, and several aid projects have been successful."
link
Ten times more money was being spent by governments on arms, and four times more by America on the war in Iraq. The shortfall in aid by 2010 would be a staggering $30-billion, based on current trends.
The report rejects the assertion that aid doesn't work, saying that especially African governments have increased their spending on the eradication of poverty, and several aid projects have been successful."
link
OXFAM Says G8 Countries Face $30 Billion Shortfall in Promised AID
"“It’s been a mixed bag. Some areas have seen some progress. So, debt relief that was committed to in 2005 has actually led to more money going into health services and education in countries like Malawi or Tanzania. But some of the worrying negative trends have been on aid, where we saw all of the G8 commit to providing $50 billion extra resources to invest in health and education round the world by 2010. And we calculated today that actually on the current trend those commitments are $30 billion off. So, we’re going to have a $30 billion shortfall by 2010,” she says."
link
link
Friday, May 4, 2007
No hippie kissing required
Sorry, this post will not be asking you to:
Kiss a tree hugging, bead wearing, pot smoking hippie.
Lie in front of a 20 tonne bulldozer.
Chain yourself to a tree.
It will be asking you to do something crazy, zany and wild and that is talk to your friends and family and by doing this help solve the problem of poverty in the world. Just by talking.
The reason talking can solve this problem is because the aid has already been pledge for you twice, once as part of the Millennium Goals in the year 2000 and once in 1970 as part of a U.N resolution.
Our Government along with 21 others have pledge to donate 0.7% of the nation income to help alleviate poverty. Unfortunately Government have terrible memories and we need to remind them. So firstly just inform your friends and family and if you're feeling really game, send a quick email to your local Federal member asking what they are doing in regards to this unfulfilled pledge.
The pledge has actually grown in power since it was first made.
"We are in a position to end extreme poverty within our generation," Director of the UN Millennium Project Jeffrey D. Sachs
“The confluence of the 0.7 target and the Goals is an important one. As this report outlines, ours is the first generation in which the world can halve extreme poverty within the 0.7 envelope. In 1975, when the donor world economy was around half its current size, the Goals would have required much more than 1 percent of GNP from the donors. Today, after two and a half decades of sustained economic growth, the Goals are utterly affordable. No new promises are needed—only following through on commitments already made. “
"Developed countries that have not already done so should establish timetables to achieve the 0.7 per cent target of gross national income for official development assistance by no later than 2015, starting with significant increases no later than 2006 and reaching 0.5 per cent by 2009."
UN Secretary-General Kofi Anna (Cost Benefits)
and the current Government has taken a small step in the right direction.
“Australian Prime Minister John Howard announced a major new commitment to increase Australia's spending on aid to $4 billion by 2010. Oxfam Australia welcomed this increase but urged the Howard Government to also commit to meeting the UN target of giving 0.7 per cent of its national income in aid by 2015.
The increase in the aid budget from around $2.5 billion now to $4 billion in 2010 would only increase Australia's share of aid from the current level of 0.28 per cent of gross national income (GNI) to 0.36 per cent of GNI.
This would still leave Australia languishing in 18th place out of the 22 OECD donors in 2010. “
(Oxfam)
There is a broad spectrum of opinion on how much foreign aid our nation should give, but peoples opinion on delivering on our word, our promise as a nation and of fairness is quite united. The notion of fairness and a fair go has been part of the Australian mindset since our second Prime Minister, Alfred Deakin, instilled it into our culture over a century ago. And it is this fairness that comes into question on this issue.
The Australian Government, by its lack of action and leadership on this issue, is currently allowing a key part of our national identity to be tarnished. All we have to do to help on this pledge is to fulfill what it means to be Australian, to be fair and give people a fair go.
Further reading
Lots of pretty graphs
Kiss a tree hugging, bead wearing, pot smoking hippie.
Lie in front of a 20 tonne bulldozer.
Chain yourself to a tree.
It will be asking you to do something crazy, zany and wild and that is talk to your friends and family and by doing this help solve the problem of poverty in the world. Just by talking.
The reason talking can solve this problem is because the aid has already been pledge for you twice, once as part of the Millennium Goals in the year 2000 and once in 1970 as part of a U.N resolution.
Our Government along with 21 others have pledge to donate 0.7% of the nation income to help alleviate poverty. Unfortunately Government have terrible memories and we need to remind them. So firstly just inform your friends and family and if you're feeling really game, send a quick email to your local Federal member asking what they are doing in regards to this unfulfilled pledge.
The pledge has actually grown in power since it was first made.
"We are in a position to end extreme poverty within our generation," Director of the UN Millennium Project Jeffrey D. Sachs
“The confluence of the 0.7 target and the Goals is an important one. As this report outlines, ours is the first generation in which the world can halve extreme poverty within the 0.7 envelope. In 1975, when the donor world economy was around half its current size, the Goals would have required much more than 1 percent of GNP from the donors. Today, after two and a half decades of sustained economic growth, the Goals are utterly affordable. No new promises are needed—only following through on commitments already made. “
"Developed countries that have not already done so should establish timetables to achieve the 0.7 per cent target of gross national income for official development assistance by no later than 2015, starting with significant increases no later than 2006 and reaching 0.5 per cent by 2009."
UN Secretary-General Kofi Anna (Cost Benefits)
and the current Government has taken a small step in the right direction.
“Australian Prime Minister John Howard announced a major new commitment to increase Australia's spending on aid to $4 billion by 2010. Oxfam Australia welcomed this increase but urged the Howard Government to also commit to meeting the UN target of giving 0.7 per cent of its national income in aid by 2015.
The increase in the aid budget from around $2.5 billion now to $4 billion in 2010 would only increase Australia's share of aid from the current level of 0.28 per cent of gross national income (GNI) to 0.36 per cent of GNI.
This would still leave Australia languishing in 18th place out of the 22 OECD donors in 2010. “
(Oxfam)
There is a broad spectrum of opinion on how much foreign aid our nation should give, but peoples opinion on delivering on our word, our promise as a nation and of fairness is quite united. The notion of fairness and a fair go has been part of the Australian mindset since our second Prime Minister, Alfred Deakin, instilled it into our culture over a century ago. And it is this fairness that comes into question on this issue.
The Australian Government, by its lack of action and leadership on this issue, is currently allowing a key part of our national identity to be tarnished. All we have to do to help on this pledge is to fulfill what it means to be Australian, to be fair and give people a fair go.
Further reading
Lots of pretty graphs
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