In September 2000, leaders from around the world convened at the United Nations headquarters in New York City to adopt the Millennium Declaration, through which they committed their countries to a partnership in solving key global issues by the end of 2015. The leaders agreed on eight goals — known as the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) — that range from ending extreme poverty and hunger to reducing child mortality.
Friday marks 1,000 days until the target date for reaching these goals. As a result, the U.N., the U.N. Foundation and other international organizations have initiated Momentum1000, a global 1,000-minute "digital media rally" to raise awareness and galvanize people into action during the next two and a half years and beyond.
The campaign currently has more than 70 partners and hosts participating in online events and dialogues between 8:30 a.m. ET Friday and 1:30 a.m. ET Saturday. The schedule includesTwitter chats, Facebook Q&A sessions, live-streamed conversations and Google+ hangouts that can help guide public conversation and generate ideas for the post-2015 development agenda.
Many strides have been made surrounding the MDGs. Since 1990, extreme poverty around the world has been cut in half, enrollment in primary education in developing regions reached 90% in 2010 and maternal mortality rates have been reduced by 47% within the past 23 years.
However, 870 million people remain hungry, 61 million children are not in school and maternal mortality remains 15 times greater in developing regions than in the developed world. There's still plenty of work to be done.
You can participate in Momentum1000 by visiting the campaign's Facebook page, following the Twitter account @Momentum1000 and using the hashtag #MDGMomentum. Learn more about the rally at Momentum1000.org.
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