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Who inspired you in 2007? Meet those who made a difference last year, tell us who we should know about, and vote for who you think should get the ultimate recognition as OneWorld's Person of the Year.
Image: People of 2007 finalists
In 2000, world leaders committed to ending poverty, ensuring access to education and better health care, and protecting women's rights and the environment — all by 2015. Seven and a half years down, seven and a half to go. Where do we stand, and where are we going?
Image: Showing off white bands to support the Millennium Development Goals. © Millennium Campaign
As long as inequities exist between countries, people will go where they see a better life for themselves and their families. But how much immigration and emigration is too much of a good thing? What rights and responsibilities do migrants and governments have, and where do we go from here?
Image: © New America Media
Climate change is real, it's here, and it's impacting practically every aspect of society — poverty, migration, conflict, health... you name it. OneWorld brings you the latest news, features, tv clips, and action ideas. Help build a "fair climate" world on OneClimate.net and in Second Life, join the Climate Talk, and be inspired!
Image: © Peter Armstrong
There is much to celebrate on International Women's Day — and every day! In many countries women have more opportunities for education and stronger rights than ever before. And where discrimination, gender violence, and inequality persist, dynamic women and men are working to change the status quo. OneWorld brings you their stories — and more on gender and equality.
Image: Indian child brides speak out, through video.
They inspired, innovated, and improved lives over the past year. Now it's your turn to be inspired by some of the many people who made a difference in 2006, and then vote for OneWorld's Person of the Year. Don't forget to tell us about other people who should be recognized, and check back in late January to find out who OneWorlders around the world have chosen.
Prague’s holiday feasts will include carp and potato salad, while the Malagasy enjoy rice and zebu this month. In the United States it’s turkey and stuffing. But in a world that produces enough to feed a growing population, why do nearly 1 billion people still go hungry? This issue of Perspectives takes a closer look at the links between agriculture and poverty worldwide and assesses the impacts of growing trends to buy organic, local, and fairly traded products.
Image: Cooperative garden in downtown Caracas. © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
From the slums of Calcutta to the outskirts of Kabul, more children than ever are getting the opportunity to go to school. But are they getting the education they need to thrive in today’s globalized world? As many children around the globe are returning for a new school year this September, Perspectives examines the status of education worldwide, analyzing the challenges we all face while highlighting some of the most promising and innovative initiatives. Find out what governments can be doing, what civil society groups are doing, and what you can do to help children “learn the future”!
Image: Nicaraguan student. © Esteban Feix / Academy for Educational Development
Although diseases tend not to discriminate, it is those in poor countries who have little means to fight back, and poverty remains a common root cause of ill health. With goverments often committing few resources to healthcare and pharmaceutical companies concerned primarily about their bottom lines, international agencies struggle to fill the voids. There are interventions, though, where a little bit of money can go a long way, and innovative solutions to health crises have occured all over the globe.
Image: Camels carry medicines, and the solar panels to keep them cool, in northern Africa. © Source: Nova Independent Resources, Ltd.
There has been more strategic thinking about preventing genocide and conflict of late, more awareness about why it’s vital, and less impunity for war criminals. Civil society groups are doing innovative peace building work too, but preventing genocide—or preventing conflict before it becomes genocide—remains no easy task, the work is under-funded, and there is little unity of purpose among governments and international organizations.
Image: © DPI / United Nations
Women have more opportunities for education and stronger legal rights in many countries, they are taking leadership roles in local communities, and remain at the forefront of the peace movement. But degrading cultural attitudes and gender violence remain universal problems. As International Women’s Day approaches, it’s time to take stock of how women's status has changed over the years and where we stand today, and remember why it matters.
Global trade takes center stage this month as financial leaders will make decisions that impact us all at the Word Trade Organization’s highest-level meeting in Hong Kong. The developing world will argue that today’s “free” trade system disadvantages small farmers struggling to survive. In addition to attempts to reform this system, a global pocketbook revolution has been underway for years to make trade fair. Find out how your buying choices can make a difference this holiday season.
From Indonesia to New Orleans, Pakistan, and beyond, the world community has pulled together to respond generously to the tragedies of the past year. Nonetheless, natural disasters have been increasing in frequency, impact, and cost; are we any more prepared to deal with them—either before or after they occur? While apathy persists and governments are not always forthcoming with resources to support preparedness, lessons have been learned. Among these is recognition that long-term planning and building local capacity can lessen the impact of unforeseen events, especially on vulnerable populations and in the developing world.
Image: © NOAA, U.S. Dept. of Commerce
In mid-September, world leaders will gather at the United Nations to take stock of progress to cut global poverty in half by 2015. To date, some countries are making strides, while the poor are getting poorer in others. Nonetheless, governments, U.N. agencies, and civil society groups have all rallied around global goals to “make poverty history” and have generated unprecedented public support in the process.
Image: © Millennium Campaign
World leaders discussed climate change at the G8 summit (July 6-8) and acknowledged that it was a "serious and long term challenge," but they failed to come to any binding agreements to limit greenhouse gas emissions. When citizens get involved and start demanding cleaner options, however, vast strides can be made to ensure a more sustainable future for us all.
Image: © Techniquest, Cardiff U.K.
The international agreements that have long minimized the terrible danger posed by nuclear weapons are now threatening to unravel. As governments meet in New York in May 2005 to take stock of nuclear risks, civil society groups argue that the complacency--and hypocrisy--that has beset this vital issue needs to be overcome.
Image: © Nuclear Age Peace Foundation
Human trafficking affects hundreds of thousands of lives every year, and especially those of young women and girls. The good news is that the international community is paying more attention than ever. Learn what governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and concerned citizens are doing to combat trafficking--on the social, economic, educational, and legal fronts.
Image: © International Catholic Migration Commission



