By 2015, all 189 member states of the United Nations have pledged to meet the Millennium Development Goals, a set of targets to reduce global poverty and improve living standards.The deadline may seem far off, but it's not.The MDGs include halting extreme poverty, halting the spread of HIV, AIDS, and giving every child, boys and girls, a primary education.The MDGs are used as a global measure of how well or badly governments are keeping their promises to improve people's lives.The question is, can the goals be met?In Europe and Central Asia, prospects are as varied as the region's 28 countries.Around 60 million people here live on less than $2.00 a day.Yet in Moscow's housing market, just one square meter can sell for $1000.From Tajikistan, where it's unlikely any goals will be met, to Poland and Hungary, where nearly all should be, History and geography make this region unique.Take education During the socialist era.Pre 1991, school enrollment in most countries was almost universal.But in the past 15 years there's been huge social, economic and political change.War, ethnic strife, revolution, all have taken their toll.Education has been badly disrupted in several countries.Teachers are paid late.There's no heating, no running water.These countries will struggle to provide primary education for all by 2015.A major goal is halving the number of people living on less than a dollar a day.But living in a cold climate means spending much more on heating, clothing and food.$2.00 a day has been set as a more realistic poverty line here in countries like Georgia.Even getting to that level by 2015 will be almost impossible.Halting the spread of HIV AIDS is another goal, but this region is now suffering from one of the world's fastest growing epidemics.In 1995, thirty thousand people were HIV positive.By 2004 this had risen to 1.4 million people, most in Russia and the Ukraine.Plus, a new worry is the steep rise in tuberculosis infections, up by 150% in countries like the Ukraine and Armenia.Many countries, even if they don't achieve the goals, will make significant progress towards them.In most places across the region, fewer children under 5 will die.Maternal deaths are already low and are expected to come down further, though figures vary widely from country to country.And gender equality, institutionalized in Soviet times, is still more on track in this region than in other parts of the world.Overall, it's a mixed picture.And as the 2015 deadline approaches, the priority must be getting as close to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals as possible.
Millennium Development Goals
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Timed Transcript
0:00:43.15
By 2015, all 189 member states of the United Nations have pledged to meet the Millennium Development Goals, a set of targets to reduce global poverty and improve living standards.
0:00:55.68
The deadline may seem far off, but it's not.
0:01:00.88
The MDGs include halting extreme poverty, halting the spread of HIV, AIDS, and giving every child, boys and girls, a primary education.
0:01:11.92
The MDGs are used as a global measure of how well or badly governments are keeping their promises to improve people's lives.
0:01:19.6
The question is, can the goals be met?
0:01:24.12
In Europe and Central Asia, prospects are as varied as the region's 28 countries.
0:01:30.12
Around 60 million people here live on less than $2.00 a day.
0:01:33.92
Yet in Moscow's housing market, just one square meter can sell for $1000.
0:01:40.64
From Tajikistan, where it's unlikely any goals will be met, to Poland and Hungary, where nearly all should be, History and geography make this region unique.
0:01:51.8
Take education During the socialist era.
0:01:55
Pre 1991, school enrollment in most countries was almost universal.
0:02:00.24
But in the past 15 years there's been huge social, economic and political change.
0:02:06.08
War, ethnic strife, revolution, all have taken their toll.
0:02:11.16
Education has been badly disrupted in several countries.
0:02:14.84
Teachers are paid late.
0:02:16.24
There's no heating, no running water.
0:02:18.52
These countries will struggle to provide primary education for all by 2015.
0:02:24.96
A major goal is halving the number of people living on less than a dollar a day.
0:02:29.88
But living in a cold climate means spending much more on heating, clothing and food.
0:02:34.88
$2.00 a day has been set as a more realistic poverty line here in countries like Georgia.
0:02:40.92
Even getting to that level by 2015 will be almost impossible.
0:02:46.52
Halting the spread of HIV AIDS is another goal, but this region is now suffering from one of the world's fastest growing epidemics.
0:02:54.6
In 1995, thirty thousand people were HIV positive.
0:02:58.64
By 2004 this had risen to 1.4 million people, most in Russia and the Ukraine.
0:03:05.76
Plus, a new worry is the steep rise in tuberculosis infections, up by 150% in countries like the Ukraine and Armenia.
0:03:16.44
Many countries, even if they don't achieve the goals, will make significant progress towards them.
0:03:22.96
In most places across the region, fewer children under 5 will die.
0:03:28.56
Maternal deaths are already low and are expected to come down further, though figures vary widely from country to country.
0:03:36.48
And gender equality, institutionalized in Soviet times, is still more on track in this region than in other parts of the world.
0:03:45.96
Overall, it's a mixed picture.
0:03:48.32
And as the 2015 deadline approaches, the priority must be getting as close to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals as possible.
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Detail
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Title
Millennium Development Goals
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Description
Informational video about the Millennium Development Goals, targets set by the United Nations to reduce global poverty and improve living standards between 2000 and 2015. Video created in approximately 2005.
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Filename
30158331.mp4
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Usage Terms
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