In September 2000, all 189 nations of the United Nations held a summit to explore the needs of the world and to formulate action steps that would assure some fundamental values in international relations. Together they signed the Millennium Declaration which includes eight specific goals. In their scope they are the wild hopes for the world. But in their reality, as Joan Kirby RSCJ, UN representative from the Temple for Understanding, has said they are essential steps for the survival of a world in which more than a billion people live on one dollar a day or less.

The goals and the practical ramifications to which they refer are:

1. To eradicate extreme poverty and hunger: Reduce by half the proportion of people living on less than a dollar a day and the proportion who suffer from hunger.
2. To achieve universal primary education: More than 100 million children do not attend school-ensure that all boys and girls complete primary school.
3. To empower women and promote gender equality: two-thirds of illiterate people are women; eliminate gender disparity so that all girls can finish secondary education.
4. To reduce child mortality: 11 million young children die every year.
5. To reduce maternal mortality: In the developing world overall the risk of dying in childbirth is 1 in 48; in Sub-Sahara Africa 1 in 16.
6. To reverse the spread of diseases especially HIV/AIDS and malaria: halt and begin to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS as has happened in several countries, i.e. Brazil, Thailand, Senegal, Uganda. Halt and begin to reverse the incidence of malaria and other major diseases.
7. Ensure environmental sustainability: Reduce by half the number of one billion people who still lack safe drinking water. Improve the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers.
8. Develop a global partnership for development, with targets for aid, trade and debt relief: Economic development is necessary if there is to be reduction of poverty. (adapted from Network Bulletin, September/October 2004)

These goals were formulated before 9/11/01 and the desperation that led to that tragedy is part of the reason why they need to be promoted and accomplished. Cecile Meijer RSCJ, NGO* representative to the United Nations for the Society of the Sacred Heart , stresses that as educators and citizens of the global community we need to work for them and pray for them. She notes that the uppermost goal for the attention of the developed world, the richer nations such as the United States, is Goal Eight, which requires working together by making financial decisions that assist development in other nations of the world.

All of the goals speak to levels of development and the need for the global community to address systemic and structural injustices. These are actions that governments need to take. At the same time each person and community can make a difference by knowing about the Millennium Development Goals and by encouraging the government to implement them. Since our government has made a pledge to do so, we have every right to hold ourselves and our leaders accountable to live their promise.

There is a wild hope for a better world. It fits right in with the beginning of Advent where the prophet reminds us of God's wild hopes for a world of peace and justice. The Millennium Development Goals give us a way to put our faith into action.