Category: Society

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The Millennium Development Goals Report 2014

“The Millennium Development Goals have been the most successful global anti-poverty push in history.

This report examines the latest progress towards achieving the MDGs. It reaffirms that the MDGs have made a profound difference in people’s lives. Global poverty has been halved five years ahead of the 2015 timeframe. Ninety per cent of children in developing regions now enjoy primary education, and disparities between boys and girls in enrolment have narrowed. Remarkable gains have also been made in the fight against malaria and tuberculosis, along with improvements in all health indicators. The likelihood of a child dying before age five has been nearly cut in half over the last two decades. That means that about 17,000 children are saved every day. We also met the target of halving the proportion of people who lack access to improved sources of water.

However, much remains to be done, and now is the time to step up efforts to ensure the success of the MDGs, which will be an important foundation for the global development agenda after 2015.”

“Substantial progress has been made in most areas, but much more effort is needed to reach the set targets.
The post-2015 development agenda is slated to carry on the work of the MDGs and integrate the social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable
development. Continued progress towards the MDGs in the remaining year is essential to provide a solid foundation for the post-2015 development agenda.”

Wu Hongbo
Under-Secretary-General for Economic
and Social Affairs
Sources: <http://endpoverty2015.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/MDG%20Report%202014%20English.pdf>

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Food security- through management of waste and excess?

Battling the Obesity, Food Waste and Hunger Conundrum: Halfsies [Forbes]

Review comment- The problem of hunger affects over one billion people around the world, the irony is the amount of food wasted could effectively solve this problem. The article on Forbes shares an idea, of ‘Halfsies’ where restuarant dinners agree to an arrangement to eat only half their food and donate the other half to charity. Hopefully to help cut food waste and help the customer avoid obesity. This is a good step to build a conscientous attitude against food waste as well as raise funds to help the fight against hunger. Individual responsibility is however still needed.

Forbes report write- “You have likely heard the paradox: 40 percent of food produced in the U.S. is thrown away (enough food trash to fill the Rose Bowl every day), yet it’s now estimated that one in seven people in the world does not have enough to eat (1 billion people). Add to that the fact that 66 percent Americans are overweight from eating increasingly large portion sizes, and you have a dysfunctional feedback loop of waste, hunger and obesity.
Halfsies is a new project designed to help reconfigure this system, giving restaurant diners the option of eating half a portion size – thus creating less waste and fat – and donating a portion of the plate’s cost to charity. While still in the initial stages, the idea is that restaurants will easily be able to offer “halfsies” on the menu, keying information in their POS system to track donations.”
Further it refers to-
Sydney Berry Ling, Co-Founder and Communications Director who explains. “What makes Halfsies unique is the 3-fold impact of a customer choosing to “Go Halfsies,” which provides a healthier meal portion, reduces food waste and supports the fight against hunger. It’s a win-win-win. Plus, it is an ongoing choice, not just something available one day or a week out of the year. It is sustainable.”
While the idea has attracted admirers, it will never solve the complex problems of obesity and world hunger. But the idea of educating eaters about how these issues are intertwined is clearly a step in the right direction.
Thus far the group has created some slick looking pamphlets and a video (below), but getting time with busy restaurant owners to sell them on the idea has been a challenge. The group is still also looking for funding.”
http://www.forbes.com/sites/bethhoffman/2012/02/15/battling-the-obesity-food-waste-and-hunger-conundrum-halfsies/

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‘The hydra-headed monster of sexual and domestic violence: a case for restorative justice?’

Okunwaye, I.C. (2012) ‘The hydra-headed monster of sexual and domestic violence: a case for restorative justice?’, Int. J. Private Law, Vol. 5, No. 3, pp.322–331.

Abstract: The article seeks to ascertain the relevance of restorative justice in sexual and domestic violence, and also extrapolates in depth its relevance with respect to Daly and Cossins’ arguments. While Daly seem to rely on her Sexual Assault Archival Study, as empirical evidence to hold that restorative justice can play a key role in providing victims of sexual assault justice, Cossins insists that the evidence is ‘insufficient’ to allow for restorative justices practices, and rather would prefer a legal reform. The question arises whether there could be a possibility for an integrated approach?

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