New Resource! Meditations & Devotions on the UN MDGs!
NIGH’s International Co-Director A Featured Contributor

“Alas! When 8-9 million children under the age of 5 are still dying of preventable causes — every year — I am asking why should we be wondering if this is important? This is 10,000 infants and children suffering and dying every day, 365 days a year, every year, forever — until something is done to change this!

This intractable tragedy needs lots of prayer, lots of recognition of needs and millions of deeds still to be done.

We need to spread the word loud and wide until enough people care enough!”

Deva-Marie Beck, PhD, RN
International Co-Director
Nightingale Initiative for Global Health

Meditations and Devotions on the Millennium Development Goals: A Prayerful Guide is an ecumenical, inter-religious book of meditations, commentaries, devotions, prayers, and critical analyses about the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Some 150 people from around the world collaborated in producing the book. They addressed all of the eight United Nations millennium development goals: 1) eradicating extreme poverty and hunger; 2) achieving universal primary education; 3) promoting gender equality and empowerment of women; 4) reducing child mortality; 5) improving maternal health; 6) combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; 7) ensuring environmental sustainability; and 8) developing a global partnership for development.

It includes the full text of the UN General Assembly Millennium Declaration that gave birth to the MDGs and six outcome documents and action points from the Civil Society Development Forums (CSDF) convened in New York, Geneva and Vienna by the Conference of NGOs in consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CoNGO) between 2008 and 2001. Rev. Bautista, as President of CoNGO, chaired the forums between 2007 and 2010 that critically analyzed the MDGs and other internationally agreed development goals. NIGH’s Dr. Beck contributed plenary presentations for these CSDFs on ‘global health’ in 2009, in Geneva and ‘gender issues’ in 2010, in New York. The book also includes the outcome document from the 2011 CSDF focusing on the goal of education for all, especially primary education, chaired by NIGH World Director, the current CoNGO President, Cyril Ritchie.

Its lead author and editor, the Rev. Liberato Bautista, is Assistant General Secretary for United Nations and International Affairs of GBCS. Bautista notes in this book: “The MDGs, if they are to succeed, must be implemented with the intent that charity cannot be the framework under which they are pursued. Rather — justice becomes the ultimate aim of any poverty alleviation program...Those who have been provisioned abundantly are to abundantly provision those who are of greater need. That is justice and equity.”

Its lead author and editor, the Rev. Liberato Bautista, is Assistant General Secretary for United Nations and International Affairs of GBCS. Bautista notes in this book: “The MDGs, if they are to succeed, must be implemented with the intent that charity cannot be the framework under which they are pursued. Rather — justice becomes the ultimate aim of any poverty alleviation program...Those who have been provisioned abundantly are to abundantly provision those who are of greater need. That is justice and equity.”

This 232-page book bears an FSC certification from the Forest Stewardship Council. It was printed using soy ink on paper containing 50% recycled paper. Part of the sales of this not-for-profit publication benefits Imagine No Malaria and the UM Global Aids Fund. Price: US$ 7.95, click here to order. Direct inquiries about the publication to Author Rev. Liberato Bautista at [email protected].

Photos: Rev. Liberato C. Bautista, Author & Dr. Deva-Marie Beck, Featured Contributor, both interviewed at the Lincoln Center in New York City, following a Concert devoted to UN MDGs 4 & 5, on the eve of the United Nations MDGs Summit in September, 2010. Source: NIGH Archives. Cover & designs used with permission.