ABQ City Council, Gov. Richardson Support MDGs

The Albuquerque City Council and Gov. Bill Richardson both issued Proclamations in support of the Millenium Development Goals.The proclamations came about at the urging of the local coalition for The ONE Campaign, which includes Bread for the World, DATA and RESULTS. Thanks to Heidi Brooks, who worked with an aide to CouncilorMartin Heinrich on the Albuquerque City Council proclamation, and to Vickie Gottlieb,, who worked with Richardson's office on the governor's proclamation. Heidi and Vickie are both RESULTS partners. The proclamations were read at a press conference for White Band Day in Albuquerque on Sept. 10, We’re hoping to get similar proclamations in Santa Fe, Las Cruces, Taos, Valencia County and other communities.
View photos of The ONE Campaign events in Albuquerque
Listen to KUNM Report by Shari Barth

PROCLAMATION BY The Council of the City of Albuquerque
August 15, 2003

WHEREAS more than a billion of our fellow men, women and children are currently subjected to the abject and dehumanizing conditions of extreme poverty; and

WHEREAS we believe that in the best American tradition of helping others help themselves, now is the time to join with other countries in a historic pact for compassion and justice to help the poorest people of the world overcome AIDS and extreme poverty; and

WHEREAS we recognize that a pact including such measures as fair trade, debt relief, fighting corruption and directing additional resources for basic needs - education, health, clean water, food, and care for orphans would transform the futures and hopes of an entire generation in the
poorest countries, at a cost equal to just one percent more of the US budget; and

WHEREAS at the 2000 UN Millennium Summit, 189 Heads of State and government from the North and South, as representatives of their citizens, signed onto the Millennium Declaration, with the urgent mission to "free our fellow men, women and children from the abject and dehumanizing conditions of extreme poverty, to which more than a billion of them are currently subjected"; and

WHEREAS UN General Assembly will convene a follow-up Summit to the 2000 Millennium Summit in New York City on September 14th through 16th undertake a comprehensive review of the progress made towards the commitments articulated in the United Nations Millennium Declaration;

Be it proclaimed that the council, the governing body of the city of Albuquerque, declares its support for the Millennium Development Goals, urges the United States Government to live up to its commitment to meet these goals, and declares September 10, 2005 to be WHITE BAND DAY in Albuquerque in order to draw attention to the Millennium Development Goals declared at the UN Millennium Summit, so that citizens in Albuquerque and beyond can learn about and speak out on this critical issue.