Millennium Development Goals
Roads To Recovery

By Krishna Sharma

JUST when the concept of globalization is gradually making sense in the minds of people, it has been realised by all that development activities cannot be carried out in isolation. With this very idea in mind, the world leaders at the Millennium Summit in September 2000 had agreed unopposed to set the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for achieving sustainable development in the entire world. It is a positive sign that different governments are now trying to formulate their national policies and programmes keeping in mind the MDGs put forward by the Summit - 2000.

Aims

Despite that fact that it has countless problems and is fighting the menace of terrorism at the present moment, Nepal comes first among the UN member countries when it comes to preparing a progress report in line with the MDGs. The United Nations team in Nepal and the government on Monday released the country report about development situation of the country and help streamline the development partners in their common aim of achieving the goal put forward by the UN millennium summit which aims to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, achieving universal primary education, promoting gender equality and empowering women, reducing child mortality, improving maternal health, combating HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases, ensuring environmental sustainability and developing a global partnership for development.

The UN team in Nepal has done exemplary work by bringing out a comprehensive report on Nepal’s development challenges and shortcomings about achieving the MDGs. The report is exemplary not only because it has tried to put the country in the mainstream of development activities but also because it is going to be ‘a model for other countries’ as sought by UN Resident Coordinator in Nepal Dr. Henning Karcher. The UNDP’s country report for Nepal is the first one of its kind which studies the development challenges of the Himalayan Kingdom and provides reasons as to why and how it could be relevant in the country’s present set up.

The report comes more importantly at a time when the planners are working out the 10th Five-Year Plan and the next year’s annual budget preparation is underway. It could be regarded as an eye-opener for the governments, NGOs, INGOs, planners, stakeholders and development partners for the realisation of the MDGs.

However, mere publication of reports and realization of MDGs is not going to do anything for the nation and the development partners, including government and the international development, As they have shown their eagerness in bringing the eight goals of UN Millennium Summit to the national level, they have now a crucial role to play for materialising in the target areas exerting mutually for reducing the poverty line from the existing 38 per cent to 21 by 2015 as envisaged by the MDGs and educating the future stars, among others.

The country does not lag far behind when it comes to development infrastructures. There has been noticeable improvement in many aspects all across the society during the period of 1990 ~2000. Despite internal threats by Maoists since 1996, infant mortality, life expectancy and the literacy rate have recorded improvement.

But it should not be forgotten that while mainframe political, economic and legal tenor of our constitution are of a liberal nature, and economic policies of the government are increasingly neo-liberal, the country has not achieved the expected development goals and human development indicators are still shrugging at the bottom. The reports has, in this regard, rightly pointed out the increasing inequalities between government’s policies and programmes and their implementation aspect. There is no doubt that the respective governments have always been effortful in narrowing the gap between the formulation of specific policies and their implementation, but no sooner after they are launched in the target areas than they fail to materialize due to many reasons.

One of the decisions at the Millennium Summit has it that the industrialized countries will provide financial resources required by the developing nations to implement the programmes and underpin the reforms. The Summit also believes that the developing countries will do their part by implementing pro-poor policies and programmes, practicing good governance, introducing reforms and respecting human rights.

It is high time Nepal, as a developing nation, took advantage of the Millennium Summit decision by materializing the beliefs of the Summit, thereby, implementing its pro-poor policies and introducing good governance. If the government controls rampant corruption, utilizes foreign aid and builds an atmosphere for overall development in the country, the donor agencies and countries will be further encouraged to assist more and that will ultimately help Nepal meet the MDGs in the stipulated time.

Important

The government’s overall reform agenda, poverty reduction strategy paper and medium term expenditure framework are important building blocks, and short-term reform steps announced only last week like prioritizing development projects, decentralizing education and health, civil service reform and enhanced transparency are definitely steps in the right direction. However, concerted honest efforts for the implementation of the reforms on the part of the government and other development partners are most sought after for encouraging and satisfying the donor communities that stand ready to help.

Golden Chance Of Glory For Korea, Japan

By Arun Ranjit

WITH an estimated million soccer fans descending upon Korea and Japan for the 2002 World Cup games, maintaining law and order poses a serious problem for the organising committee.

While the FIFA World Cup is a celebration of the beautiful game and of the spirit of international sportsmanship, security concerns are always of paramount importance. The 2002 World Cup Organising Committee is fully committed to ensuring the safety and security of the fans enjoying the FIFA World Cup.

The organisers are particularly wary of English soccer fans who are notorious. Indeed, the Korean and Japanese authorities are confident that all will go well. They have warned that anyone who gets too rowdy will experience Korean and Japanese jail cell. The Korean and Japanese security officials added that items that spectators are not allowed to bring into stadiums include flagpoles, camera tripods, fireworks, flammable materials, glass and plastic bottles and beverages cans. Also prohibited are frozen foods, various tools, ice box, suitcases, helmets as well as items that could adversely affect the officiating of the games like laser pens, whistles and gas and air horns. People also are not allowed umbrellas, all forms of political and religious signs and banners and paper confetti. No alcoholic beverages, narcotics, or sharp objects are permitted. The use of threatening words or behaviour against referees, players and FIFA officials is also prohibited. Spectators who are expelled for violating general rules cannot ask for a refund. Many volunteers have also been mobilised to help support the FIFA World Cup.

The World Cup has drawn about 400 thousands spectators in Korea and 600 thousand spectators in Japan; hundreds of million more watch it on television throughout the world. Teams from 32 nations are participating in the largest sporting festival. Altogether 64 individual matches are to be held in various cities of Korea and Japan. The last two survivors would face the finals on June 30 in Yokohama of Japan.

If the group division of the teams is to be viewed, the lottery of the 2002 World Cup draw has handed Asia a golden opportunity of making its biggest impact on the global football stage.

The draw has given three out of four Asian teams: China, Japan and Korea to hold out realistic hopes of advancing from what are likely to be closely fought first round groups. Only Saudi Arabia has been left with what looks like an impossible task after being pooled with Germany, Ireland and African champions Cameroon.

China’s debut in World Cup finals highlighted for the Asian teams after they faced Brazil and Costa Rica with whom China lost both the games has hurt their mission of qualifying to the second round in comparison to other team mates of the Group C, China is not a so much weighted team but chances of playing with amateur teams would be an experience for becoming a professional team in further days.

Brazil may have struggled through the South American qualifying competition but few doubt that they will be a much more dangerous outfit by the time the action gets underway, particularly because of Ronaldo who came back in the ground from injury. Brazil is still Brazil nobody can write them off easily.

The Gods of fortune equally smiled upon joint hosts South Korea and Japan. South Korea, particularly, will be optimistic about their chances of progressing from a group that includes highly rated Portugal, the United States and Poland.

The Koreans were happy with the group division they played. The outcome was better than they could have hoped for. In the first game with Poland, South Korea finally exorcised its World Cup demons after 48 years with an emphatic victory over Poland.

However, Poland was one of the first teams to qualify in Europe and Portugal has the potential to reach the semifinals or do even better. There is no weak country and we must never underestimate anyone.

In 10th June’s match of Group D held in South Korea’s Daegu city, the South Korean team finally, in their do or die match with American team, equalized 1-1 and created the room for hopes to advance into the second round.

Japan likewise, will feel they have a chance against Belgium, Russia and Tunisia but they must not make the mistake of believing that a place in the second round is assured. Japan has also still hopes of advancing to the second round even after Japan’s 2-2 draw with Belgium in the it’s opening game on 4th June with Belgium at Saitama city and their win over Russia with 1-0 margin at the match played at Yokohama city.

Asia’s other qualifiers, Saudi Arabia did not have the same luck in the group. It is the tough group. Germany is always one of the strongest teams in the world. Cameroon is also one of the strongest teams in the world soccer field. Thus, being a very strong qualified and experienced teams, as seen, Germany easily beat the Saudi Arabian team at Sapporo on 2nd day of World Cup finals. Also, African tiger Cameroon hardly succeded beat the Saudi Arabian team. This has clouded the Saudi team’s mission of advancing to the second round.

Asians are hoping at least one of their contenders makes it to the second round to bolster the region’s chances of securing at least four places in the finals of the 2006 finals in Germany.

On May 31, the opening ceremony was held at Seoul World Cup Stadium for about 40 minutes delivering the unifying message of peace "From the East".

Following the declaration of the 2002 FIFA World Cup was the kick-off between reigning champions France and the World Cup debutants Senegal. Unexpectedly, Africa’s Senegal defeated the defending champion France with a 1-0 margin at the new century’s World Cup opening game held at Seoul’s stadium. Similarly the French team’s dream of retaining the title of thwarted World Champion has been after South America’s Uruguay team, the first title holder of the World Cup in 1930, equalised with out touching both the teams’ goal post net in Thursday’s game played at South Korea’s southern city — Busan.

Prize: an 11-pound, solid gold trophy which was created in 1974 by Italian sculptors Silvio Gazzaniga, stands 36 centimeters tall weighs 5 kilograms and is made of 18 carat gold and the vast prestige that goes with it.

France won the World Cup in 1998 but they failed to do so be a gain this year. After counting the points of the games so far played, there could new team winning that would set off wild celebrations.

Winning would be nice but the chance of hosting the World Cup finals alone is also not a small job. It is honour for Asians for they are organizing the games the first time in history. It is a festival for all humanity and the big task ahead is to make the event a great success.