Justice for the World - UNDP

For my work I went to the launch of the UNDP Human Development Report 2005 this week. Crown Prince Haakon, Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik, Minister of Development Hilde Frafjord Johnson and UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) / UN representative Moez Doraid was present at the launch. The report focuses on three measurable dimensions of human development: living a long and healthy life, being educated and having a decent standard of living. In that way it presents a broader view of a country's development than does income alone. Norway was once more No. 1, and can in some ways be regarded as one of the best countries to live in. I don't dispute that, but the report reveals more important things than making Norwegians filled with pride. Children are dying - more than three times the victims of the tsunami in Southeast Asia dies every month. The rich becomes richer, and the poor becomes poorer. If we, living in the rich countries of the world (the 10% that uses 90 % of the resources), decrease our part of the resources with 2%, we could be rid of extreme poverty. But are we up for it? I hope we are - I hope I am!

Crown Prince Haakon of Norway and Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik at the launch of the Human Development Report 2005 (Photo: Norwegianblogger)