UK PM Advocates Focus on Extreme Poverty

UK PM Advocates Focus on Extreme Poverty

Is it just me? Or is his polling in the doldrums? Either way, UK PM David Cameron seem as though he has been in containment – and released. Or is it just the new energies entering his being? Thanks to Alice C.

David Cameron in Liberia: We Must Eradicate Extreme Poverty

PM also calls for focus on education during visit to school with Liberian president ahead of role co-chairing UN poverty meeting

By Patrick Wintour, The Guardian – February 1 2013

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/feb/01/david-cameron-liberia-poverty-talks

David Cameron has called for the next wave of international development targets to focus on extreme rather than relative poverty. The dispute about poverty targets is one of a set of differences due to be thrashed out at a UN high-level meeting on the next millennium development goals after 2015. Cameron is co-chair of the panel that is meeting in Monrovia, Liberia.

Before the start of the panel on Friday, Cameron went to a local school with Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the charismatic 74-year-old Liberian president. The children told them they needed books and computers. Cameron then asked what they wanted to be when they became adults and many replied doctors or lawyers. Cameron joked: “That is very impressive. In my country, they all want to be footballers or pop stars,” before adding that was not fair.

The children had written a welcome sign for their two special guests in chalk on the blackboard in their dark and crowded classroom. Cameron told the children he would like world poverty goals to include higher quality education.

In interviews he insisted bolstering security and civil structures was crucial, alongside aid measures.

Speaking to reporters on Friday morning, Cameron said: “Liberia is a country that was absolutely devastated by conflict and civil war.

“It is now recovering but there is still desperate poverty. I think it is very important we keep a focus on eradicating extreme poverty.

“Here in Liberia, one in 10 children do not make it to the age of five. But I also think it is important we look at those things that keep countries poor. Conflict, corruption, lack of justice, lack of the rule of law. These things matter, as well as money.”

The premier was forced to concede on Thursday that the defence budget could face more cuts in 2015-16, while the international development budget is protected.

Cameron is also pressing for new goals not to focus only on the number of children in school, but also the quality of education.