President Obama: Global Challenges Require Global Responses

 David Kpan, a cocoa farmer in Liberia, is also the principal and a teacher at his local school. The Millenium Development Goals include a goal for universal primary education. (Photo by Laura Elizabeth Pohl)

President Obama addressed the United Nations today at the U.N. General Assembly in New York City, focusing most of his speech on his administration's efforts to improve foreign relations in light of global changes from the past decade, such as globalization and the Arab Spring. In his speech, the president specifically noted the Millenium Development Goals as a top priority and commitment for the White House:

We have fully embraced the Millennium Development Goals. And we address our priorities here, in this institution -- for instance, through the Security Council meeting that I will chair tomorrow on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, and through the issues that I will discuss today.

But this was only the beginning, the president said. He continued to insist that progress would only happen if every member of the global community participated in fighting hunger, injustice, and poverty:

Some of our actions have yielded progress. Some have laid the groundwork for progress in the future. But make no mistake: This cannot solely be America's endeavor. Those who used to chastise America for acting alone in the world cannot now stand by and wait for America to solve the world's problems alone. We have sought -- in word and deed -- a new era of engagement with the world. And now is the time for all of us to take our share of responsibility for a global response to global challenges.

It is clear to us at Bread that the U.S. government must continue its comprehensive review of our nation's global development policy. This statement by President Obama is a great first step. As the United States continues to lead the way in providing aid and development to struggling people, other nations will be similarly inspired to "take their share of responsibility for a global response to global challenges."