On Wednesday September 15, in preparation for the UN Millennium Development Goals summit in New York, Nick Clegg and other high profile speakers held a special pre summit event in London's Westminster to discuss Britain's role in ensuring the success of the MDGs.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell spoke out to counter reports that progress on meeting MDG targets is seriously off track. Mitchell declared that it is "British policy, British commitment to make real progress".  Mitchell announced a promise of "moral commitment" to guarantee that the eight separate goals that aim to eradicate world poverty would be met by the target year, 2015.

'Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell spoke out to counter reports that progress on meeting MDG targets is seriously off track.'

Mitchell was first to speak at the special event.  He focused on specific targets to propose to other nations; "To underline British leadership, to encourage other countries to stick to the Millennium Development goals." In his five minute speech he went on to propose "an assessment every year of which countries make the most progress towards the MDGs, producing specific results."
 
Juanita During, a representative of Water Aid in Nigeria, emphasised the neccesity of implementing the MDGs in Afica, saying: "Within Africa, I represent a small percentage considered to be the lucky ones. I can read and write, make choices that affect my destiny...an unimaginable luxury."
 
Half an hour into the event, Mr Clegg arrived, aiming to put across his opinions around the Millennium Development Goals. A question and answer session took place, in which the deputy PM was probed about a variety of issues related to the MDGs. 

Clegg was questioned about financial transparency, and the amount developing countries are losing out on because of ineffective tax laws, to which he stated that it was the duty of multinational companies to operate responsibly within the host countries they are working in. The role of women was also high on the agenda for discussion, and Juanita During confidently stated that "Women are at the centre and heart of development, educate women, educate a nation." 

'Clegg was questioned about financial transparency, and the amount developing countries are losing out on because of ineffective tax laws...'

Activists later gathered on the platform to join the speakers. Schoolboy Harry Pinder from Croydon spoke to Mr Clegg, telling him to "go with the passion and hope of the nation" to the UN Summit. Harry and his fellow activists then handed Mr Clegg a suitcase full of messages from the thousands of people who continue to campaign to make the MDGs a reality.

The time then came for Nick Clegg to make his final speech to the Nation. "At the moment we are in extraordinary difficult times here in the United Kingdom, and many people believe that charity starts at home, that we've got to sort out our own problems and only then can we have the luxury to help others. However, we believe in the moral commitment we made 10 years ago and we believe it needs to be delivered."
 
We heard confident and powerful speeches from all of the special speakers; though whether the MDGs will be met by the 2015 only time will tell.  Can world poverty be truly eradicated in 15 years? Will these "8 hyperbolic commitments" make only a small dent in global poverty? Only if developed and developing countries truly cooperate, work together, and engage in progressive dialogue can these ambitious objectives be achieved. 

Words: Sian Gregory

Photos: Flickr users, jiadoldol and DFID 

To find out what the young people thought of the event and Mr Clegg, click here for the Ctrl.Alt.Shift vox pops