Global Voices Bloggers at UN Millennium Development Goals Summit · Global Voices
Solana Larsen

Four Global Voices bloggers are currently attending the United Nations Summit on the Millennium Development Goals in New York City (September 20-22). In their personal blogs and on Twitter, they have shared their initial thoughts on the Summit itself and the outcomes of the meeting. These are just a few of dozens of bloggers sharing citizens’ perspectives on this high level meeting in New York and around the world. The Millennium Development Goals are eight major targets agreed to by United Nations member states to reduce world poverty by 2015.
Sonam Ongmo is a blogger and journalist from Bhutan. In her blog, Dragon Tales, she writes:
If you think proposing “Happiness” as the 9th MDG at the UN General Assembly early this week was bold of tiny Bhutan, wait till you find out about the country's aspirations for a non-permanent seat at the Security Council…
On Conversations for a Better World, Sonam explains that Bhutan is pushing for the “Gross National Happiness” to become a recognized measure of development alongside gross domestic product (GDP). On Twitter (@sonamongmo), she has posted even more about the activities of Bhutan's delegates.
Andrea Arzaba from Mexico was one of three winners of the THINK! Developing World Blogging Competition of the European Journalism Centre and won a trip to attend the UN Summit in New York. On her THINK! blog, Andrea promises to write more soon but pauses briefly to share her excitement:
“These days have been hectic for us, as we have been going around from one event to other and to other. But it has been a very interesting experience so far – If I stop formalities I could say IT HAS BEEN REALLY AMAZIIIING!!!!”
On Twitter (@andrea_arzaba), she is posting constant updates, facts and exclamations from speeches and official events.
Bhumika Ghimire is a freelance reporter and blogger from Nepal. She is keeping an eye on her home country at the United Nations this week. Yesterday on Twitter (@bhumikaghimire), she said with both optimism and concern:
“Nepal receives MDG Award 4 significantly improving maternal health.yes! bt lot more 2 be done on education,equality &environment”.
She also commented on India's lackluster development results and Germany's change in stance on development aid.
Eman AbdElRahman from Egypt won a trip to the UN MDG meeting in the World Youth Summit Award for her project “We are all Laila” (Laila Kolena) an online initiative for women's rights in the Middle East and North Africa. Eman has Tweeted just enough to let us know what was going in her mind yesterday (things are already look brighter!):
I have to do a presentation tomorrow morning… I'm doomed!
Global Voices has a special coverage page about the Millennium Development Goals where we share recent posts about development issues and global reaction to the Summit outcomes.
By Johanne Veilleux
As reported on Global Voices in French, there is a lot happening this week in New York alongside the Meeting on the Millennium Development Goals, and the UN General Assembly (UNGA) that takes place right after. In parallel, the UN Foundation, Mashable and 92Y organized the UN Week Digital Media Lounge, a fully‐wired blogging headquarters at the 92nd Street Y where digital journalists, NGOs, and bloggers will come together to hear directly from global leaders and  advocates for different causes. These organisations are also responsible for the Social Good Summit (Sept 21-24) about how new media can help address the world’s challenges. You can follow the LiveStream for the meeting. Even if you won’t be in New York this week, it's still possible to participate in the conversations, thanks to Twitter and the MDG Summit hashtag, #UNWEEKDML.