Development a matter of "life and death" says President Obama


American President Barack Obama has told the UN that supporting development is not an act of "charity" but rather an investment in the world's common future.

Speaking in New York at the summit for the adoption of the new global development goals, the US President said that with a strong, collective effort, leaders could bring an end to extreme poverty worldwide.

In heralding the adoption of the new development agenda, the US President said the vicious cycle of poverty gripping people around the globe could be broken.

"It is literally a matter of life and death. And now the world must act. We cannot leave people behind. So today we commit ourselves to new sustainable development goals, including our goal of ending extreme poverty in our world."

Mr Obama said many of the conflicts currently taking place around the world, as well as the recent refugee crisis, could have been avoided had greater attention been paid to the need for more equitable development.


SOURCE: Veronica Reeves, United Nations.