On the 29th January, approximately 300 people gathered at the BBC headquarters in London for Bill Gates’ address at the 2013 Richard Dimbleby Lecture. The lecture outlined how technology is assisting to win the fight against polio, why he is personally committed to eradicating polio and why we must all act quickly to do our part and ensure that children are fully protected and countries are not re-infected.
Among the many attendees was a selection of our most dedicated and effective Global Poverty Ambassadors – leaders in their communities across the UK have committed hundreds of hours throughout 2012 to educate and inspire their communities to fight extreme poverty and campaign for continued financial and political support for polio eradication from the UK government.
Bill Gates said: “We have spent the past five years working painstakingly with our partners to remove countries from the polio map one at a time. Now, there are only three: Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Nigeria. I can say without reservation that the last mile is not only the hardest mile; it’s also much harder than I expected." He also said, “Polio eradication is a proving ground, a test. It will reveal what human beings are capable of, and suggest how ambitious we can be about our future".
Within the Dimbleby Lecture, Gates spoke about what inspired him to become greater involved in philanthropy and why he is confident that we can create a polio-free future for all the world’s children, forever. He particularly focused on the history of polio and how, over time, innovations from the iron lung to Global Information Systems have brought us closer to the end of this debilitating disease. He highlighted the recent success against polio in India – a country many thought would be the last to end this disease – and urged the global community to maintain the international will to finally wipe out this disease.
Kristina Crawford, a Global Poverty Ambassador hailing from the Isle of Man attended the lecture. She notes: “I was struck by his [Gates] point that vast generosity is part of human nature but the issue is whether the people that need our generosity are visible or remain invisible. In fact, he sees ending polio as an opportunity to show what human beings are really capable of and with global efforts: funding, political commitment and resolve this could be achieved in the next six years.”
On the Isle of Man, the efforts of the Douglas Rotary Club with the support of the Isle of Man International Development Committee, have raised ?29,000 towards the campaign and vaccinated an estimated 145,000 children – an outstanding achievement.
Last night Bill Gates also highlighted the importance of using technology and innovation to help improve the health of children in particular and his championing of the End of Polio campaign was prevalent. From the 1960’s onwards, polio and its effects had reduced visibility for many in developing nations, however this does not reduce the need to respond. In fact, he sees ending polio as an opportunity to show what human beings are really capable of and with global efforts: funding, political commitment and resolve this could be achieved in the next six years.
Last year, Gates addressed 150 Global Poverty Ambassadors at the London School of Economics as he unveiled his 2012 Annual Letter and spoke on how innovations in agriculture and health are driving down extreme poverty worldwide.
In 2013, the Global Poverty Ambassadors will continue to inspire the movement to see an end to extreme poverty within our lifetime in partnership with The Co-operative. Across the year the Ambassadors will focus particularly on three key campaigning areas: food, transparency and gender equality/women’s education. Ambassadors will also deliver the 1.4 Billion Reasons presentation – an interactive multimedia presentation tool created by the Global Poverty Project showing a roadmap to the end of extreme poverty and how individuals can be more effective in taking action in their own lives.
Kristina will be delivering the 1.4 Billion Reasons presentation, hosted by the Isle of Man United Nations Association on Thurs 7th Feb at the Nobles’ Park Pavilion Community Room. Doors open 7pm for 7.30pm start and everyone is welcome to attend. Kristina will also be giving a review of her first year as an ambassador and the progress of the work on the Island.
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