MDG poverty goals may be achieved, but child mortality is not improving

MDG poverty goals may be achieved, but child mortality is not improving Article Summary The news article under analysis, titled MDG poverty goals may be achieved, but child mortality is not improving, appears in the Guardian newspaper. The article was authored by Claire Provost and details the progress in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), especially by developing countries. Provost begins by stating that two-thirds of developing countries are on course to meeting the MDG targets in fighting poverty, according to reports from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on MDG poverty goals may be achieved, but child mortality is not improving specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Provost then cites reports from the Global Monitoring Report that mentioned that the number of persons living below the poverty line would decrease to 883 million by 2015. This would be a large significant drop since the number of people living in acute povert y had been 1.4 billion in 2005 and 1.8 billion in 1990. The progress in achieving the first goal- to cut the number of people living in poverty by half- is evidenced by the high growth rates in China and India. The report further shows that China is on course to reducing poverty by 4.8%, however, some African countries may fail to achieve the MDG goals by 2015. Progress in combating poverty may be hampered further by the high and unstable food prices, and could increase the number of people living in extreme poverty. World Bank president, Thomas Zoellick, gives strategies for reducing poverty levels and prevents future food crises. These include a ban on food exports, improve access to information on food quality, quantity, and increase food reserves. Despite the progress of developing progress in achieving MDGs, maternal and child mortality rates remain the most challenging issues as 40% of developing nations are not likely to meet this target despite a lot of resources being direc ted at this effort. Sanitation targets are a challenge too as 45% of developing nations have deviated from the path to achieving MDGs on sanitation. Topics Related to the Article Two topics can be derived from this news article: socio-cultural issues and human development. Socio-cultural issues arise from the reference to social issues such as maternal and child mortality rates. Besides, the article reports that a number of developing nations are on course to meeting MDGs on primary education and access to clean water. Provost writes that no low-income country has achieved significant progress in lowering mortality for children under the age of five, and most of them are likely to fail on this target. The countries are on course to achieving targets on primary education access and eradicate gender disparity in the education sector. All of these subjects: maternal and child mortality, education, reflect on the socio-cultural aspect of life in developing countries.Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Human development is reflected on Provost’s discussion of the progress of developing countries in achieving the MDGs on education. Education is a very important aspect of human development, and failure to achieve this target will likely affect human development in these nations. Fortunately, the report mentions that most developing countries are on target to achieving MDG targets on education. I chose this article since it touched on a very important element of human development. It informs us of the progress in achieving the MDGs by developing countries, and the steps that have been taken in achieving the same. Besides, the article gives solutions for combating extreme poverty in developing nations, these strategies may prove useful for developing nations.

HMS Hood in World War II

HMS Hood in World War II HMS Hood - Overview: Nation: Great Britain Type: Battlecruiser Shipyard: John Brown Company Laid Down: September 1, 1916 Launched: August 22, 1918 Commissioned: May 15, 1920 Fate: Sunk on May 24, 1940 HMS Hood - Specifications: Displacement: 47,430 tons Length: 860 ft., 7 in. Beam: 104 ft. 2 in. Draft: 32 ft. Propulsion: 4 shafts, Brown-Curtis geared steam turbines, 24 Yarrow water-tube boilers Speed: 31 knots (1920), 28 knots (1940) Range: 5,332 miles at 20 knots Complement: 1,169-1,418 men HMS Hood - Armament (1941): Guns 8 x BL 15-inch Mk I guns (4 turrets with 2 guns each)14 x QF 4-inch Mk XVI anti-aircraft guns24 x QF 2-pdr anti-aircraft guns20 x 0.5-inch Vickers machine guns5 x 20-barrel Unrotated Projectile mounts2 x 21-inch torpedo tubes Aircraft (after 1931) 1 aircraft using 1 catapult (1929-1932) HMS Hood - Design Construction: Laid down at John Brown Company of Clydebank on September 1, 1916, HMS Hood was an Admiral-class battlecruiser. This design originated as an improved version of the Queen Elizabeth-class battleships but was converted early on to a battlecruiser to replace losses sustained at the Battle of Jutland and to counter new German battlecruiser construction. Originally intended as a four-ship class, work on three was halted due to other priorities during World War I. As a result, Hood was the only Admiral-class battlecruiser to be completed. The new ship entered the water on August 22, 1918, and was named for Admiral Samuel Hood. Work continued over the next two years and the ship entered commission on May 15, 1920. A sleek, attractive ship, Hoods design was centered on a battery of eight 15 guns mounted in four twin turrets. These were initially supplemented by twelve 5.5 guns and four 1 guns. Over the course of its career, Hoods secondary armament was enlarged and altered to meet the needs of the day. Capable of 31 knots in 1920, some considered Hood to be a fast battleship rather than a battlecruiser. HMS Hood - Armor: For protection, Hood originally possessed a similar armor scheme to its predecessors except that its armor was angled outward to increase its relative thickness against shells fired on a low trajectory. In the wake of Jutland, the new ships armor design was thickened though this enhancement added 5,100 tons and reduced the ships top speed. More troublesome, its deck armor remained thin making it vulnerable to plunging fire. In this area, the armor was spread over three decks with the thought that an exploding shell might breach the first deck but would not have the energy to pierce the next two. Though this scheme seemed workable, advances in effective time-delay shells negated this approach as they would penetrate all three decks before exploding. In 1919, testing showed the Hoods armor configuration was flawed and plans were made to thicken the deck protection over key areas of the vessel. After further trials, this additional armor was not added. Protection against torpedoes was provided by a 7.5 deep anti-torpedo bulge which ran nearly the length of the ship. Though not fitted with a catapult, Hood did possess fly off platforms for aircraft atop its B and X turrets. HMS Hood - Operational History: Entering service, Hood was made flagship of Rear Admiral Sir Roger Keyes Battlecruiser Squadron based at Scapa Flow. Later that year, the ship steamed to the Baltic as a deterrent against the Bolsheviks. Returning, Hood spent the next two years in home waters and training in the Mediterranean. In 1923, it accompanied HMS Repulse and several light cruisers on a world cruise. Returning in late 1924, Hood continued in a peacetime role until entering the yard in on May 1, 1929 for a major overhaul. Emerging on March 10, 1931, the ship rejoined the fleet and now possessed an aircraft catapult. In September of that year, Hoods crew was one of many which took part in the Invergordon Mutiny over the reduction of seamans wages. This ended peacefully and the next year saw the battlecruiser travel to the Caribbean. During this voyage the new catapult proved troublesome and it was later removed. Over the next seven years, Hood saw extensive service in European waters as the Royal Navys premier fast capital ship. As the decade neared an end, the ship was due for a major overhaul and modernization similar to those given other World War I-era warships in the Royal Navy. HMS Hood - World War II: Though its machinery was deteriorating, Hoods overhaul was postponed due to the beginning of World War II in September 1939. Hit that month by an aerial bomb, the ship sustained minor damage and soon was employed in the North Atlantic on patrol duties. With the fall of France in mid-1940, Hood was ordered to the Mediterranean and became flagship of Force H. Concerned that the French fleet would fall into German hands, the Admiralty demanded that the French Navy either join with them or stand down. When this ultimatum was refused, Force H attacked the French squadron at Mers-el-Kebir, Algeria on July 8. In the attack, the bulk of the French squadron was put out of action. HMS Hood - Denmark Strait: Returning to the Home Fleet in August, Hood sortied that fall in operations intended to intercept the pocket battleship and heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper. In January 1941, Hood entered the yard for a minor refit, but the naval situation prevented the major overhaul that was needed. Emerging, Hood remained in increasingly poor condition. After patrolling the Bay of Biscay, the battlecruiser was ordered north in late April after the Admiralty learned that the new German battleship Bismarck had sailed. Putting into Scapa Flow on May 6, Hood departed later that month with the new battleship HMS Prince of Wales to pursue Bismarck and the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen. Commanded by Vice Admiral Lancelot Holland, this force located the two German ships on May 23. Attacking the next morning, Hood and Prince of Wales opened the Battle of the Denmark Strait. Engaging the enemy, Hood quickly came under fire and took hits. Approximately eight minutes after the action began, the battlecruiser was hit around the boat deck. Witnesses saw a jet of flame emerge near the mainmast before the ship exploded. Most likely the result of a plunging shot which penetrated the thin deck armor and struck a magazine, the explosion broke Hood in two. Sinking in around three minutes, only three of the ships 1,418-man crew were rescued. Outnumbered, Prince of Wales withdrew from the fight. In the wake of the sinking, many explanations were put forward for the explosion. Recent surveys of the wreck confirm that Hoods after magazines did explode. Selected Sources HMS Hood AssociationPBS: Hunt for the HoodU-boat.net: HMS Hood