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midici's review against another edition
4.0
This is the fourth CBC Massey Lecture book I've read and I have enjoyed all of them Without fail they are well written and really make me think about topics and ideas in ways I usually don't.
"Race Against Time" is a bit dated. Stephen Lewis published this in 2005, addressing his beliefs about how the world was failing to pull itself together in order to adequately fulfill the Millenium Development Goals. The fact that it's dated doesn't subtract anything at all - the goals were supposed to be accomplished by 2015, so putting together Lewis' predictions of failure next to the accomplishments and shortcomings made the book better for me. For anyone interested, the short fact sheet can be found here:http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/2015_MDG_Report/pdf/MDG%202015%20PR%20Key%20Facts%20Global.pdf and the full report can be downloaded as well.
Stephen Lewis eloquently described the frustrating, bizzare, and slow moving politics and bickering that occurs behind the scenes. For someone like me, who did not know very much about how the UN worked or how things like the MDGs come into being it was a fascinating peek into a world of international interaction.
Of course, you can't talk about "Race Against Time" without mentioning Africa. Lewis has a lifetime of experience of living, working, and traveling to various African countries and is deeply invested in the wellbeing of those countries. The Sixth MDG "Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and other diseases" was one he stressed as crucial. He laid out exactly why he felt it would be impossible for African countries to meet any of the other MDGs if this one was not addressed as quickly as possible. The epidemic in some African countries is so bad that it's being described as a genocide, with entire generation being lost to disease.
Lewis shared several personal narratives of people living with disease and dying with it. He stressed the need for immediate action and laid out various ways the disease could be fought. I won't lay out his arguments here; they stand better in his own words.
Lewis wrote this in 2005, 5 years after the MDGS were set out. It's been 10 years since then. How did we do? According to the fact sheet, for HIV/AIDS "new infections fell 40%" That's better than no progress but it's not what Lewis had in mind. "By June 2014 13.6 million people living with HIV were receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART)" - Lewis had mentioned how incredibly difficult it was for people in less developed African countries to get access to ART but apparently those countries were doubling or more the amount of people receiving therapy, though 13 million falls short of the 15 million goal.
Other issues are harder to address - the draconian measures imposed on countries by the International Monetary Fund that restricted social services, included desperately needed health care, to unsustainable minimums; the impracticably massive debts owed by the countries; the refusal to keep promises of aid, or increase aid by wealthier countries; social unrest etc.
Obviously, as Africa is a massive continent with hundreds of countries and billions of people, Lewis focused on the people he felt needed the most help: those too sick to work, to afford medical care, to afford education for their children. And it's for those people that he tried to stir up awareness and action with "Race Against Time." It's an excellent read.
"Race Against Time" is a bit dated. Stephen Lewis published this in 2005, addressing his beliefs about how the world was failing to pull itself together in order to adequately fulfill the Millenium Development Goals. The fact that it's dated doesn't subtract anything at all - the goals were supposed to be accomplished by 2015, so putting together Lewis' predictions of failure next to the accomplishments and shortcomings made the book better for me. For anyone interested, the short fact sheet can be found here:http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/2015_MDG_Report/pdf/MDG%202015%20PR%20Key%20Facts%20Global.pdf and the full report can be downloaded as well.
Stephen Lewis eloquently described the frustrating, bizzare, and slow moving politics and bickering that occurs behind the scenes. For someone like me, who did not know very much about how the UN worked or how things like the MDGs come into being it was a fascinating peek into a world of international interaction.
Of course, you can't talk about "Race Against Time" without mentioning Africa. Lewis has a lifetime of experience of living, working, and traveling to various African countries and is deeply invested in the wellbeing of those countries. The Sixth MDG "Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and other diseases" was one he stressed as crucial. He laid out exactly why he felt it would be impossible for African countries to meet any of the other MDGs if this one was not addressed as quickly as possible. The epidemic in some African countries is so bad that it's being described as a genocide, with entire generation being lost to disease.
Lewis shared several personal narratives of people living with disease and dying with it. He stressed the need for immediate action and laid out various ways the disease could be fought. I won't lay out his arguments here; they stand better in his own words.
Lewis wrote this in 2005, 5 years after the MDGS were set out. It's been 10 years since then. How did we do? According to the fact sheet, for HIV/AIDS "new infections fell 40%" That's better than no progress but it's not what Lewis had in mind. "By June 2014 13.6 million people living with HIV were receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART)" - Lewis had mentioned how incredibly difficult it was for people in less developed African countries to get access to ART but apparently those countries were doubling or more the amount of people receiving therapy, though 13 million falls short of the 15 million goal.
Other issues are harder to address - the draconian measures imposed on countries by the International Monetary Fund that restricted social services, included desperately needed health care, to unsustainable minimums; the impracticably massive debts owed by the countries; the refusal to keep promises of aid, or increase aid by wealthier countries; social unrest etc.
Obviously, as Africa is a massive continent with hundreds of countries and billions of people, Lewis focused on the people he felt needed the most help: those too sick to work, to afford medical care, to afford education for their children. And it's for those people that he tried to stir up awareness and action with "Race Against Time." It's an excellent read.
misschievous's review against another edition
4.0
A really great book for anyone who wants to learn about the UN's Millennium Development Goals and (lack of) progress we've made on them, especially pertaining to Africa and the AIDs epidemic. The book is heartbreaking and informative. I really enjoyed reading it.
harvio's review against another edition
4.0
- Lewis is the United Nations' Secretary-General's Special Envoy for H.I.V./A.I.D.S. in Africa. He has served as the Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations, as special advisor on the continent of Africa to the U.N. Secretary General; and as deputy executive director of U.N.I.C.E.F..
- In 2003 he was listed by TIME Magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world, and chosen by McLeans Magazine as Canadian Of The Year for 2003.
- this is the published version of his five Massey Lecture Series
- "I have spent the last four years watching people die!"
- a world-renowned diplomat and humanitarian, Lewis is determined to bear witness to the international community's failure to adequately assist the plight of 10's of millions of Africans.
- along with the brilliant insights that only an 'insider' (of the 'system') can see, he mixes scathing criticisms with attainable solutions
- In 2003 he was listed by TIME Magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world, and chosen by McLeans Magazine as Canadian Of The Year for 2003.
- this is the published version of his five Massey Lecture Series
- "I have spent the last four years watching people die!"
- a world-renowned diplomat and humanitarian, Lewis is determined to bear witness to the international community's failure to adequately assist the plight of 10's of millions of Africans.
- along with the brilliant insights that only an 'insider' (of the 'system') can see, he mixes scathing criticisms with attainable solutions
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