“Global poverty, child mortality, and maternal deaths have been cut in half. More remains to be done, but these and other gains show the power of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and what we can do when we work together. Today an inspiring global conversation is taking place on an agenda for the next 15 years,” Ban said. The secretary-general appealed for unity in the 15-member Security Council, stressing that when the body acts as one results follow, as with the elimination of Syria’s chemical weapons program. He declared that much more needs to be done to anticipate issues and reach early political consensus. Ban stressed in his conclusion mankind’s role in creating many of the crises the world now faces and its responsibility to eliminate them. “Today we face far more man-made crises than natural calamities. We may not control Mother Nature, but who else but us is responsible for securing peace and justice in our world today?” Ban asked. “War, poverty, ignorance, crises caused by people can be stopped by people. I do not think we can yet feel comfortable about the world our generation is leaving to our children. Still, I have hope. I draw it from our charter, our enduring guide in times of dramatic challenge and change,” the secretary-general said. --SPA 19:11 LOCAL TIME 16:11 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w