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school age into school; (5) achieve gender equality; (6) turn back the pandemic of AIDS, malaria and tubercu- losis; (7) create sustainable development to deal with climate change; and (8) bridge the gap between developed and developing countries. However, Lewis stressed the importance of goal five, which is to achieve gender equality. I feel so strongly that the single most important issue on the planet is gen- der equality, nothing is more important, he said. He added that until there is gender equality, all the other injustices of the world, most of which are outlined in the UN goals, will persist. We have to move Heaven and Earth to achieve some kind of gender equali- ty and thats why its so important for young women and girls to be aware of the issues, to take them serious- ly, to fight for a place in the world, he told the gather- ing. He added that young men and boys also have to learn to respect women and girls. There has to be some- thing done to overcome the incredible discrimination and injustice thats exhibited against young women and girls everywhere, including in countries like Canada. Even in Canada, and other developed nations, he said women still get paid less for doing an equivalent job to a man. However, he added that there are parts of the world where women cannot live independent lives. Theres a whole range of issues that compromises the lives of women and girls. He mentioned issues around the world such as sexual trafficking, genital mutilation, child brides, no property or inheritance rights for women, no eco- nomic autonomy and no adequate representation in politics. In 53 sub-Saharan coun- tries, there is only one woman president in the country of Liberia. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. I have to tell you something, shes the best president on the conti- nent, he said. Abuse against women is also a problem around the WE P A Y HST ! Starting Satu rday September 1 1/ 10 EVO cabinetry is manufactured with no added urea- formaldehyde, which contributes to an indoor kitchen environment with emissions no greater than outdoor ambient air levels. All EVO cabinets are made with only EPP certified (Environmentaly Preferable Product) 100% post industrial wood fiber particleboard, EVO has also achieved certification by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). In addition to EVO, AyA is proud to announce that our standard line of cabinetry has achieved certification from the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association Environmental Stewardship Program. www.AyAkitchens.com 7 Thursday , Septem ber 30, 2010 O A KVILLE BEA V ER w w w .o akvillebeaver .co m The world needs gender equality: Lewis By Dominik Kurek OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Until there is gender equality around the world, all other problems, such as the African HIV/AIDS pan- demic, will not go away, Stephen Lewis told a group of young girls, their parents and teachers. The humanitarian, activist and Companion of the Order of Canada visited the all-girls St. Mildreds- Lightbourn School, where he spoke to some 300 stu- dents Tuesday morning. Nothing is more impor- tant in this world than gen- der equality, nothing, he said. The former UN special envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa has spent much time travel- ling to that continent, espe- cially in the sub-Sahara, where there is an AIDS epi- demic. He has seen nations with incredible poverty and hunger, child and maternal mortality, the spread of HIV/AIDS and much more. But, he said, unless women are seen as equals around the world, including here in Canada, none of those prob- lems will be conquered. He said in the year 2000 all the United Nations came together and agreed on the Millennium Development Goals, which is a list of eight targets that the UN was aim- ing to achieve by the year 2015, which would bring a level of justice to the world. Everybody now under- stands that the goals that we needed to reach are not going to be reached, he said. The goals are: (1) to cut extreme poverty and hunger around the world in half; (2) reduce the child mortality rate; (3) reduce the maternal mortality rate; (4) to get all children of the primary NIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER WORDS TO LIVE BY: Stephen Lewis was in Oakville to speak to students at St. Mildreds-Lightbourn School where he advocated working toward gender equality globally and champi- oning change to make it happen. There has to be something done to overcome the incredible discrimination and injustice thats exhibited against young women and girls everywhere, including in countries like Canada. Stephen Lewis See Lewis page 8