Twenty-ten will be a big year for global action, with the chance for Canada to play a lead role. The year kicks off in February with the Vancouver Olympics. While we want Canada to shine with medals on the podium, events later in the year hold even greater opportunity for international distinction.

G8/G20 Summit in Huntsville, Ontario

This coming June the world will turn to Canada, as our nation hosts the G8/G20 Summit in Huntsville, Ontario. The “G8” consists of eight of the world’s wealthiest and most industrialized nations: France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, the USA and Canada. Leaders of these nations will deliberate on serious global issues and decide on the necessary actions. With Canada as host, we have the unique opportunity to influence the themes and the leadership of the summit.

Millennium Development Goals – two thirds point

There will be a gathering this year of World Leaders at the United Nations in New York City. This gathering will mark the two thirds point for the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). In 2000, World leaders agreed to these development-related goals and set 2015 as the deadline for accomplishing them. Next year, countries around the globe will be watching to see what commitments and actions are made in order to improve the lives of children worldwide.

Five for 5 campaign

You don’t need to wait for 2010 to get involved! We all can agree that 5 years is not a child’s lifetime. On November 26, 2009, World Vision Canada will launch its Five for 5 campaign, part of a global campaign to address the unacceptable reality that 8.8 million children under five—virtually all of whom live in poor countries—die each year of preventable causes.

Don’t miss your chance to act! Stay connected and get the latest on the campaign and ways to take action by visiting www.fivefor5.ca/. Get your friends to join Shift to receive youth emails and check out our Justice site for more on the campaign and other advocacy actions.

Let’s make 2010 a year that really matters!