There are many fires raging around the world today – political turmoil, bloodshed, public health emergencies and human rights abuses. But there also burns a flame of hope – encouraging progress in the global drive to improve the lives of the world’s poorest through the Millennium Development Goals.

今天，世界各地多处着火——政治动荡、流血、公共卫生突发事件和侵犯人权行为。但也燃烧着希望之火——在通过千年发展目标改善世界最贫穷人口生活的全球运动中有着令人鼓舞的进展。

Adopted by world leaders in the year 2000, the MDGs are an ambitious 15-year roadmap to fight poverty, hunger and disease, protect the environment and expand education, basic health and women’s empowerment.
千年发展目标是世界各国领导人在2000年通过的，是一份为期15年的雄心勃勃的路线图，要消除贫穷、饥饿和疾病，保护环境和扩大教育、基本保健以及增强妇女权能。
This week marks a milestone on the journey: we are now 500 days from the conclusion of the MDGs.
本周是这一行程的一个里程碑：我们现在离千年发展目标的结束日期还有500天。
Quietly yet cumulatively, against the predictions of cynics, the MDGs have helped unite, inspire and transform.
面对怀疑者的预言，千年发展目标悄悄但日积月累地发挥作用，促进团结、鼓舞人心和改造世界。
Global poverty has been cut in half. More girls are in school. More families have better access to improved water sources. More mothers are surviving child birth and more children are living healthier lives. We are making huge inroads in fighting malaria, tuberculosis and other killer diseases.
全球贫困业已减半。上学的女孩更多了。更多家庭有更多机会获得改良水源。更多母亲不会因生孩子而死亡，更多儿童过着更健康的生活。 我们正在防治疟疾、肺结核和其他致命疾病中取得巨大进展。
I have met many individuals who owe their survival to this campaign. Yet millions still struggle against extreme poverty and inequality. Too many communities have no proper sanitation. Too many families are still being left behind. And our world faces the clear and present danger of climate change.
我会见了许多因这场运动而幸存下来的个人。但数以百万计的人们仍在面对极端贫穷和不平等而苦苦挣扎。太多社区没有适当的环境卫生设施。太多家庭仍被抛在后面。我们的世界明确而实在地面临着气候变化的危险。
Now is the time for MDG Momentum.
现在是保持千年发展目标势头的时候了。
The ideas and inspiration of young people will be especially critical in this effort and their role must grow even more. That is why I will mark the 500-day MDG moment at United Nations Headquarters with education advocate Malala Yousafzai and 500 young people.
在这场努力中，青年人的想法和愿望尤其重要，他们的作用必须日益加强。这就是为什么我会与教育宣传者玛拉拉·优萨夫扎伊和500名青年在联合国总部纪念千年发展目标倒计时500天的原因。
Action in four areas can help fuel progress:
在四个领域采取行动可有助于推动进展：
First: making strategic investments in health, education, energy and sanitation, with a special focus on empowering women and girls, which boosts results across the board.
第一：对卫生、教育、能源和环境卫生进行战略性投资，特别重点关注增强妇女和女孩权能，这会促进全面成果。
Second: focusing on the poorest and most vulnerable countries, communities and social groups that have the toughest road to progress despite their best efforts.
第二：重点关注最贫穷和最脆弱的国家、社区和社会群体，他们在通往进步的道路上困难最多，虽然他们在尽最大努力。
Third: keeping our financial promises. These are difficult budgetary times. But budgets should never be balanced on the backs of society’s weakest individuals.
第三：履行我们的财政承诺。会遇上困难的预算期。但预算绝不应以牺牲社会最弱势人口的利益来实现平衡。
Fourth: deepening cooperation among governments, civil society, the private sector and other networks around the world that have helped make the MDGs the most successful global anti-poverty push in history.
第四：加深世界各国政府、民间社会、私营部门和其他网络之间的合作，这一合作发挥助力，让千年发展目标业已成为历史上最成功的全球除贫运动。
The challenges are daunting. Yet we have many more tools at our disposal than at the turn of the millennium – from the expanding reach of technology to the growing understanding of what works and what does not.
所面临的挑战是严峻的。然而，我们现在可用的工具比新旧千年交替之际多得多——技术影响日益扩大，越来越多了解什么可行，什么不可行。
Action now will save lives, build a solid foundation for sustainable development far beyond 2015 and help lay the groundwork for lasting peace and human dignity.
现在采取行动，将会拯救生命，为2015年后可持续发展奠定坚实基础，并帮助为持久和平与人类尊严打下基础。
We have 500 days to accelerate MDG action. Let’s make every day count.
我们有500天来加快实现千年发展目标的行动。让我们不虚度每一天。