Antonio Banderas and Ricky Martin join the UN campaign against poverty:

Spanish actor Antonio Banderas and Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin have joined a group of 24 ambassadors from UN goodwill that will help promote the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to combat poverty.

“Being familiar names, can bring the message of global justice and solidarity to households and communities around the world,” said United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, in a message today on the website of
the global institution.

Besides Banderas and Ricky Martin, this initiative also involves the Brazilian soccer player Ronaldo, U.S. actress Mia Farrow, British singer Annie Lennox and Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova, among other familiar faces.

According to United Nations said the 26 ambassadors of good will have been committed to seizing the opportunities they have, including social networks like Twitter and Facebook, to promote the Millennium Development Goals.

Also draw attention to the relevance of the summit on the MDGs the UN secretary general has called for 20, 21 and 22 September next.

The international community pledged in 2000 for the world to reach the eight Millennium Goals by 2015, a period which is evidently not satisfied if not urgently redouble efforts to combat poverty.

The eight MDGs focus on reducing extreme poverty and hunger, achieving universal primary education, promote gender equality, reducing child mortality, combating AIDS, developing a global partnership for development and improving maternal health and ensure sustainable development.