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July 29, 2005
Why should we listen to voices from Africa?
Most of you will probably see the title of this and pass on.
Talk about Africa is not on your radar.
Well, there are two good reasons why we as Christians need to be listening to voices from Africa:
1. The church is now vastly non-western. It is African, Asian, and Latin American. These are the places where the church is not only large, but growing and vibrant.
2. Jesus is most often found among the poor and on the margins. If you want to know where Jesus is, and what he is doing today, look in Africa!
Has not God chosen the poor in the eyes of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom? We need to hear what Africa has to say to us about spirituality, faith, and theology. And we need to hear the concerns of our family there, and ask how Christ, whom we call Lord, would have us respond.
Most of the discussion among Christians on the internet simply reflects the situation in the western world - rich white guys arguing amongst themselves about issues concerning an ever-decreasing section of the church: English Bible translations, American politics, postmodern church, Calvinism and Arminianism....
Not that these things shouldn't be discussed, of course. But the issues that concern the vast majority of the world's population, the vast majority of Christians in the world, and the vast majority of the materially and spiritually needy in the world, barely raise a ripple. Poverty, hunger, suffering, and injustice raised their heads recently, only because they give us a chance to talk about rock bands and espouse our own views. Then we returned to more urgent things. The needs of the 10/40 window and of the millions with no access to the good news of Christ are drowned out by expostulations about the war on terror.
We have the money to be able to broadcast our views in books, seminars, and blogs, however ridiculous our views or insipid our spirituality. Most Africans do not of course have a voice in blogworld or to the western church. And we don't want to listen anyway. Please don't disturb our comfort by asking us to be interested in Africa beyond giving some spare change occasionally to appease our consciences. Let us get back to our comfortable Christianity and our polemics.
And yet, that's where Jesus is.
That's where the needy are.
And that is the church of today, and increasingly of tomorrow.
As Graham Cray says in the book "the post-evangelical debate":
"The focus of influence within world Christianity will increasingly be the churches of the South, making the subject of this book (and maybe our blogs...? K) a marginal debate... Western Christians still have little awareness how far they have moved from the centre of influence. The crucial question for all Christians at this time, evengelical or not, may be, how much can we learn from our brothers and sisters in the Two Thirds World?"
And are we listening?
Tags: church africa christianity blogging
July 28, 2005
News from Burkina
* Food Aid
* Malaria
* Railway to Ghana?
* Cotton
Food Aid
I phoned the pastor in Gorom-Gorom (using Skype)the other day to find out what progress is being made with the food aid we are providing. The main problem at the moment is that the rains have washed out the road, which makes transport extremely difficult. We are obviously happy that the rains are good - it offers hope for this year's harvest - but it does cause problems. Options are being examined for other possibilities.
The UN says that half a million people needed food aid in the northern part of the country. "According to an evaluation mission conducted in June in areas of particular concern, 11% of children aged one to five years suffered from moderate malnutrition, while 6% suffered from acute malnutrition." The U.N. appeal for $196 million for 2005 for Mali, Burkina Faso and Mauritania has received just 39 percent of the requested funds so far.
Continue reading "News from Burkina"
July 26, 2005
Niger
The food crisis situation we are facing in the north of Burkina has of course struck throughout the whole region of West Africa, and is particularly bad in Niger, where 3.5 million are at risk. 150 000 children there are suffering from extreme hunger, and less than 1 in 10 of those in need are making it to the feeding centres.
The food crisis has been caused by a combination of locust invasion and bad rains, which ruined last year's harvest. NGOs were warning of the forthcoming disaster since November last year, and calling for aid. Further appeals in January and June still failed to raise a penny in aid from international governments. The amount asked for initially to prevent the crisis - a few million dollars - was peanuts compared with the fact that "Europeans eat ice cream for $10bn a year and Americans spend $35bn on their pets each year."
Now that the crisis has hit, and it is on our television screens, governments are shamed into doing something, but it is still a fraction of what is needed. Food is now beginning to arrive, but it is too little, too late for many thousands who will die before it can reach them. And the amount of money needed to resolve the crisis now is much more than would have been necessary to prevent it several months ago.
"The World Food Programme appeal for $16 million is still only 40 per cent funded. The UN emergency appeal for $30 million has only received $10 million, although more has been pledged. Had this money been given six months ago, it would have cost $1 per person affected per day to prevent the food crisis... It will now take about $80 to save each starving person."
The Niger government also has a responsibility, since - in spite of NGO warnings - the government did announce its problems, but tried to play down the extent of the crisis. Niger is the second poorest, and Burkina the third poorest country in the world.
Information
You can read a BBC report on the situation, including a link to a video report on the arrival of aid to Niger here.
There is also a new website, Niger Watch, run by the prolific Ingrid Jones.
Help
You can send money to help to:
Red Cross
World Vision
Christian Aid/ ACT
July 18, 2005
What is a girl's education worth?
So, it seems my car is not worth repairing. Fine. If I can sell it for scrap for a couple of hundred pounds, it will enable me to do something about the following:
A friend in Burkina Faso has been asking me if I could help send his daughter to a Christian school.
She has finished junior school, and is now moving up to "secondary" school (called high school in the US?). There is a local school she could attend. We have helped send a number of orphans to the local junior and secondary schools, who would not otherwise have been able to attend at all. The junior school costs about £20/year, and the secondary school about £50/year (fees, books, materials). Many people cannot afford that much, in an area where most live on less than £1/day.
So she could just go to the local secondary school. But there are a few issues. The teaching level is often not the best there. More significantly, the school is in an area where girls often get pregnant before marriage and at an early age, because of the sexual pressures put upon them by peers.
200 miles away, there is an all-girl Christian college. The girls live in, the teaching is to a higher standard, and the school environment is one of discipleship. Cost : about £400/year all-in.
I really wanted to do this, but I had a few qualms. Is it right to take her away from a situation where there are so few Christians anyway? How could I do this for her, when I can't do it for everyone? Could I afford to?
Then I read this challenging post over at biscotti brain. Apart from the need for stuff like Make Poverty History, which challenges our governments to do the stuff we can't - to change the structures of injustice that oppress the poor - there is also the need for us as Christians, not just to give, but to give sacrificially - and to renounce our self-satisfied materialism. She says: "I am painfully aware that some brother or sister is suffering because I've been content with token giving; because I am so slow in understanding what it is to love as Christ. I am completely convinced that the world could be changed to God's glory if we loved generously, one person at a time. I can't help everyone. I can help someone."
Of course it would be better if Christian children stayed as light among their peers. But there are also times that vulnerable plants need nurturing in a safer, more controlled environment.
Of course I can't help everyone as much as I would like, but that shouldn't stop me helping those I can. And this family mean a lot to me.
Of course I can afford it. I can afford a lot more. It will just cost me a bit more. And I can hopefully continue to do something for the others too - to help put more orphans through school. God, free me from my selfishness.
So, I'll be back on my bike. I'll be fitter. The planet will be a tiny bit healthier. I'll be spending a little bit less on car tax, fuel and insurance. And my little friend will get to go to a Christian college.
Maybe it's good my car broke down.
July 16, 2005
Recent stuff from Burkina Faso
* Arms.
* AIDS.
* Women's Rights
* A tragic story
Continue reading "Recent stuff from Burkina Faso"
July 15, 2005
Links
* Prayers for Sudan from Stephanie at words from a wanderer.
* One man and his blog has this from the the day after the London bombing.
* Rick at new life emerging has some great challenges for us recently: Living the Christian life is not about cuddle time with Jesus, and (relating to my post about truth and blogging) this on getting real instead of right
Flanders & Swann... and malaria prevention
For those of us visiting Africa from abroad, anti-malarial medicine is an essential. In recent years, lariam or mefloquine has been found to be effective, but unfortunately, has become well-known for its disconcerting side-effects.
Continue reading "Flanders & Swann... and malaria prevention"
July 14, 2005
Sudan update
* Former rebel leader joins government.
* Darfur peace process.
* Trouble out east.
* Prayer for Darfur.
Continue reading "Sudan update"
I link therefore I am
There are real people out there. I had my first ever "real life" talk with someone from the blogosphere yesterday. Andy Jackson of Smart Christian phoned me on Skype. I've appreciated Andy's thoughtful approach to the links he gives, and the perspectives he shares. I was quite nervous initially about being phoned out of the blue by someone I've never met, and for whom I have a degree of regard. But it was a great blessing making contact and being able to talk and pray together. It also showed me the potential of stuff like Skype to help address something I wrote about here - the need for us as Christian bloggers to build community beyond the webpage. We have, through blogging, the privileged possibility of "meeting" people from around the world, and of different perspectives from ourselves. But it is a limited community if it doesn't move beyond commenting on each others' blogs. Good to talk to you, Andy.
Extremism: The danger of religious extremists from Richard White.
Conscientious objection: Rebekah at Through a mirror darkly has written this moving post about her Christian brother's experience as an interrogator in Abu Ghraib.
Store Wars: May the Farm be with you!
July 13, 2005
Truth and blogging
How often have we been at fault in this - to be, at the same instant, both right and wrong: having the "right" arguments but the wrong attitude, the right beliefs but the wrong heart... Sadly, I suspect many of us have seen this on too many "Christian" blogs. And, if we are honest, we have probably been guilty of it ourselves.
Continue reading "Truth and blogging"
Muslim responses to the London bombing
As you know, I have worked among Muslims for many years. We have shared our lives, food, and faith with each other. While recognising our differences - and yes, trying to convince each other - this has never stopped us having a mutual respect for each other as individuals made in the image of God, and as people of faith. I have found the vast majority of Muslims to be generous and hospitable. Most have the same desires as Christians to be able to provide for their families, live in peace, and seek to serve God.
Normal Muslims are as much victims of terrorism as anyone else. As Christians, we mourn with those who mourn, we condemn terrorism, violence and injustice, and we hold out the hope of the gospel. I hope we are ready to do more: We can speak out against the prejudices of those who would tar all Muslims with the same brush of extremism. We can stand against hasty, inappropriate, and wrong reactions. And we can reach out to stand with Muslims who feel vulnerable and afraid. We can be agents of reconciliation in a world torn apart by fear, prejudice, and hatred.
There have been many Muslim condemnations of the terrorist attacks in London. Here are just a few:
* Umm Yasmin has brought together a list of Muslim condemnations of the London bombing.
* Iraqi expat in this post says; "Yesterday I was ashamed, because Muslims have attacked innocents in the country that has given to Muslims more than any other Muslim or non-Muslim country. I was ashamed because of the wickedness and ungratefulness of those who call themselves Muslims."
* A candle-lit vigil in Bahrain, and another in Jordan, in solidarity with Britain.
* Mustapha has designed a "No to terrorism" banner for Muslims to add to their blogs.
July 12, 2005
Now I'm worried
My blogging has been somewhat heavy recently, and rather pre-occupied with the G8 summit. So I think it's time for a change in tone:
I bought my second ever DVD a couple of weeks ago.
My good friend Dave says that post-moderns tend to define themselves by what they consume. I suspect I'm not very post-modern in my approach to life, but we were wondering if this explains why so many bloggers put up lists of what they are reading and listening to on their sidebars...
Anyway, in conclusion the only two films I own are this - probably my favourite film - and now this.
Now, dare I ask, what does this tell you about me?
July 11, 2005
G8 Outcome
There were few surprises at the final outcome. On the main issues, results were pretty much as expected:
Developments in Burkina Faso
Food Aid
The money we have sent out for food aid has arrived. This is following the failure of last year's harvest due to a locust swarm as well as bad rains. The food aid should be ready for distribution very soon. This is a key time, when people need food for energy to work the fields. Please pray for good rains through to September. One problem with the rains is that they wash away the roads by which the food aid has to come. Please pray for this aid that it arrives without problem, that it helps many people, and that it brings honour to the name of Christ.
Steve has also been distributing seed for people to plant. Many people had eaten the seed they had kept for planting because of the food shortages.
Burkina and the G8
Burkina is one of the 18 countries to benefit from the debt cancellation arranged by finance ministers in the lead-up to the G8 summit. The lack of progress in dealing with rich country agricultural subsidies, such as cotton and rice, is a concern. These harm Burkina's economy and the lives of many people there. However, George Bush's apparent readiness to deal with them may open possibilities for the WTO in December.
Burkina benefits from the Millenium Challenge Corporation
The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) has approved up to $12.9 million for a program to help Burkina Faso improve primary-education completion rates for girls. MCC said: "MCC congratulates the people and government of Burkina Faso for their innovative program to increase primary education rates among girls." The program will fund construction of schools and teacher incentives in 10 provinces with the lowest girls' primary education completion rates.
The Threshold Program is designed to assist countries that are on the "threshold," of Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) eligibility. If such countries make reforms as stipulated by MCA, they might eventually qualify for MCA assistance.
Tags: burkina faso poverty aid africa burkina
July 08, 2005
What does the Lord require of you...?
David Wayne at Jollyblogger has written a post on Live Aid, the ONE campaign and Africa. I don't agree with the assessments of all those he quotes, although it does give a perspective on different Christians ways of looking at the issue. He quotes an interesting perspective by Gideon Strauss, and promises us more of his own thoughts in the coming weeks, which I look forward to.
This is what I commented there:
"I've been a missionary for 15 years in one of the poorest countries in Africa. I am convinced that preaching the gospel and making disciples of Christ is the best thing we can do for the development of Africa. But I am also convinced that the situation of extreme poverty in Africa and elsewhere is an injustice that challenges us as the church to respond in our personal lives, in our discipleship, in our church life and mission, and - in the pattern of Amos and others - in our prophetic role towards political leadership.
For this we need humility and to struggle with what God requires of me. We need to avoid the arrogance of certainty in claiming we have answers - especially when they come without the cost of the cross. We need to avoid dividing ourselves from fellow believers by throwing our lot in with either Socialist or Capitalist solutions, and instead seek what the Bible has to say, and how it critiques both.
If we as the church are to be a model and channel of God's kingdom of justice and righteousness, this must have a serious impact on our lives as we consider our mission to the world and our attitudes towards our own wealth and comfort...
I would love to see a more Biblical and (to use Andy Jackson's phrase) missional discussion of these issues taking place among Christian bloggers."
Links to my articles this weeks on: Biblical attitude to the poor, Corruption, Aid and Development, Debt, and Trade.
Tags: g8 poverty make poverty history africa mission church discipleship
This Week's Good Idea - Be nice to someone in secret
Help someone in need.
Give a gift to someone in need of encouragment.
Send a card expressing appreciation of someone.
But don't tell anyone.
July 07, 2005
London Bombings
Lord, have mercy.
Comfort those who mourn.
Strengthen those who serve.
Protect the innocent.
Establish justice.
Keep our hearts from bitterness,
And help us to do what is right.
The G8 is underway
So, the G8 is underway. Let us pray for these leaders to make righteous and just decisions that will benefit the poor. Africa and Global Warming are at the top of the agenda at this summit:
Africa
1. Debt
G8 leaders are expected to officially endorse a debt relief plan proposed last month by their finance ministers. The proposal would cancel at least $40 billion in debt owed by the world's 18 poorest nations. The deal will save 18 countries about $1.5 billion annually, which they could use toward health care, education and poverty alleviation programs.
The deal has been criticised for two main reasons. Firstly, that it is too limited and should be extended to all 62 countries in need of debt forgiveness. Secondly, that the conditions for countries to receive debt relief are too harsh. The phrase "good governance", instead of focusing on dealing with corruption, insists on potentially harmful enforced market liberalisation and other governmental economic policies.
2. Aid
G8 leaders seem to have reached a deal to increase aid to Africa by $25bn (£18bn) by 2010/15. European countries have also agreed to boost their aid budgets to the UN target of 0.7% of GDP, though this has been promised before, and is too slow for the immediate needs. British proposals to double aid flows quickly by borrowing money from international financial markets (the so-called International Financing Facility) - have not found much support among other G8 countries. George Bush has pledged to double U.S. aid to Africa from $4.3 billion in 2004 to more than $8.6 billion by 2010. However, he has repeatedly rejected calls to increase U.S. foreign aid to 0.7% of the country's gross national income.
Poor countries are worried that aid will be conditional on them opening their markets to foreign investment, and that much of the aid will be tied to the purchase of goods or services in the country offering the aid. These two aspects of aid apply particularly to the USA. For example, much of US aid is in the form of food aid, which is spent on US farmers." Last week George Bush announced a $1.2 billion initiative targeting malaria in Africa and has promised to streamline the Millennium Challenge Account, which has been criticised as too slow and cumbersome. As a result, only $400,000 of US aid has actually reached sub-Saharan Africa so far, and only four countries have qualified at all.
3. Trade
George Bush has said he is willing to give up American subsidies if the EU will do the same. The BBC says "Neither the EU or the US is likely to make any real concessions at this stage of the trade talks - that will come, if at all, in Hong Kong" (at the WTO talks in December). "Meanwhile, they are arguing that developing countries must fully open their markets to Western products, despite the fact that their own markets were protected for many years while their industries were developing."
In addition, many African countries lack the capacity to take advantage of any trade deal without years of investment in infrastructure like roads and ports.
Global Warming
Tony Blair has insisted he will push hard for a deal on climate change, which he believes is inextricably linked to boosting African countries' share of international trade. There seems to be an effort to develop a new strategy to tackle global warming which had the support of countries such as China and India as well as the US. This should focus on developing fuel-efficient technology and exploring alternative sources of energy.
George Bush has now acknowledged that Global Warming is an issue, and that human impact plays a role, but rejects Kyoto-style legally-binding reduction on carbon emissions, preferring to focus on new technologies as a way of tackling global warming.
Other related links
* American Christian groups are increasingly getting involved - from the Washington Times and Christianity Today.
* Multinationals: A case of the foxes guarding the hen-house?
* Corruption in Africa and complicity by the G8.
* Keep up-to-date on G8 issues at the BBC
Tags: g8 poverty make poverty history africa trade aid debt global warming
July 06, 2005
G8 Blogging 5 - Trade
(I've been knocked out with a migraine today, so just a quick one for now...)
A poor man’s field may produce much fruit, but injustice sweeps it away (Prov 13:23)
Aid and debt relief are necessary parts of an approach to promoting development, but trade is a far bigger issue than either. It may be that the deals done on aid and debt will not accomplish much without progress on trade.
Africa's share of global trade has dropped from 3.5% in 1970 to around 1.4% in 2005.
The UN estimates poor countries are losing $700 billion/year through unfair trade.
A 1% increase in trade would give an extra $40 billion/year to Africa.
A quick look, then at the situation, at some Biblical perspectives on trade, and at some application.
Continue reading "G8 Blogging 5 - Trade"
More G8-related links
G8
Maggi on whether our expectations are too high of the 8 making a difference: "the reality is that global poverty will only be shifted if you and I (and all the outrageously rich rock stars in the world) take seriously the fact that global poverty will cost us - in our pockets, in our lifestyles, in our wish to consume all we want without counting."
Trade
George Bush is apparently ready to give up American subsidies if Europe does the same. Sounds good to me.
Aid
It seems claims that US aid to Africa has tripled were an exaggeration.
Jeremy Sachs offers his perspective on the American approach to Africa
Debt
Monbiot on the failings of the G8 debt relief plan.
African leaders seek an end to debt
Young people, poverty and Jesus
The Telegraph reports:
"Young people are more interested in tackling poverty and climate control than getting extra pocket money, living without rules or having their football team win, a survey says.
They also identify Jesus as the figure who most represents what it means to be a "superhero"
July 05, 2005
G8 Blogging 4 - Debt
Africa's total external debt is $300 billion. Each year, Africa faces demands for over $10 billion in debt repayments. Most of the very poor countries in sub-Saharan Africa owe money to rich country governments and to international organisations - the main ones being the World Bank, the IMF and the African Development Bank. Many countries still have to spend more on debt repayments than on meeting the needs of their people. For example:
* In Malawi, more is spent on servicing the country's debt than on health, despite nearly one in five Malawians being HIV positive.
* In Zambia, debt repayments to the IMF alone cost $25 million, more than the budget for education despite 40% of rural women being unable to read and write.
G8 finance ministers agreed at a meeting in London on 11 June to write off a total of $40billion in debt owed by 18 of the world's poorest countries, most of them in sub-Saharan Africa. This will be followed by 9 more countries in another year, and another 10 sometime after that.
I will look briefly at the history of the debt crisis, consider some Biblical principles, and their application to the current situation and the latest G8 effort.
Continue reading "G8 Blogging 4 - Debt"
Protest and the kingdom of God
What a difference the protests in Edinburgh were last night from the peaceful rally of 225 000 people on Saturday. The protest of several hundred anarchists and anti-capitalists began yesterday in apparent good mood. And it seems many wanted to keep it that way. But it soon turned disruptive, with clashes between a minority of protesters and the police. Accusations were flying thicker than the stones, bottles, and supermarket trolleys. Some locals accused the protesters of starting the trouble, while others blamed the police with antagonising the situation and using "bizarre" tactics. 90 people were arrested, and 20 injured.
It is easy to dismiss the whole protest because of the violence of the few, but it is worth asking some deeper questions. I am sure that some were out for violent confrontation from the start, although one does wonder if that would have happened if the police hadn't been there in such force, since it was they who seemed to be the object of the violence.
Looking at the websites of some of the groups concerned, the Carnival for Full Enjoyment say "we seek the end of this system based on profit, and we work towards a global community based on freedom and cooperation." I am sure there are those in this movement who are genuinely angry at injustice, and frustrated by the apparent powerlessness of peaceful protest. As Christians, we might disagree with these protesters' approach and solution, but we too, surely seek a kingdom that is not based on profit, but one of "justice, peace, and full enjoyment in the Holy Spirit" (Rom 14:17). We are to be a community of an alternative lifestyle, called the church, where this is possible, and we are to refuse to bow down to the lordship of either Mammon or Caesar.
The zealots were of course the political revolutionaries of their time, and their approach was one of violent confrontation with the political authorities. I suspect Simon the zealot would have been there in Edinburgh yesterday. Yet, in Jesus, Simon found a different kind of revolutionary. Jesus called his people to live by a different set of values - the values of the kingdom of God that offered a true alternative to the self-seeking of this world's system. Instead of violent confrontation, he taught the way and power of the cross. He didn't seek political power, but he did call people to a total new affiliation - to himself and the values of his kingdom, where everybody, especially the poor and weak, found worth and freedom. Yet Christ and his teaching were seen as a political danger. The affiliation to a new Lord, and a kingdom that gave freedom and worth to the downtrodden threatened to undermine the ruling system value. The church by its existence was a protest. And the followers of Christ suffered for it.
We are not called to violent protest. We are called to Christ. And in bending the knee to him alone, in accepting his Lordship over our lives, we declare that Caesar is not Lord, and that we will not serve Mammon. We commit ourselves to be a people shaped by the cross, where we choose self-denial, serving, and suffering in the pursuit of obedience to God. We choose to be a kingdom where all people can find worth and freedom, where the poor, blind, and outcast can feast. We are to be people who demonstrate and proclaim a different system, and in this offer a challenge and protest against that of the world.
Yet we are too compromised to offer a threat. We have bought into the system of this world's values of possessions, prestige, and pleasure. We willingly bow down to Mammon, and to Caesar. We are not offering an alternative vision to that of the political pursuit of national prosperity. We are offering no hope of a different possibility for the Simons of today. We are no threat to the system that accepts the suffering of millions in the pursuit of our own prosperity. And so we enjoy our comfortable Christianity. And others suffer for it.
July 04, 2005
Make Poverty History Edinburgh - some personal highlights
A group of about 14 of us from our church, Glenwood Church in Cardiff went up overnight on a coach to Edinburgh for the MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY festival.
A particularly special moment for me was meeting three farmers from Burkina Faso - including Boureima, a Fulani from Gorom-Gorom! They were over with Christian Aid to talk about their own situation of food insecurity. Boureima recognised me, and we babbled away happily in Fulfulde.
Other personal highlights:
* Walking round Edinburgh at 7am in the sunshine, before everyone arrived, when the streets were empty and silent.
* Listening to the speaker from Tear Fund, from the Make Poverty History steering committee, speak of the 3000 year-old protest song from the Bible, where the Psalmist speaks out against injustice.
* The march. Being part of vast numbers of people coming together to call for justice for the poor. And the good humour and friendliness of everyone we spoke to.
* The Sudanese group from "Protect Darfur" and their dynamic drumming.
* Rinky-dink for the fun they brought to the march.
* Lying on the grass in the sun, listening to Billy Bragg leading everyone singing "One Heart"
* Listening to a muslim speak on how his faith led him to be there, to join those of other faiths in the struggle against injustice. And watching a small crowd, including a Jew with his skullcap, and a Salvation Army member, listening intently and respectfully.
* Bumping into Paul, who I was at university with, too many years ago.
* The Police having nothing to do.
Tags: g8 edinburgh make poverty history
Various G8 links
Video
In response to the MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY video, Ira Israel and some Southern California teens created this message to show solidarity with ONE and Make Poverty History campaigns in the global fight against AIDS and extreme poverty. (Thanks Mike for this.)
ONE
ONE, the Make Poverty History campaign equivalent in the US, now has over 1 million supporters. Support seems to be broadening there. Christian singer Michael W Smith, Pat Robertson, and Bill Gates are all supporters. USA Today observes that evangelicals in the US seem to be increasingly broadening their political involvement from abortion and family values to include humanitarian concerns such as AIDS, Sudan, and even environmental issues.
Bush and Global Warming
While some progress has been made on Aid and Debt, Trade and Global Warming remain to be dealt with. George Bush seems now to acknowledge that human activity plays a part in global warming, but rejects Kyoto-style legally-binding reduction on carbon emissions, preferring to focus on new technologies as a way of tackling global warming.
Pope
The Pope has added his voice to call the G8 to act to help eradicate poverty in Africa. He said: "My heartfelt hope is that this important meeting is successful, that it leads to a sharing out of the costs of reducing debt and puts in motion concrete measures to eradicate poverty and promote genuine development in Africa,"
A lifetime's work
Gordon Brown observes that it will take more than one G8 meeting to deal with long-term poverty in Africa. He told the BBC: "It is a lifetime's work where we empower the people of Africa and the developing countries to make decisions for themselves." While we should still look for significant movement at the G8 this week, this is a reminder to us that a commitment to justice is not for one week, or one rock concert.
What Live8 was about
Live8 was not about rock music. It was not Live Aid 2, aiming to get people to give money. It was about educating and mobilising people to call upon our leaders to act for justice for the poor. The organisers of Live8 sent this open letter to the G8 afterwards:
"We just thought it was worth writing a reminder of what it was all about.
The very simple fact is that thousands upon thousands of people are still dying each day, in one damn way or another, as a result of extreme poverty.
No one, absolutely not one person in the world, thinks this is a good state of affairs. And yesterday millions and billions of people took part in an event that was meant to say that. They don't know how to stop the dying. But they are desperate and passionate that something should be done right now."
Tags: g8 live8 make poverty history
July 03, 2005
Make Poverty History Edinburgh - some thoughts
"The only thing necessary for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing." (Burke)
I don't know whether the "8 men in a room" will listen to us. I don't know whether it will have achieved anything. I don't know whether we are naive and simplistic. But I'm glad I didn't do nothing.
May God keep us from remaining silent and doing nothing when injustice and suffering are rife.
While it was Live8 that of course got all the media attention, I'm glad I was at Edinburgh. The 225 000 who descended there were from all kinds of backgrounds and persuasions. There seemed to be huge numbers of Christians there - reflecting the centrality of the churches to the Make Poverty History campaign. Tear Fund, Christian Aid, CAFOD, WDM, World Vision, and Traidcraft banners were everywhere. But there were also people from across the spectrum of different ages, races, religions, politics, and pressure groups.
The whole event was remarkably good-humoured. Even after waiting 2 hours, standing in the sun, to set out on the parade, people were not pushing or getting irritable. The Socialist Worker group were good-humouredly trying to sell their papers, and most people were equally good-humouredly smiling and passing on by. There was almost no alcohol to be seen, and the police - who seemed nervous at the start - had nothing to do, and by the end were smiling and relaxed.
There were a few provocative banners, and a handful of protesters for other causes who would have liked to co-opt the march for their own ends. But they were studiously ignored. I am sure there may have been disagreement in the details of how people thought poverty should be tackled. But what united the majority of this diverse group was simply a selfless passion to see justice done for the poor - a conviction that it is simply not good enough to allow the current situation to continue, where we allow a child to die unnecessarily every three seconds. We cannot say, when we have the wealth, the knowledge, and the ability to wipe out death from poverty-related disease, that our own comfort is more important.
We can do our own bit personally, by giving generously. And we need to ask ourselves if we are really doing that. But - as Steve points out - we can't get rid of the agricultural subsidies, or wipe out poor countries' debt, or change the system that keeps the poor trapped in powerlessness. Our leaders can do that, and we can call upon them to do it in our name.
Some photos and personal highlights from the festival coming tomorrow.
A good time was had by all
"I've never done anything like this before, where there's been no trouble and everyone was so happy."
(Comment by a police officer at the end of the MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY march and festival in Edinburgh yesterday)
225 000 people were there to call upon the leaders of the G8 to act justly for the poor in aid, trade and debt, and a great time was had by all. After travelling overnight to Edinburgh, and overnight back again, we arrived back in Cardiff at about 5.30 this morning.
Pictures, highlights, and observations from the festival coming soon.
July 02, 2005
This Week's Good Idea - Pray for the G8 leaders
This week, the leaders of the 8 most wealthiest countries in the world are meeting in Gleneagles in Scotland. They have the potential to make decisions that can hugely impact world poverty.
Pray that Tony Blair, George Bush, and the other leaders will act for justice in the areas of Trade, Aid, Debt, and Global Warming.
And if you haven't yet done so, you still have time to follow Last Week's Good Idea and send a message to the G8 leaders.
July 01, 2005
White Band Day and Edinburgh
Today is White Band Day
Tomorrow I'll be in Edinburgh for the MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY festival to call on the G8 to act for the poor on Aid, Trade, and Debt. We have already seen some movement on Aid and Debt - even if not as much as we hoped. But the big prize is Trade. Western agricultural and other export subsidies have to go.
G8 Blogging 3 - Aid and Development
(Congratulations if you managed to wade through yesterday’s post on corruption! These posts are getting longer than I intended, and there is so much more to say. I’ll try and shorten them a bit, and then maybe come back to them later.)
More aid – while essential in the short term – is not the solution to Africa’s poverty. Changes in the trade system are more urgent. Christian Aid estimates that Africa has lost $1,440 billion to the rich world over the last three decades through unfair trade, debt servicing and bad investment policies.
But aid does have a role in poverty reduction and promoting social and economic development. The call from the Commission for Africa and from development agencies has been not only for a huge increase in aid, but also for better aid. They want an extra US$50 billion each year, a timetable to reach 0.7% of national income by 2010, strategies to ensure that aid works more effectively for poor people, and an end to the imposition of damaging economic conditions on poor countries.
Recently the EU agreed to double devopment aid to poorer countries, worth an extra $14 billion/year. Following suit today, George Bush announced a doubling of American aid to Africa over the next 5 years, on condition of good government and the rule of law. This would mean an increase from $ 4.3bn (£2.4bn) in 2004 to $8.6bn by 2010. Congress has not yet approved Mr Bush's proposed increase in aid, and the announcement has been met with the usual mix of “good start” and “not enough.”
Is aid worthwhile? Does it help? And how should it be given. I will start with a few Biblical perspectives on aid and development, and touch on some of the harmful and helpful approaches to aid in international development in looking at the question does aid work?.
