Make Poverty History

In 2005 there are unprecedented opportunities to end extreme poverty and suffering of millions of members of our global family. It is this year that the UK Government hosts the G8 Summit and has presidency of the EU from July to December. It is also ten years away from the date set by the UN for reaching the Millennium Development Goals and it might be another year when over five million people will contract HIV or AIDS. Every day 30,000 children die from poverty. This is unacceptable in our world. The UK is a major player in the future of these people's lives because we have power and money that we can use or keep.

To quote Archbishop Desmond Tutu, "2005 is a year of great opportunity, we can really do something to change the world. The time has come to stop talking and start taking action. If everyone who wants an end to poverty, hunger and suffering speaks out then the noise will be deafening. Politicians will have to listen."

.... and from a Street Child in Burundi, "I live in the street and suffer a lot with cold, rain and sun. I am so hungry. I spend the night in a box. When it rains I cannot sleep because the box is wet. I wish ... to go to school."

We are compelled by the Gospel to Act. The Gospel leads Christians to a commitment to a just and equitable society in which every human being has God-given significance and dignity. No one should be oppressed or marginalised. Each should be embraced as a member of the same family. The aim of all human activity should be to glorify God in all creation.

In Luke 4.18-19 Jesus stands up in the synagogue and explains why he has come. "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour."

As members of the worldwide church we are all called to take part in this mission of Christ to preach good news to the poor. We are called to pay special attention to the poor, those whom the Bible refers to as strangers, widows and orphans (see Deuteronomy 24:17-22), those who are often overlooked; those who are exploited for the purposes of international trade and wealth creation.

As the body of Christ we are called to act when we see suffering in another part of the worldwide body. We must not let others starve whilst we have our fill. We must not sit idly by while others suffer the crippling effects of poverty. We are called to stand in the tradition of the prophets, and of Jesus, who spoke out against injustice. We need, like them, to dare to offer a vision of hope for a better future and then be bold enough to take action.

What can we do to make poverty history' We know as faithful Christians that we can make a difference and that together we can give our poorer neighbours hope and a real future. We want: 1) Third world debt cancelled. 2) More and better aid where appropriate. 3) Fair, not free trade.

Please take a round card from the back of the Church (Tackle Poverty) and sign it and post it to the Prime Minister and / or write to Mr Willetts our MP asking him to support the campaign. Purchase Fair Trade products when shopping. Make poverty history is a unique UK alliance of charities including the MU, WDM, CAFOD, and Jubilee Debt, trade unions and faith communities who are mobilising around key opportunities in 2005 to drive forward the struggle against poverty and injustice. Please give it your prayerful support.

 Material based on MU Publications.