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newsletter > 2005
Concern
Among the inputs we received at CAFOD, the drama of poverty was illustrated with examples here and abroad. Over one million children in Britain are suffering from bad housing. Their homes are damp and dangerous. They live in the shadow of eviction and debt. Many have lost their homes already. "I am 13 and I've stayed in 10 houses, about six or seven B and B, about five temporary houses. That's 21 times, altogether, that I've moved" - a 13-year-old, Glasgow.
An American Jesuit, Peter Henriot, told us how the Zambian economy was destroyed by the collapse of the price of copper on the market, and is still suffering from the subsidies on USA cotton and EU sugar. "Zambian people are left to live with a huge debt, a debt of 7billions US$ (700$ pro capita, 350£ for each child!). Zambia is placed 163/173 by the UN for National Development Produce, its debt service is US$ 160 millions. If man's destiny is to become fully alive then poverty offends God. Some say let's have poverty alleviation, or poverty reduction... Jesus did not die for sin alleviation or sin reduction but for the true conversion of sinners! We want the full eradication of poverty." If this is our stand as missionaries then there is a wonderful opportunity, which is coming up, to show our concern for the poor.
On 13th April we religious will be lobbying Westminster Parliament. We will claim that Debt, Trade and Aid are interrelated factors of an infamous triangle and we will call for 100% cancellation of the debt owed by the HIPC. As it seems likely now that the General election in the UK will take place on May the 5th, our voice will have quite a bearing. So too will the thousands who on Saturday, 19th March, marking the second anniversary of the war in Iraq, held demonstrations in many cities. A chance for the electors to have their say on the Labour Government and on the choice to go to war made by Tony Blair.
Our Glasgow community was present at the launching of the campaign 'Stand up for Africa' at the Miners' Welfare of Blantyre by the MP for Rutherglen and Cambuslang Tommy McAvoy and Francis McKillop, his secretary. The evening was sponsored by the Co-op, a front runner in fair-trade and ethical trading. In 2003 some supermarkets in Britain were accused of overcharging for fair trade products. Tesco was one, reportedly marking up fair trade bananas by as much as one US$ per kilogram. Lately, though a fair-trade label was awarded to Tesco for a new line of flowers from Kenya. Notably, the Co-op has been the closest commercial ally of fair trade in Britain all the way. This consumer co-operative, whose members are its customers, was the very first national retain chain and has deep roots reaching back to the 19th century. The Co-op is still answerable to its members, not to financial markets. People who support issues like human rights or peace are more likely to buy fair trade. Fair trade is not a brand with passive consumers but a movement with active supporters- a relationship of trust between people.
Again in Glasgow, Fr. Anthony attended a public meeting on the Church in Modern Day China and referred of thousands of Christian Chinese in need of pastoral care. May be we need to feel more for the work of our Comboni confreres in Asia, especially keeping in mind that the head of the delegation is now Fr. David Glenday.