The MDGs and the Economic Crisis
"The United Nations Millennium Campaign would like to share an analysis showing that since the inception of aid (overseas development assistance) almost 50 years ago, donor countries have given some $2 trillion in aid. And yet over the past year, $18 trillion has been found globally to bail out banks and other financial institutions. The amount of total aid over the past 49 years represents just eleven percent of the money found for financial institutions in one year. The UN Millennium Campaign is urgently calling on rich countries gathering at this week’s high-level summit on the economic crisis to make no further excuses that they lack resources and to urgently deliver on their aid commitments."
“The stark contrast between the money dispersed to the world’s desperately poor after 49 years of painstaking summits and negotiations and the staggering sums found virtually overnight to bail out the creators of the global economic crisis makes it impossible for governments to any longer claim that the world can’t find the money to help the 50,000 people who are dying of extreme poverty every day,” said Salil Shetty, Director of the United Nations Millennium Campaign.
http://www.civicus.org/content/e-CIVICUS444-aid_and_global_economic_crisis.html
UN summit: rich countries block reform
We had the G8 and the G20 Summits, but the first major conference on the financial and economic crisis to involve all countries ended with rich countries blocking substantive reforms demanded by developing countries. The UN conference did however push key issues up the international agenda, such as the need for a better system of international reserves, and for genuine policy space for developing countries.
Key issues were recognised: The conference produced the most honest assessment of the nature of the “worst financial and economic crisis since the Great Depression” yet produced by an intergovernmental forum. The links between the financial crisis, global inequality, “increased food insecurity, volatile energy and commodity prices and climate change” are highlighted. Blame is laid at the foot of developed countries, and the “loss of confidence in the international economic system” is recognised. There were “major failures in financial regulation” which were compounded by “over-reliance on market self-regulation” demonstrating “the need for more effective government involvement to ensure an appropriate balance between the market and public interest.”
http://www.brettonwoodsproject.org/art-564772
The Peruvian government recently enacted legislation allowing increased exploitation of the Amazon jungle areas at the expense of the indigenous peoples. In the resulting clashes many were killed or wounded. Micah Challenge Peru initiated a global petition to their government (click here). As a result of this and other petitions the government has suspended the legislation. We still need to pray the review of the situation will lead to a just solution.
Pray for Sri Lanka
Following the end to the civil war in Sri Lanka, Micah Network member organisation LEADS Sri Lanka has asked us to pray for the peace process. Pray that unity will be established, and that the hundreds of thousands of displace people can be cared for and resettled.
• Find more on our Facebook page
• See Sri Lanka Unites Facebook Group
• See this YouTube clip
Thoughts on the book of Ruth
The book of Ruth is very relevant to poverty and justice issues. The book does not record any miracles or God speaking in any special way. Rather it is a story of people in poverty and the response of their society.
Naomi, Elimelech and their two sons were economic refugees, fleeing a famine in the land of Israel. They were accepted in the neighbouring country of Moab, allowed to settle and to marry. However circumstances were against them. Elimelech and the two sons died, leaving three widows, with no one to support them. Naomi and Ruth return to Israel, where Ruth, the foreign widow, supports her mother by going out to glean in the fields. Boaz is a wealthy man, employing others to work his fields. He is also one of the relatives who should have been responsible to care for Naomi in more ways than just allowing gleaning. He has to be reminded of his duties before he acts to marry Ruth and provide Naomi with an heir.
As with Naomi and Ruth, global poverty today is caused by events beyond the control of the people caught up in what is happening. It was not their fault that everything worked against them. Famine, illness, death contribute to the downward spiral of poverty. It is not that they are lazy or unwilling to work.
The Bible lays out legal, cultural and spiritual responsibilities towards the poor, and we see each of these unfolding in this story.
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The Micah Call is a global petition, and a statement of our belief that now is a time when poverty can be challenged:
Read more
The issues of global poverty are not just economic. They are also political and spiritual. Micah Challenge invites Christians to take a prophetic role in making a difference in the world.
Paul Thompson
National Coordinator
Micah Challenge Aotearoa New Zealand
The Micah Challenge eNewsletter is a monthly update on global poverty issues with a Christian perspective. Invite friends to subscribe. Visit our website www.micahchallenge.org.nz
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