Canterbury backs IF Campaign to ‘end global hunger in our lifetimes’

Posted Jun 10, 2013

[Lambeth Palace — Press Release] The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has spoken out in support of a campaign encouraging world leaders to tackle hunger, saving the millions of lives it claims each year.

The Archbishop spoke via video to thousands gathered in Hyde Park today to launch the IF campaign, of which the Church of England is a member. The IF campaign is made up of more than 200 charities, faith groups and organisations. The campaign is urging G8 leaders to take big steps that will tackle the global injustice of hunger.

He said:  “We’ve come to celebrate the opportunity we have to end hunger in our lifetimes. The only way that’s going to happen is by mass movements of people, like yourselves, getting together”.

At the rally, featuring a range of inspirational speakers, a symbol created with children’s spinning flowers was a powerful reminder of the two million children who die of hunger each year.

The Archbishop said we can celebrate the fact that in the UK we commit 0.7% of our national income “to help those around the world who need it”.

But he added: “I encourage you, keep the pressure on. We can change the world in our own lives.”

Earlier in the day Archbishop Justin addressed an ecumenical church service at Methodist Central Hall via video to mark the commitment of the faith communities to ending hunger. He said: “In many parts of the world, the churches are the most effective networks, through which generosity from other people can be used most effectively and without actually displacing or diminishing the work of the people on the ground locally – local people developing their own countries.”

In his message he reflected on issues of aid, tax and transparency on the G8 agenda. The Archbishop concluded: “My prayer would be that in this country and across the world, that we are deeply committed to enabling people to be self-sustaining, so that global hunger can be ended in our lifetimes.”

The events in London began the IF campaign journey to the G8 Summit at Enniskillen, Northern Ireland.

Links to the video messages are below:

Hyde Park rally message: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hzZfQVy9WI

Ecumenical church service message: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYQU6gxjyWQ

Transcripts of the messages are below:

ARCHBISHOP’S MESSAGE TO HYDE PARK RALLY

“It’s amazing that you’re here today. It’s absolutely wonderful that you’ve come together. We’ve come to celebrate the opportunity we have to end hunger in our lifetimes. The only way that’s going to happen is by mass movements of people, like yourselves, getting together, encouraging governments to go on doing what they’re doing well. And a lot of things are being done very well. We’ve seen that in our own country. One of the great things we can celebrate is giving away 0.7% of our national income to help those run the world who need it. I encourage you, keep the pressure on. We can change the world in our own lives.”

ARCHBISHOP’S MESSAGE TO ECUMENICAL SERVICE

“I’m very pleased to be able to welcome you, most warmly, to this service today – to the celebration of the generosity that Jesus Christ has shown us, which we’re called to share with others round the world.

The G8 is the centre of financial resource and power in all kinds of ways. Many members of the G8 are increasingly deeply committed to using that power for the global good. Our own Government is one that has very courageously, at a time of austerity, increased its giving in aid. But it’s important that we put before them the needs of the global community in which we live and with which we are inter dependent.

One of the biggest issues we face is around how aid is used. The issues of tax transparency are increasingly at the top of the agenda and are really, really important.

One of the things that most excites me as a church leader is the role that the church has in ending global hunger and poverty. In many parts of the world, the churches are the most effective networks, through which generosity from other people can be used most effectively and without actually displacing or diminishing the work of the people on the ground locally – local people developing their own countries.

My prayer would be that in this country and across the world, that we are deeply committed to enabling people to be self-sustaining, so that global hunger can be ended in our lifetimes.”

About the IF campaign
Two million children around the world die each year from hunger. Although there is enough food for everyone, one in eight people do not have enough to eat. This year, the IF campaign calls on world leaders to tackle hunger and save millions of lives.

The G8 can take three big steps towards ending hunger IF they:

  • Clamp down on tax havens and launch a convention on tax transparency to stop the flow of billions of pounds out of developing countries – money that could be used to end hunger.
  • Help poor countries make sure that everyone, especially children, have enough nutritious food to eat and support poor families to grow their own food.
  • Give people in developing countries more control over their land by protecting poor farmers from land grabs and using land to grow food not fuel.

People are urged to join the campaign at enoughfoodif.org and go to a Big IF event.


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