World Development

 
 Revd. John Rutter was appointed diocesan World Development Officer in January 2006 on a voluntary 1 day a week basis. 
 








 

The role of the WDO is:

• To receive and disseminate information on world development issues.

• To brief and advise senior staff and appropriate diocesan groups on key world development issues.

• To identify, encourage and support existing or developing interest and activities within parishes

• To maintain links with relevant organisations (e.g. Christian Aid and USPG-Anglicans in World Mission.)

• To identify interested individuals from parishes and relevant organisations to form a group to establish, support and promote any parish or deanery initiatives relating to world development (e.g. setting up a Traidcraft stall.)

• To maintain links with the Diocesan Board of Education and in particular the Global Education Adviser.

• To work with the support group to organise events or produce newsletters when appropriate.

John can be contacted at john@jcrutter.plus.com

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Topics:

Fairtrade Diocese
Global Horizons Group
A rough guide to the Millennium Development Goal
Fuel and Food Poverty: The Silent Tsunami
Questions and Actions

Fairtrade Diocese

In March 2005 Diocesan Synod unanimously agreed a motion to work towards Fairtrade status for Ripon and Leeds Diocese, as one response to the biblical call to challenge injustice. The Fairtrade movement began in the 1980’s, when development charities began working directly with farmers to improve their economic and social conditions. Over 90 parishes or churches have signed a diocesan pledge to support Fairtrade

• Our PCC has passed a resolution to use tea and coffee that carries the Fairtrade Mark
   

• We will also through prayer, study and action develop our witness in the area of trade justice.
   

The Fairtrade Foundation in the UK regulates the sale of over 3000 fairtrade products, totaling around £800 million. Companies heavily involved in fairly traded products include The Co-op, Cadburies, Sainsbury’s, Tate and Lyle, and development organizations such as Traidcraft and Tearfund.

To find out more about Fairtrade go to www.fairtrade.org.uk


Ripon achieves Fairtrade City status.


 
Ripon joins Leeds and Harrogate in achieving Fairtrade status after a two year campaign by local church members and businesses. The award was announced at a Fairtrade Banquet during Fairtrade Fortnight attended by 75 guests including a City Council member. The menu was entirely of Fairtrade or locally sourced products, to highlight the message that all farmers need a fair deal.

The local action group which campaigned for Fairtrade status is strongly ecumenical, with representatives from Anglican, Catholic and Methodist churches in the city. It was helped in its ‘setting up’ phase by Harrogate Fairtrade Group, and is willing to give help and support to any group in the north of the diocese which may want to begin a local campaign. There are 435 Fairtrade ‘Areas’ in the UK, including cities, towns, boroughs and villages. To find out more, go to
www.fairtrade.org.uk/get_involved/campaigns/default.aspx


The Fairtrade Foundation also now operates a Fairtrade Church scheme, details of which can be found at www.fairtrade.org.uk/get_involved/campaigns/default.aspx

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Global Horizons Group

This group, under the chairmanship of Bishop James, co-ordinates the work of several officers with a global perspective: Development, the World Church, Environment, Sri Lanka, Global Education.

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A Rough Guide to the Millennium Development Goals
Progress in World Development 2000 – 2008
 

In September 2000 189 countries signed the U.N. Millennium Declaration. It contained 8 Millennium Development Goals with the target date of 2015 set for their achievement. The UK Government made a commitment on our behalf to work toward these goals. There has been considerable progress, but the changing economic and environmental situations threaten to undermine this.

The 8 MDG’s
 

Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education

Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women

Goal 4: Reduce child mortality

Goal 5: Improve maternal health

Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases

Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability

Goal 8: Develop a global partnership for development

Development relates to quality of life, so the MDG’s are not only economic objectives. There is a strong emphasis on women and girls, recognizing their importance in community development and their relatively disadvantaged position in many countries.
 

At a time of economic uncertainty levels of international aid and private charitable giving are declining. Churches faced with rising Share and static or falling incomes have difficult choices to make. It is important to maintain outward giving, to continue supporting NGO’s which work with the most vulnerable in our society and globally. Climate change, environmental damage and rising food and fuel prices have intensified the poverty caused by unfair trade practices and poor governance.

Please continue to be Good News for the Poor. For more information on the MDG’s and a Report on progress, go to the United Nations website www.un.org/milleniumgoals

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Fuel and Food Poverty: The Silent Tsunami

The recession and swings in oil prices have forced increasing numbers of people in the UK into fuel poverty – more than 10% of capital spent on fuel. Huge numbers of people around the world have been living with this for years, with low and declining rural incomes and mass migration into cities where fuel costs are high. More worrying is food poverty. With rice and wheat prices increasing by 40-50% in some countries, the worlds poorest are spending 70% or more of their income on food. There have been food riots in over 30 countries, with an estimated 25,000 dying daily from hunger-related causes. The problem is often not the absence of food, but its price.

To explore current issues and campaigns, go to www.christianaid.org.uk or to the UK Goverments DFID Magazine www.developments.org

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Questions and Action
 

What can your Church do to deliver Good News to the Poor?

With financial limitations, what will your priorities be?

In what different ways can members of your church be involved or challenged?
 

Is your Church a Fairtrade Church? If not, find out how to become one at www.fairtrade.org.uk/get_involved/campaigns
 

How will you prioritise your Churches giving in 2010 to reflect the ‘silent tsunami’ of rising food and fuel prices around the world?
 

Will your Harvest celebrations in autumn have a global perspective?
 

In December ‘09 there will be a UN Climate Summit in Copenhagen which will be hugely important for everyone’s future. Make a Pledge and influence your MP – check out www.christianaid.org.uk

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