1 September 2005
SEPTEMBER 10th - ANOTHER WHITE WRISTBAND DAY
"Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings" so said Nelson Mandela in expressing his support for the Make Poverty History Campaign.
Supporters of the campaign are preparing to again don their white wristbands to remind world leaders assembling for the UN Summit in New York early next month, that the world is still watching and waiting for them to make poverty history. In Australia, one encouraging sign that the message is being heard is that the Prime Minister has acknowledged the importance of the issue by his recent decision to attend the summit.
In Victoria, the Make Poverty History campaign has received new momentum with all schools, parishes, deaneries and associated groups in the Archdiocese of Melbourne being asked to support the campaign. A letter from Archbishop Denis Hart points to the rich tradition of social teaching within the church and reminds Christians of their call to work with others for transformation of the world. In the words of the Archbishop "The Make Poverty History Campaign enables us to make others aware of those who suffer and the hope that the Good News brings to those who hunger for justice."
Students from all Edmund Rice Schools in Victoria have already heeded that call. At the recent seminar day at Parade College in Bundoora, they resolved to promote the campaign in their school communities in a range of ways such as school newsletters, assemblies, the distribution of fact sheets and bumper stickers, encouraging their teachers to raise the issue in classes, the organization of competitions, billboards and other events some of which could be promoted in the local media and by selling the wristbands to be worn on the remaining white wristband days in their school communities.
This year provides an unprecedented opportunity for all of us to make a decisive step towards eliminating a major source of evil and suffering in our world. It is to be hoped we can all contribute to raising awareness about this issue and wear a white wristband on Sep 10th and again on Dec 10th. Wristbands are available from any Oxfam shop or through Caritas.
Supporters of the campaign are preparing to again don their white wristbands to remind world leaders assembling for the UN Summit in New York early next month, that the world is still watching and waiting for them to make poverty history. In Australia, one encouraging sign that the message is being heard is that the Prime Minister has acknowledged the importance of the issue by his recent decision to attend the summit.
In Victoria, the Make Poverty History campaign has received new momentum with all schools, parishes, deaneries and associated groups in the Archdiocese of Melbourne being asked to support the campaign. A letter from Archbishop Denis Hart points to the rich tradition of social teaching within the church and reminds Christians of their call to work with others for transformation of the world. In the words of the Archbishop "The Make Poverty History Campaign enables us to make others aware of those who suffer and the hope that the Good News brings to those who hunger for justice."
Students from all Edmund Rice Schools in Victoria have already heeded that call. At the recent seminar day at Parade College in Bundoora, they resolved to promote the campaign in their school communities in a range of ways such as school newsletters, assemblies, the distribution of fact sheets and bumper stickers, encouraging their teachers to raise the issue in classes, the organization of competitions, billboards and other events some of which could be promoted in the local media and by selling the wristbands to be worn on the remaining white wristband days in their school communities.
This year provides an unprecedented opportunity for all of us to make a decisive step towards eliminating a major source of evil and suffering in our world. It is to be hoped we can all contribute to raising awareness about this issue and wear a white wristband on Sep 10th and again on Dec 10th. Wristbands are available from any Oxfam shop or through Caritas.
Comments:
Post a Comment
