Global Issues Forum:
13 September 2005

Global Issues Forum (GIF) minutes:

Sept 13^th 2005, Woodlands Upper Hall.

Present: Roger Allen (BCF), Helen Harrison (Thornbury Baptist), Helen Wilson (Cairns Road), Jason Yapp (Key to Life), John Palmer (FotK), Paul Ashford (Oasis Church), Jenny James (Henlease), Chris Sunderland (Agara / Anglican), Neil Edbrooke (BCF)

Apologies: Dia Moodley, Heather Thomas, Mandy Miles, Pat Seymour, Pauline Berndes, Mark Stonham, Anita Morley, Simon Cole, Kirsty Pettit, Mike Ogborne, Cherry Dennison.

 

Introductions by those present (see above)

 

Environmental Issues and Climate Change (PA, JY)

• See PA’s paper: "Where do environmental issues fit in?"
• All global issues interconnected: climate change cannot be separated from issues of MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY.
• Whether campaigning for change from outside, or trying to influence policy from within, politicians can block change.
• Reduction in lifestyle: very unpalatable for UK and US leaders.
• Christian perspective needed on environment.
• Touch the church, touch people, touch governments. Prayer: key to change.

CS: New Age spirituality. Need to educate Christians on truly Biblical approach to environmental issues. The environment is the next big issue, which the church needs to embrace. He shared his vision to "get Bristol talking about climate change" and the need for funding and involvement by the churches

HH: MPH embraces climate change. Cannot separate. God’s heart for people and creation.

JY: Fairtrade issues connect with environmental issues

JF: Mentioned links (between environment and development) made in TEARfund’s Harvest resources on Niger

JJ: mentioned Christian Ecology Link

NE: Challenge to communicate environment issues in a way people can respond to rather than be overwhelmed.

RA: Recommended TEARfund’s emphasis and resources on environmental and lifestyle issues, under the title: "LIVING".

ACTION:

PA, CS and JY to keep in touch and report back to GIF in January about vision to challenge Bristol on environmental issues and potential links to GIF.

RA to go back to BCAN and GIF steering groups to consider including environmental issues within the GIF.

HH to send CS Global Education Network details.

RA, HH to consider climate change workshop at 25/03/06 "Act Justly" conference

 

Feedback on MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY (MPH) (especially Trade Justice) (HH)

• Global Week of Action (April 2005) on Trade Justice. 25k at London (5k expected), all night vigil. 10 million in 80 countries.
• July 2: fantastic day, with 225k peaceful protesters in Edinburgh, with excellent Christian presence. Family fun day. Campaigners have been wonderful, as has the MPH campaign. Live8 (200k) raised issues widely (3 billion audience in 160 countries).
• July G8, Gleneagles. Debt: $40 billion for 18 counties, with 18 more to benefit. This is good news, but not as good as it seems (ie not all new money).
• Aid: doubling aid to Africa: $50 billion by 2010. Good news: first G8 for a long time, where aid has increased not decreased. Again, not all new money. Need to make sure it actually happens.
• Trade: not much at G8. WTO meet in December. But change in language of UK government is very significant. Free trade and forcing conditions on developing countries, not the way forward. Rhetoric needs to become reality.
• HIV/AIDS: Bush’s promise: antiretroviral drugs to all living with HIV, by 2010. But not clear where money comes from.
• Global justice issues top of G8 agenda. Progress made. Much more to do!

Still to come:

• Sept 14 to 18. UN Summit on Millennium Development Goals (to halve world poverty by 2015). Need to pray that other agendas do not get in the way.
• November 2: Mass lobby of Parliament for Trade Justice. Actually met and discuss issues with MPs. Coaches from Bristol. Details of whom to contact (and pdf of flyer / poster) have been sent out to GIF and will be again.
• December 13 to 18: WTO talks in Hong Kong.

ACTION:

All spread the word about the November 2 lobby to your contacts, publicise details of coaches. Come if you can and contact your MP!

 

DAY CONFERENCE

An "Act Justly" day conference, Saturday, 25th March 2006, 10.30 to 3.30pm, Wesley College.

Key note speakers: Mike Hill, Bishop of Bristol. Daleep Mukarji, Director of Christian Aid.

Uganda will be used as a case study to feedback on the issues of MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY.

Various workshops:

• "more and better aid": AIDS work with ACET (AIDS Care Education and Training), which has helped rates of HIV infection drop from 14% to 3% in Southern Uganda
• "drop the debt"
• "trade justice"
• Bishop Mike will also reflect on his various visits to Christian Aid partners, especially ACET and those involved providing humanitarian aid in the civil war in Northern Uganda
• Daleep Mukarji will give feedback on the progress made by MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY and on future plans

 

FUTURE MEETINGS

Date of next meetings: Wed 25 January 2006, then April 19, Sept 13.