“What Can I Do…”

Tuesday, 27 October 2009

Paul Thompson reveals what we can do to help alleviate poverty in the world

When someone passionate talks about global poverty, the immensity of the situation can be so overwhelming that it leaves us feeling helpless. There are 1.4 billion people living under the United Nations absolute poverty level of US $1.25 per day.  That is 20% of the world population – one person in every five!

At the end of August I went to the launch of the Global Poverty Project at Parliament. Hugh Evans, 2004 Young Australian of the Year, visited a third world country as a teenager and was profoundly influenced by the experience. So much so that he has put together a team who have produced the Global Poverty Project presentation. It was a powerful presentation, graphically illustrating the extent and the causes of global poverty, but most important was the theme that we can do something. Every one of us can sign up to a commitment to do something in support of the poor. 1.4 billion people are reasons to act, not reasons to be overwhelmed with feelings of helplessness.

We are going to hear more of the Global Poverty Project. The August tour was a quick visit to each of the main centres, with Hugh Evans himself doing the presentation. Their plan is to train a team of presenters to make this available to as many groups as possible. There will also be a church version which will back up the themes of justice, hope and responsibility from biblical and spiritual resources. See www.globalpovertyproject.com for more information.

So, what are the practical day to day things that we can be doing? The first is simple: make a point of learning more. Along with this talk about it with your friends and neighbours, in your church, school, work, wherever. Get others interested and involved. We can’t keep closing our eyes and ignoring global poverty.

Support Fair Trade. A young person I know successfully persuaded her school and her church to use Fair Trade tea and coffee. In parts of Europe Fair Trade goods are reaching significant proportions on supermarket shelves. We need to encourage this trend in New Zealand. It is great that Cadbury’s have announced their Dairy Milk brand will become Fair Trade, but what about the rest of their products? Fair Trade is not just chocolate, coffee and third world craft products. There are now also Fair Trade clothing lines. See for example www.micahclothing.co.nz. Encourage retailers in your local shopping centre to stock Fair Trade items by specifically asking for them.

Be an advocate. Promote poverty related events in your community. This October there are two globally promoted events coming up. Stand Up, Take Action Against Poverty is a part of the global Millennium Campaign against poverty. Over the three days of 16-18 October you are encouraged to form a group who will stand up in a public place and be counted as a demonstration of your support for the campaign. Last year nearly 117 million people took part. This year there will be more. Visit www.standup.org.nz for information.

Linked to the Stand Up campaign is Micah Sunday on the 18 October. As Christians we need to express the spiritual dimension of the urgency to act on the injustices of global poverty. Here is the opportunity to get your church involved. The Micah Challenge website has service resources and ideas for youth groups and Sunday Schools. Visit www.micahchallenge.org.nz and go to the “News and Events” tab.

Paul Thompson

National Coordinator

Micah Challenge Aotearoa New Zealand