The following letter was in the FT this morning. I endorse it and what it demands and am pleased by its ecumenical and multi-faith approach:
From the Most Revd and Rt Hon Justin Welby and others.
Sir, April 5 marks the start of the 1,000-day countdown to achieving the Millennium Development Goals by the 2015 deadline. It is an appropriate moment for heads of government of the Group of Eight leading economies to pause and to reflect on progress to date.
Development is working. But challenges remain. The number of people living in extreme poverty has been halved ahead of time and 14,000 fewer children die each day than in 1990. Yet one in eight people still goes to bed hungry every night and more than 2m die of malnutrition each year.
Even as conversations accelerate as to what ought to replace the MDGs, we should not slacken our efforts towards realising existing goals. Meeting the remaining targets, while challenging, is possible — but only if governments do not waiver from the moral and political commitments that they made more than a decade ago.
Thirteen years on from the start of the millennium, the values and principles that drive these goals are as imperative as ever. The financial crisis may be a reason but is not an excuse for hesitation or deferral. The MDGs remind us that, in addition to providing for the wellbeing of our own societies, we have a collective responsibility to uphold human dignity and the common good at the global level. Each individual has a value that can never be lost and must never be ignored.
With a focus on tax, trade and transparency, the UK presidency of the G8 this year has the potential to advance the MDG agenda in ways that strike at the underlying causes of poverty, in particular by ensuring the wealth created by developing countries is not lost through unfair tax practices, a lack of transparency or a failure to secure the benefits of trade for developing countries.
As religious leaders from across the G8, we recommend that our heads of government take the following actions when they meet in June. First, fulfil existing commitments to spend 0.7 per cent of national income on aid. Second, launch a G8 convention on tax transparency that commits signatory countries to preventing individuals and companies from hiding wealth so that it is untraceable. Third, press for greater financial transparency from governments of developing countries so that the citizens of these countries can hold their governments to account for the money they spend.
Reaching a purposeful consensus on these areas will not be easy. But, if the political will and moral leadership is forthcoming, this year's G8 could help to create an environment that encourages the conditions for inclusive, equitable and sustainable economic growth — conditions that are desperately needed if we are to realise the MDGs and even greater things beyond.
The Most Revd and Rt Hon Justin Welby,
Lord Archbishop of Canterbury (UK)
The Most Revd Vincent Nichols,
Archbishop of Westminster (UK)
The Most Revd Philip Tartaglia,
Archbishop of Glasgow (UK)
Rt Revd Albert O. Bogle,
Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland (UK)
The Most Revd David Chillingworth,
Bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane,
Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church (UK)
Revd Jonathan Edwards,
General Secretary, Baptist Union of Great Britain
Mr Paul Parker,
Recording Clerk, Religious Society of Friends of Great Britain
Mrs Val Morrison,
General Secretary of the United Reformed Church (UK)
Rev Dr Michael Jagessar,
Moderator of the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church (UK)
Rev Dr Mark Wakelin,
President of the Conference of the Methodist Church in Britain
Revd Simon Walkling,
Moderator, National Synod of Wales of the United Reformed Church
Rev R. Kenneth Lindsay,
President of the Methodist Church in Ireland
Archbishop Paul Hackman,
Trans-Atlantic and Pacific Alliances of Churches (UK)
Commissioner Clive Adams,
Territorial Commander, Salvation Army, UK and ROI
Revd Joel Edwards,
Director, Micah Challenge International
Rt Revd Mar Theodosius,
Diocesan Epicsopa, Mar Thoma Church (UK)
Rev Michael Heaney,
General Secretary of the Congregational Federation (UK)
Rev Torbjørn Holt,
Chairman, Council of Lutheran Churches in the UK
Rt Revd Munib Younan,
President, Lutheran World Federation (Jordan)
Ravinder Kaur Nijjar,
Co-Chair of Religions for Peace European Women of Faith Network (UK)
Lord Indarjit Singh,
Network of Sikh Organisations (UK)
Mr Julian Bond,
Director, Christian-Muslim Forum (UK)
Dr Natubhai Shah,
Chair/CEO Jain Network (UK)
Bhai Sahib, Bhai Mohinder Singh Ahluwalia,
Chairman, Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha (UK)
National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United Kingdom and on behalf of its sister Assemblies of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, and the United States
Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra,
Christian Muslim Forum Co-Chair and Assistant Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain
Mr Toufik Kacimi,
Christian Muslim Forum President
Ayatollah Dr Sayyid Fadhil Al-Milani,
Imam Al-Khoei Islamic Centre (UK)
Dr Manazir Ahsan,
Co-Chair, Inter Faith Network,
Director General, Islamic Foundation (UK)
Mr Yousif Al-Khoei,
Director, Al-Khoei Foundation UK
Mr Ramesh Pattni,
Co-Chair, Hindu Christian Forum, Hindu Forum of Britain
Mr Nitin Palan,
BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir (UK)
Mr Malcolm Deboo,
President, Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe
Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari,
Chairman of the East London Mosque,
Former Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain
Rabbi Dr Tony Bayfield,
The Movement for Reform Judaism (UK)
Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner,
Movement Rabbi for the Movement for Reform Judaism (UK)
Rabbi Natan Levy,
Interfaith and Social Action consultant, Board of Deputies of British Jews
Rabbi Danny Rich,
Chief Executive, Liberal Judaism (UK)
Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg,
Senior Rabbi of the Masorti Movement (UK)
Rabbi Avrohom Pinter,
Charedi Rabbi (UK)
Rt Revd Paul Hendricks,
Auxiliary Bishop, Archdiocese of Southwark,
Co-Chair, Christian Muslim Forum (UK)
Anjum Anwar,
Dialogue Development Officer, exChange Project, Blackburn Cathedral,
Chair, Woman's Voice,
Trustee, Christian Muslim Forum (UK)
His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel of France,
Ecumenical Patriarchate, President of the Conference of European Churches (Fra)
The Most Revd Dr Katharine Jefferts Schori,
Presiding Bishop and Primate, Episcopal Church (US)
Rabbi Richard A. Marker,
Former Chair, Elijah Board of World Religious Leaders (US)
Mr Dave Courchene,
Elder and Spiritual Leader, Anishnabe Nation, Eagle Clan (Canada)
Mrs Pascale Fremond,
President, Religions for Peace — Canada
Victor C. Goldbloom,
Past Chair, National Executive, Canadian Jewish Congress
The Most Revd Fred Hiltz,
Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Canada
Mr Mark Huyser-Wierenga,
Chair of the Board, Citizens for Public Justice (Canada)
Rt Revd Susan C. Johnson,
National Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
Mobeenuddin H. Khaja,
President, Association of Progressive Muslims of Canada
The Right Revd Gary Paterson,
Moderator, The United Church of Canada
Pandit Roopnauth Sharma,
President, Hindu Federation, and Spiritual Leader, Shri Ram Mandir, Mississauga (Canada)
Mr Prem Singh Vinning,
President, World Sikh Organisation of Canada
The Rev Dr James Christie,
Director, Ridd Institute for Religion and Global Policy, University of Winnipeg, Canada
The Rev Dr Karen Hamilton,
General Secretary, The Canadian Council of Churches
Major Jim Champ,
President, The Canadian Council of Churches
Dr H.C. Nikolaus Schneider,
Chair of the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany
Bishop Martin Schindehütte,
Head of the Department for Ecumenical Relations and Ministries Abroad, Evangelical Church in Germany
Rev Regina Claas,
General Secretary, Union of Evangelical Free Churches in Germany
Revd Martin Affolderbach,
General Secretary, G8 Religious Leaders Summit, Germany
Prof Dr Johannes Lähnemann,
Vice Secretary of the Round Tables of Religions in Germany
Rabbi Dr Henry G. Brandt,
General Rabbi Conference of the Central Council of Jews in Germany
Mr Bekir Alboga,
Deputy General Secretary of the Turkish Islamic Union of the Public Institution for Religion (Germany)
Dr Timmo Guezelmansur,
Head of the Center for Christian Muslim Dialogue of the Catholic Bishop's Conference in Germany
Hilary Keachie,
Protestant Youth Federation Germany
Prof Dr Assaad Elias Kattan,
Orthodox Churches in Germany
Rt Revd Prof Dr Martin Hein,
Protestant Church of Kurhessen-Waldeck (Germany)
Mr Michael Gerhard,
Council of the Buddhist Union in Germany
Most Rev Masanori Yoshimura,
President, Japanese Association of Religious Organisations,
Patriarch, Shinto Shinshu-kyo (Japan)
Most Ven Yukei Matsunaga,
Honorary President, G8 Religious Leaders Summit 2008
Patriarch, Shingon Esoteric Buddhism (Japan)
Very Ven Koho Murayama,
President, International Religious Fellowship,
Lord Chancellor, Soto Zen Buddhism (Japan)
Most Revd Mitsuo Miyake,
President, International Association for Religious Freedom,
Senior Chief Minister, Shinto Konko Church of Izuo (Japan)
Most Ven Jisho Omori,
Patriarch, Benten-shu Buddhism,
Chief Abbot, Myoohji Temple (Japan)
Most Ven Nisshin Matsushita,
Patriarch, Honmon Hokke-shu Lotus Buddhism,
Chief Abbot, Myorenji Temple (Japan)
Rev Takeshi Nishida,
President, Itto-en Religious Community,
Adviser, Religion for Peace (Japan)
Most Revd Tsunetada Mayumi,
Chief Priest, Sumiyoshi Grand Shrine (Japan)
Yoshinobu Miyake,
General Secretary, G8 Religious Leaders Summit Japan
Maulana Mohammed Shahid Raza,
Muslim College and former Minab chairman
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That would include of course the biggest Tax haven and secrecy juristictionof all the Vatican City
Let’s be clear: that’s an absurd claim
I don’t dispute there are problems, but as ever your claims are wildly wrong
As a practicing Catholic it really makes my heart sing to read our bishops signing letters calling for greater transparency.
It would of course be good if they’d apply a little more themselves…
It is clear that there have been astonishing improvements since the turn of the century, the letter refers. Neo-liberal economists attribute this to trade and movement of capital, primarily. Might they have a point?
Sorry – baffled as to what you’re saying / claiming
Richard
It’s a Worstall favourite to cite that the current system is better than any system because GDP is rising globally, so that means more are being lifted out of poverty, exploited or not.
The argument goes that it’s better for “those of a duskier hue (sick)” to be exploited and a bit less in poverty, than being not exploited and in poverty.
The fact that any of the measures he cares to cite do not reflect what could be possibly wrong is neither here or there for those guys.
He also claims to be “more lefty than lefties” because he claims that his fallacies prove that he is “greener” and that people who support global equality are “racist c8nts”, because, any other system but his is anti-development.
That’s where the question arises. Yep, there’s been some improvements. But despite, and not because.
Isn’t it time the CofE took a closer look at the activities of the Rev Lord Stephen Green?
“First, fulfil existing commitments to spend 0.7 per cent of national income on aid.”
Sorry, I’m a firm believer that UK taxpayers cash should be spent on UK subjects. When we’ve got all the cancer drugs people need, when every pensioner has a warm home, when every UK child is the right school for them……
…..then perhaps we could spend cash on ‘abroad’. I’m not keen on funding foreign armed forces while the leadership of that country allows people to starve while the wives of thst country’s leadership enjoy handbag shopping in Paris.
If the church wants to donate money, fair enough….use it’s cash not my taxes.
I think you are rather missing the basis of society – and we live in a society worldwide
But there are problems with the misuse of aid, aren’t there? has verification of efficacy improved?
Yes
I know nothing that is not misused from blogs onwards
Does that mean we stop everything?
If we are using a worldwide basis to define “society” then we use a worldwide basis to define other things, say poverty?
If so, that is the UKs poverty “issue” sorted immediately.
You ignore relative poverty, by choice, no doubt
Richard, are you admitting (finally) that there is a difference between real poverty and relative poverty?
I have never denied it
Real poverty is immediately life threatening
But relative poverty is also fundamentally corrosive to the individual and society and in many ways just as harmful – it just takes longer for the impact to be seen
Allan,
I’m not, myself, a huge fan of overseas aid, but you do seem to misunderstand the point of it. The point of aid is for wealthy western countries to encourage/bribe 3rd world countries into behaving in a particular way. It is a much more cost-effective way of acheiving this than bombing them so I’d have thought Conservatives would approve of it.
Personally, I’d rather neither bomb them nor bribe their leaders, but change things so that the people could trade with us, but I appreciate that doesn’t give us in the west any ‘leverage’ on them.
You have very clearly not followed the aid agenda for many years if that is your understanding
@Allan – you are quite close to the truth. I would add, a way to self-perpetuate the legions of international aid/development workers as well, those fat tax-free salaries are not cheap.
If you got facts right it would help
You don’t. The vast majority of aid salaries are not tax free, for example
Lying does not help your cause
Richard,
I can’t find who the greatest recipients of our aid have been in recent years, the EFiD site doesn’t analyse it.
I know that the greatest recipients of US aid have been Egypt & Pakistan. Both, undoubtedly, poor countries but nothing like as poor as say, Burkino Fasa.
Egypt got aid as a bribe for supporting Israel, the Pakistani Govt got aid as a bribe to not become another extremist Salafi Govt on the edge of Afghanistan & FGS to not become an extremist Salafi Govt with nuclear weapons.
I’m sorry but it’s silly to try to divorce foreign aid from realpolitik. That is all it is.
Of course the two are linked
I have never denied it
But that doesn’t mean per se aid is wrong
Richard
I don’t think aid is “wrong” &, at the moment, it is necessary, but it is a v inefficient way of delivering value. 2 things that would be better are;
1) Free trade in, particular, agricultural produce. At present neither the US nor EU will even allow 3rd world farmers to export to them. I appreciate this is a hard one & politically difficult.
2) Stop facilitating kleptocracy. It is not often understood that each year more money (& far more value) passes from Africa to the West than v/v. Largely this is because accountants, solicitors & bankers in the City of London conspire with politicians & administrators in Africa to allow them to rip off their unfortunate compatriots. When people talk about kleptocracy the image is of a black man in fatigues, not a white man in a pinstripe suit, but the truth is neither could do it without the other.
The UK could do something about this, literally tomorrow, by insisting on absolute transparency in all its dominions, no more hiding behind nominee directors & shareholders & dodgy “trustees”.
This is why I think your site so important even if you sometimes find my postings irritating !
I make no comment!
Well, beyond that….
Sorry but I’m not a Leftie or a Rightie….I’m a non-aligned voter. I can’t really spot any real differences in policies between Blue and Red and Yellow Mobs. Most, if not all of their front bench MPs, are pretty much interchangeable.
That’s neoliberalism for you
I admit I wasn’t taken
Awfully quiet around here today (7 April), given what Labour has pulled on benefits……
Maybe I have other issues to deal with in life
And right now I have