March in London

Last week 650 Anglican Bishops, their spouses, family members, and other faith leaders (approximately 1500 people) marched through London calling on world leaders to re-affirm their commitments to end extreme poverty. The event was organized in partnership with Micah Challenge. They sent us these cool photos!



News Coverage of the March:

Bishops march in London 'walk of witness' against global poverty
Episcopal-Life - New York,NY,USA
The march was organized in partnership with Christian social justice advocacy group Micah Challenge UK. Board member Paul Cook said the organization hopes ...

Bishops march for action on global poverty
ChristianToday - London,UK
The walk of witness was held in partnership with the Christian anti-poverty movement Micah Challenge. The movement, an inter-denominational initiative of ...

Lambeth walk to demand world leaders to keep their promise to end ...
Anglican Communion News Service - London,UK
The walk and rally are being organised in partnership with Micah Challenge, an international movement working to engage the Church worldwide in speaking out ...

Bishops join London march to highlight action on world poverty
Ekklesia - UK
The match is being organised in partnership with Micah Challenge UK, part of the international Micah Challenge movement dedicated to uniting Christians to ...

Canadians invited to join bishops in MDGs walk
Anglican Church of Canada - ON, Canada
... sessions for this walk, which was organized in partnership with Micah Challenge UK and the United Kingdom's Department for International Development. ...

Virtual March for the MDGs!!

Today Micah Challenge leaders in the UK, more than 600 Anglican bishops, their spouses and other faith leaders from around the United Kingdom will march through central London on a Walk of Witness -- a symbolic moment of solidarity and coming together for the fulfillment of the Millennium Development Goals to reflect to the world God's desire for justice and concern for the poor. Join them!

Join these leaders by taking part in a Virtual March for the MDGs here in the US. Here is how to participate:

• Pray for the MDGs today--Download the "walk of witness" Prayers of the people developed by the Episcopal Church.
• Advocate for the Jubilee Act S.2166 by calling your Senator and urging them to support the Jubilee Act. Visit Micah Partner Jubilee USA--Call your Senator!

Why Debt Cancellation? The Jubilee Act would provide Debt Cancellation for the those countries that need it to meet the MDGs. In fact, in the same way that we canceled the debt of Iraq because Saddam Hussein wasn't a legitimate leader so why should the Iraqi people pay off his debt, many of the countries who would receive debt cancellation from the Jubilee Act are currently paying odious debts as well. Cancelling Debt Works! Read more about how important Debt Cancellation is to the MDGs from Micah Partner Jubilee USA

Thank you for participating in the MDG virtual march!

We are Slow to Learn By Lawrence Temfwe

Lawrence Temfwe is a dear brother from Zambia. He writes a reflection every Monday, and this weeks reflection was a good reminder to me. Enjoy.
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It is all true. Zambia is magnificent country, it is one of the few countries in Africa that has enjoyed relative peace since independence, and its famous Victoria Falls is one of the wonders of the world. But what is the Zambians’ attitude to it all?

Amazingly, God has given us long to build on this beautiful foundation so that all may enjoy prosperity, democracy and social justice. But what have we been doing? Ever since we became the Republic of Zambia we have been preoccupied with hero worshipping rather than learning from our successful leaders so that when they leave us, we will continue on in their successes. We gave titles to Dr. Kenneth Kaunda that are only meant for God to the effect that when he retired from active politics no one in his party was able to respond to his dream. When Mr. Chiluba became president we worshipped him as a hero and gave him the name “Moses.” When he left office it was not a “Joshua” that took over but Dr. Mwanawasa. Today, no newspaper remembers what positive things Dr. Chiluba contributed to this nation.

Currently President Mwanawasa is seriously ill in a French hospital. The people of Zambia have shown great fondness and concern for his well-being. We have been praying unceasingly for his healing and sending messages of goodwill to him and his family. However, something is missing in our prayers for his healing and in our messages of goodwill to him. What have we learned from him that we are sustaining?

President Mwanawasa is concerned that the Zimbabwean government reflects the will of the Zimbabwean people. We have not heard a single voice from our government leaders on the Zimbabwean situation since Dr. Mwanawasa became ill. Did cabinet members agree with his position? President Mwanawasa is passionately committed that Zambia achieves the Millennium Development Goals. Which government leader has sustained the momentum that our president has shown? The president understands that strong families are the bedrock of a successful nation. He takes time from his busy schedule to attend his children’s activities at their schools. How many of us have learned something from him about spending quality time with our children?

Jesus asked, “Why do you call me Lord and you do not follow my commandments?” Dr. Mwanawasa is not Lord. But from the goodwill he is receiving, it shows that he is a good leader. How many of us are working to see that Zimbabwe has a freely elected leader? How many of us are mobilizing in order that Zambia’s poverty be reduced by half? How many of us are faithfully committed to our children and spouses? Let us take strength in the fact that God is sovereign whether he decides to heal or not, so that Dr Mwanawasa’s work of labor for a Zambia free from AIDS and hunger will be continued.

Lawrence Temfwe

www.jubileecentre.org

U.K. Evangelical Leader Tapped to Head Christian Anti-Poverty Effort--By Eric Young

By Eric Young

Christian Post Reporter

Sat, Jul. 12 2008 08:55 AM EDT

The global anti-poverty campaign of the World Evangelical Alliance and the Micah Network will have a new international director when the world rings in the New Year.

The Rev. Joel Edwards, who is currently the general secretary of the Evangelical Alliance UK, was recently appointed to lead Micah Challenge International, which aims to mobilize Christians worldwide against poverty.

"The board of Micah Challenge International is delighted to be able to appoint Joel Edwards as its International Director, from January 1, 2009,” expressed Steve Bradbury, chair of Micah Network and acting chair of Micah Challenge International, in a released statement....Read the Full Article

Response to "Unconditional Debt Relief is Not the Answer for Africa's Development"--Neil Watkins

The Micah Challenge USA fully endorsed the Jubilee Act, and believes it is one of the most crucial bills to the MDGs this year.

By Neil Watkins of Jubilee USA--

Franklin Cudjoe’s recent editorial denouncing the Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Cancellation (“To Washington Legislators: Unconditional Debt Relief is Not the Answer for Africa's Development,” July 6) seems to pull information directly from talking points of ideologically driven activists circulating misinformation about the bill, rather than from the legislation itself.

HR 2634, The Jubilee Act as passed by the House, includes 11 specific requirements to ensure only democratic nations with accountable policies are eligible for debt cancellation, and a further 7 requirements to ensure countries use the money in the fight against poverty. These criteria include public financial management, budget transparency, free and fair elections, and other requirements typical of US foreign assistance programs. Had Mr. Cudjoe read the legislation, he would have been unable to say that “the Jubilee Act includes no such provisions.”

Further, the Jubilee Act recognizes and works to end the unsustainable ‘lend and forgive cycle’ that has brought on the need for debt relief. The bill requires the Secretary of the Treasury to work for international policies that preserve the gains of debt relief to date and support the development of new responsible financing standards that ensure transparency and accountability to citizens, human rights, and the avoidance of new odious debt.

The Jubilee Act is a responsible measure that builds on a decade of successful debt relief. It would give some of the world’s poorest countries that have been left out of previous debt deals a fair chance. One such country is Lesotho, which pays approximately the same amount in debt service annually as it spends on its entire education budget, while 34% of its children are not enrolled in primary school.

Debt relief is a bi-partisan issue; it is also a pragmatic and tested tool in the fight against global poverty. Recognizing this, 69 Republicans joined most Democrats in voting for the bill in the House. The legislation is supported by more than 60 religious denominations, development agencies, and human rights organizations, including the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, the ONE campaign and evangelical development network Micah Challenge.

Debt relief is an investment in the growth and stability of the African continent as well as low-income countries world-wide. It can make U.S. aid more effective by ensuring aid money does not simply flow back out of countries in the form of debt repayments. We encourage Washington lawmakers to support this legislation, recognizing that debt cancellation is one crucial piece in the wider fight against global poverty.


Neil Watkins
National Coordinator

Danielle Pals
Policy Fellow

Jubilee USA Network
212 East Capitol Street, NE
Washington, DC 20003
(202) 783-0214