Anglican Communion News Service - Digest News

[Washington - 7 June 2005] In a sermon to leaders and representatives from over 40 religious organisations, including every major faith group, Anglican Archbishop, Njongonkulu Ndungane said that he believes public opinion against poverty "is growing like never before." He was invited to speak at Washington National Cathedral in the USA by the Interfaith Convocation on Monday evening. The event was hosted by anti-hunger organisations: Bread for the World, Call to Renewal, America's Second Harvest and Mazon.

The Archbishop called this a "unique and historical occasion when all faith leaders in the USA from what are commonly known as the 'religious right' and the 'religious left' gathered at the Cathedral to issue a clarion call of 'no more hunger in the USA and in the world'."

In his sermon the Archbishop called poverty 'evil'. He said that despite the USA's enormous wealth, 36 million Americans are food insecure - that is they do not know where their next meal is coming from - and, of these, 13 million are children. He said that what stands in the way of the ending of growing US and world hunger is not lack of resources but political will.

"Hunger arises when people become economically alienated, unable adequately to participate in the buying and selling of labour, goods and services, so as to be able to access enough to eat. That is why poverty and hunger are often found in rural areas," the Archbishop said.

He added that trade policies are still geared to the advantage of rich people and countries, which makes it far harder for poor countries and their populations to escape poverty. He said that despite the unprecedented growth in world economy, 800 million people go hungry every day and 30 thousand people die daily of poverty-related causes. The Archbishop said that this is not only sinful and immoral but also a scandal and an indictment on world leaders.

Prior to giving his sermon the Archbishop said: "What we are calling for is a sustainable livelihood for everyone created in God's image. Aid alone cannot do that. What we are calling for is trade justice. Developing countries spend 300 million dollars to protect trade through subsidies and tariffs, yet if Africa increased its share of world exports by even 1%, this would generate 70 billion US Dollars. This is approximately five times what the continent receives in aid."

In his sermon, Archbishop Ndungane said that almost every religious and ethical tradition "calls on us to feed the hungry." He made a passionate call for anti-poverty and anti-hunger organisations to continue to work together in strong coalitions to put pressure on politicians; to lobby locally, nationally and internationally; and to "fight hunger on every front - global justice, national policy making and support for every individual who is in need."

Secretary General of the UN, Kofi Annan, has called a meeting of world leaders in September in an attempt to get the Millennium Development Goals back on track. Poverty and hunger will also be at the top of the agenda of the G8 Summit in July and a major factor in the Doha Round of world trade talks due to be completed by the end of the year.

"This year, everywhere politicians turn, they will find poverty and hunger on the agenda. They cannot escape!" the Archbishop said in his sermon. "We must put all our weight behind this growing momentum for change because now we have the chance to make a difference... Politicians need to be left in no doubt that public opinion, domestic and international, demands justice in relation to poverty and hunger," said Archbishop Ndungane.

For further information or a full copy of the Archbishop's address please phone Penny Lorimer, media liaison for Archbishop Ndungane, on 27 82 894-1522