Bishops rally in London for action on poverty
25 July 2008
The
streets of London were awash with colour yesterday as more than 1,400 robed
bishops and other faith leaders from across the world joined to demonstrate
their commitment to ending poverty.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown praised those taking part, saying:
"You have sent a symbol, a very clear message with rising force that poverty can be eradicated, poverty must be eradicated and - if we all work together for change - poverty will be eradicated. . . Let's work together for the transformation we know together we can achieve."
Headed by Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams, yesterday's event began with a "walk of witness" through Whitehall and past the Houses of Parliament, and came to a close with a rally at Lambeth Palace.
In the Palace's magnificent courtyard, the bishops and
faith leaders gathered to hear the Prime Minister speak passionately about the
need for decisive action now to defeat poverty.
Read
Gordon Brown's speech on the No.10 website
Faith groups crucial for development
Both
the Archbishop and the Prime Minister urged other
governments, faith leaders, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the
private sector to do all that is in their power to speed up progress towards the
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Speaking before the event, Development Secretary Douglas Alexander stressed the crucial role of faith groups in the fight against poverty:
"For centuries faith groups have been working to eradicate poverty, often providing health and education services to the poor. Through their network of followers they have the power to mobilise millions across the world to make poverty history."
The rally - which was part of the Lambeth Conference, the meeting of senior Anglican clergy held once every decade - comes at a time when, halfway towards 2015, progress to deliver the MDGs is still too slow, with the international community off-track to meet their development promises. The United Nations has marked 2008 as a critical year of action against world poverty, and, on 25 September, will hold a high-level event on the MDGs in New York.
