Christian Aid News 57 by Christian Aid

CHRISTIAN AID NEWS Issue 57

Autumn 2012

christianaid.org.uk

Central

INDIA’S POOR MARCH FOR JUSTICE And you can still join our UK solidarity walks

• West Africa appeal stepped up as food crisis grows • Partnership for Change: together we can beat poverty Cover.indd 1

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Join Team Poverty in 2013 and help poor communities around the world to improve their lives.

Christian Aid/Adrian Arbib

Brighton Marathon 14 April Virgin London Marathon 21 April Edinburgh Marathon 26 May

Call 020 7523 2248 or email events@christian-aid.org

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CHRISTIAN AID PARTNERSHIP SCHEME

How to give three times more

To get value for money with your giving, Christian Aid’s Partnership Scheme ticks all the boxes: ✔ all donations are multiplied at least three times by matching grants from the European Commission ✔ all donations support a specific project in the developing world ✔ all donors receive regular updates about their chosen project.

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We are currently looking to fund projects in Brazil and the Middle East (pictured).

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To find out more, contact your local Christian Aid office, email partnerships@christian-aid.org or visit christianaid.org.uk/partnerships

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CONTENTS Rescuers aid flood victims in Manila

EDITOR’S LETTER

6 REGULARS

F2103

■ 27 COMMENT How Christian Aid works to get value for your money.

■ 4 THE BIG PICTURE One big bus.

■ 28 EVENTS ■ 6 NEWS

Floods hit the Philippines and India; the fight to end manual scavenging; get set for One World Week.

Walk, run, cycle… bungee! We’re aiming even higher when it comes to fundraising.

■ 30 LAST WORD ■ 12 CAMPAIGNS

Trustee Charlotte Seymour Smith sees how our partners work in Ethiopia.

The Tax Justice Bus, and why the scandal of hunger will loom large in 2013.

■ 22 LIFE AND SOUL A corporate partnership that helps the poor; and it’s time to turn to Will Aid and Present Aid.

■ 24 YOUR CHRISTIAN AID Events and stories from your part of Britain.

■ 26 INPUT Your feedback.

Christian Aid News is printed on 100 per cent recycled paper

Christian Aid/Matthew Gonzalez-Noda

POVERTY WILL not be beaten by one group or individual acting alone. OK, that may be a statement of the blindingly obvious, but it’s a theme that underlines Christian Aid’s vision for achieving an end to poverty – our Partnership for Change – a way of working with others to bring about the fundamental shifts that can and will make a difference. Our director, Loretta Minghella, outlines how this works and explains how all of us have a part to play in making this change happen. Our cover story is a reminder of how this plays out on the ground: Sarah Filbey reports on the 100,000 people who will be embarking on the March for Justice in India next month – a massive protest walk over land rights that, if successful, could help India’s poorest to lift themselves out of poverty. Here in the UK, you can show your support by taking part in one of several solidarity marches being staged around Britain. Finally, if you haven’t already been visited by our Tax Justice Bus, watch out for the red double-decker as it continues to tour Britain and Ireland over the next few weeks. Roger Fulton, Editor

SPECIAL FEATURES ■ 10 NEWS FOCUS As the crisis in west Africa deepens, Andrew Hogg sees the impact of the conflict in Mali.

■ 16 FRONTLINE

India’s March for Justice resists pressure to cancel; how our Partnership for Change will fight poverty.

UK registered charity number 1105851 Company number 5171525 Scotland charity number SC039150 Northern Ireland charity number XR94639 Company number NI059154 Republic of Ireland charity number CHY 6998 Company number 426928. The Christian Aid name and logo are trademarks of Christian Aid; Poverty Over is a trademark of Christian Aid. © Christian Aid September 2012. The acceptance of external advertising does not indicate endorsement. If you wish to receive this magazine digitally, go to christianaid.org.uk/aboutus/who/ca-news/

Christian Aid is a Christian organisation that insists the world can and must be swiftly changed to one where everyone can live a full life, free from poverty. We work globally for profound change that eradicates the causes of poverty, striving to achieve equality, dignity and freedom for all, regardless of faith or nationality. We are part of a wider movement for social justice. We provide urgent, practical and effective assistance where need is great, tackling the effects of poverty as well as its root causes.

■ Front cover Every little helps: offering support to India’s marchers for justice over land rights. Christian Aid/Simon Williams ■ Pictures Joseph Cabon ■ Sub-editors Caroline Atkinson, Tomilola Ajayi, Catriona Lorie ■ Circulation Ben Hayward ■ Design and production Becca Macdonald/Syon Publishing, 020 8332 8407 ■ Christian Aid head office 35 Lower Marsh, London SE1 7RL ■ Tel 020 7620 4444 ■ Fax 020 7620 0719 ■ Email info@christian-aid.org ■ Online at christianaid.org.uk

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NEXT STOP: TAX JUSTICE!

Christian Aid

THE BIG PICTURE

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Christian Aid

AS CAMPAIGNERS ASSEMBLED at the Greenbelt Festival in Cheltenham, last month, to launch our Tax Justice Bus tour of Britain and Ireland, a new Christian Aid poll revealed that more than half of British adults believe tax avoidance by multinationals is morally wrong. The poll reveals that 56 per cent believe that such tax avoidance, while a technically legal way of reducing the tax bill, is morally wrong, and half of people think it should be made illegal. Only four per cent of those polled thought tax avoidance by multinationals was ‘morally justifiable’ or ‘fair’. Three quarters (74 per cent) of the 2,026 people questioned in the survey by ComRes feel that Prime Minister David Cameron should be demanding international action to tackle tax evasion and avoidance, yet just two in five (38 per cent) believe the government is genuine in its desire to combat tax avoidance. There was also a clear view that companies should be more transparent as 81 per cent of those polled believed multinationals’ accounts should be more transparent and

publicly available. Some 79 per cent of people polled said it was too easy for multinationals to avoid paying tax. More than half (55 per cent) also believe that the British government should make helping developing countries combat tax avoidance a greater priority than it is at present. We are calling for people to ‘Tick for Tax Justice’ by signing a petition that calls on Mr Cameron to push for measures that would require: • multinationals to report on the proﬁts they make and taxes they pay in every country in which they operate • tax havens to share, automatically, information about the money flowing through them with other countries. You can follow the Tax Justice Bus tour – staged in partnership with Church Action on Poverty – on Twitter @taxbus2012 and to take the ‘Tick for Tax Justice’ campaign action visit christianaid.org.uk/tax-bus • See also Campaigns, page 12, and regional pages, 24-25

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NEWS THE PHILIPPINES

Christian Aid/Matthew Gonzalez-Noda

PARTNERS’ WORK SAVES THOUSANDS FROM MONSOON FLOODS

CHRISTIAN AID’S DISASTER risk reduction work with poor and vulnerable communities helped to save thousands of lives following a series of tropical storms, which devastated the Philippines’ capital Manila this monsoon season. The worst flooding to hit Manila since typhoon Ketsana in 2009, it killed 105, affected millions and forced tens of thousands of informal settlers, who reside in precarious and flood-prone shanty towns along riverbanks, to flock to evacuation centres. Since Ketsana, more urban poor communities have been empowered through the work of Christian Aid partners, preparing them for disasters, developing evacuation and rescue plans, and consequently saving many lives.

Residents cope with floods in Manila

Experience from previous emergencies has shown that investments in building resilience, reducing disaster risk and strengthening local capacity to respond saves lives and speeds recovery. Emma Wigley, media and digital outreach officer, who visited affected communities in Manila said: ‘I met Belen De Guzman, a river monitor trained by Christian Aid partner Centre for Disaster Preparedness. She had been nervously monitoring the water levels for several days, alerting her community to move to higher ground when the river became too dangerous. ‘I felt proud that our partners have provided invaluable training, helping people to take control in this hazardous environment. With this knowledge and

guidance, they are a stronger, more resilient community.’ Christian Aid supported partners Urban Poor Associates, Socio-Pastoral Institute, Alyansa Tigil Mina and Samdhanaby, by providing food packages for flood affected communities, as well as supporting local and national agencies to respond to the disaster. Our partners continue to work throughout the country, supporting the most vulnerable, and focusing on rebuilding people’s lives and livelihoods, especially following Typhoon Washi, which devastated northern Mindanoa. With the support of Christian Aid, and donations from the Typhoon Washi appeal that so far exceed £300,000, our partners are making a real difference by preparing communities to avert future disasters in the long term. MUCAARD and Unlad Kabayan worked in and around the worst affected cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, and reached more than 10,000 survivors with food and other items such as blankets, school materials and emergency cash relief. Eric Gutierrez, Christian Aid policy advisor said: ‘The results of past disaster risk reduction work were very apparent in the recent Manila floods. There were plenty of rescue teams, showing that the country was better prepared this time. ‘There were also evacuation centres, which means they anticipated the problems and made sure dry and safe places were ready and stocked up with clean water and basic food, unlike before.’ Christian Aid has mobilised £105,000, of which £30,000 has been given by the Jersey Overseas Aid Commission, to attend to the life-saving needs of more than 30,000 people in vulnerable communities, and is now providing food supplies, including rice, canned goods and cooking oil; non-food items including blankets and flashlights; and plans to provide materials for housing repairs.

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INDIA

...AND INDIA FLOODS HIT 1.2 MILLION THE NORTH-EASTERN STATE of Assam in India is currently experiencing the worst floods in the area for more than three decades. About 1.2 million people have been affected, 1,543 villages flooded, with 127 people killed and hundreds of thousands forced to abandon their homes. The floods have been caused by exceptionally heavy monsoon rains that started in June. Flood survivors have been struggling to get access to food, water and shelter. People have to walk or travel in boats to access safe drinking water as more than 90 per cent of hand pumps have been submerged. Other challenges include an increased

risk of water-borne diseases, such as diarrhoea. The relief operation has been complicated by widespread communal violence in Assam which has displaced 400,000 people. In the two worst-hit flood areas Dhemaji and Lakhimpur, Christian Aid has responded by releasing £50,000 for our partner Rural Volunteers Centre (RVC) to use to address the immediate water, sanitation and hygiene needs of 131 flood-affected communities there. RVC is distributing hygiene and watertesting kits, repairing and constructing community latrines and installing hand pumps. This work should help about 8,000 households (48,000 people).

SIERRA LEONE

PENDEMBU’S PIONEERING WOMEN POLITICIANS

ENCISS/Irwin

ON 17 NOVEMBER, citizens across Sierra Leone will head to the polling station to cast their votes Theresa in the national Garber and local council elections, in which, for the first time, women are standing as candidates to become local councillors. This change has been encouraged by grass roots organisation the Bambara Rural Women’s Development Organisation, with support from the ENCISS programme (Enhancing the Interaction and Interface between Civil Society and the State). The Christian Aid-managed programme is supporting nearly 200 organisations across Sierra Leone and is funded by UKaid and the European Union. Training events held in the community are helping to spread

the message of gender equality and encourage women’s participation in decisions that affect their families and communities. Esther Moinina, Hawa Moriba and Theresa Garber, who are standing for election in the community of Pendembu, cite healthcare issues – including the high incidence of teen pregnancy – as areas in which they feel, as women, they can play an especially important role. ‘The men councillors don’t take teen pregnancy seriously,’ says Hawa. ‘It needs a woman councillor to tackle it.’ Early pregnancy, she adds, has a negative impact on a girl, limiting her chances of completing her education. Theresa trained as psycho-social counsellor after the civil war and has worked with victims of trauma, domestic violence and torture. ‘The fear of violence continues even after the war,’ she explains. As a member of the free healthmonitoring team, Esther is aware of the shortages of medicine and the challenge people face in getting access to prescription medicine. ‘If I am a councillor, I will advocate for more healthcare and medicine for women,’ she says.

PARTNERS COMBAT EFFECTS OF DEADLY KIDNEY EPIDEMIC ISMAEL CRUZ RAMOS was told he had just three months to live when doctors discovered that he was in the final stages of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). ‘I was devastated. I lost my appetite and was ready to kill myself.’ Aged just 36, Ismael had fallen victim to a mysterious epidemic sweeping Central America. CKD is now the second biggest cause of death among men in El Salvador and kills more men in Nicaragua than diabetes and AIDS combined. The precise cause of this outbreak has eluded health officials, whose resources are too limited to carry out comprehensive studies. Anecdotal evidence, however, strongly suggests that chemicals used to fumigate and fertilise sugar cane may account for the high incidence in relatively young men. In more developed countries, the disease more often strikes older men who also suffer from diabetes and high blood pressure. Ismael had worked in the cane fields of Bajo Lempa, El Salvador, for more than a decade when he discovered he had CKD. With the help of health facilities provided by local Christian Aid partners Acudesbal and Procares, he has now been able to receive specialist treatment. Now aged 40, with proper medication and a special diet, Ismael is expected to survive with the condition for many years.

VOLUNTEERS: A KEY INVESTMENT CHRISTIAN AID has recently been successful in renewing its Investing in Volunteers accreditation. Lasting for three years, this recognises good practice in volunteer management. Marie Raffay, volunteering manager at Christian Aid said: ‘We are delighted to have achieved the reaccreditation. Volunteers are key partners in our work.’ • To see Christian Aid volunteers talking about their roles, or to search for an opportunity near you, go to christianaid.org.uk/volunteer

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NEWS

SIZE MATTERS!

Jeff Williams

The future in Brazil looks better for this young Guarani boy

CHRISTIAN AID IN WALES is to receive financial support from the environmental charity, Size of Wales, for a project to help Brazil’s indigenous Guarani people in their fight to secure land rights and conserve their forest territories. Size of Wales wants to protect 2 million hectares of rainforest (equivalent to an area the size of Wales) by co-funding projects submitted by charities. It works with communities, businesses, organisations and schools in Wales and hopes to forge lasting links with some of the world’s poorest people. The Christian Aid project will directly protect 21,654 hectares of the Mata Atlantica rainforest, on the coast of Brazil. Home to the Guarani, the forest is increasingly under threat from climate change, deforestation, urban growth and unsustainable exploitation. The aim is to raise £50,000 during the year, which will be doubled by Size of Wales. Comissao Pro-Indio (CPI), a Christian Aid local-partner organisation in

COLOMBIA CHRISTIAN AID PARTNER ABColombia has raised concerns about a recentlypassed law that allows for the return of territory to communities forcibly removed from their land to make way for business interests. Colombia has the highest number

the region, works with the Guarani, providing legal support in land ownership disputes and whenever their traditional way of life is threatened. Jeff Williams, head of Christian Aid in Wales, who visited the project area, said: ‘Size of Wales support will enable our partner, CPI, to strengthen its work in protecting the rights of the Guarani and the future of the forest, making a vital difference to a unique people and environment.’ The project has already got off to a flying start with £2,170 from the Challenge Climate Change Run done by Christian Aid interns, Moses Tutesigensi and Catherine Garsed, back in March. It will also benefit from a clearance sale at a Monmouth art gallery, and later this year from a celebrity auction to be held in Cardiff. • For more details, please contact Christian Aid on 029 2084 4646 or visit sizeofwales.org.uk

A JOURNEY OF PEACE AND HEALING AT CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR, join us on the journey of 12-year-old Waleed Badir, who has found a new sense of healing and hope against the backdrop of unrest in the occupied Palestinian territory. Waleed was born severely deaf. Unable to access the medical care he needed in the West Bank, he grew up isolated and afraid. But last year, volunteer doctors working with our partner Physicians for Human Rights Israel gave Waleed a hearing aid – and his world was transformed. His mother said: ‘Our children have only ever met Israelis at gunpoint. I told Waleed, “These Israelis are doctors and they consider it their duty to help people.”’ • Share the hope of Christmas with children living with conflict. Order and download your Christmas resources today, at christianaid.org.uk/christmas • You can also order and download resources to hold your own Big Christmas Sing celebration. See christianaid.org.uk/bigsing

Christian Aid/Tabitha Ross

WALES

Waleed inserts his hearing aid

FeArS Over new lAnd rightS lAw of internally displaced people in the world – millions have been forced from their lands in areas rich with natural resources. The Victims and Land Restitution Law (Law1448) is a positive step, in so far as it recognises the land rights of minority groups

and admits the existence of an armed conflict in Colombia (previously denied by the state). However, ABColombia has reservations about how the law is to be implemented. In a report in June it notes that corruption,

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INDIA

STAR POWER BOOSTS HOPE OF ENDING MANUAL SCAVENGING CHRISTIAN AID PARTNER Safai Karmachari Andolan (SKA) has made an appearance on one of India’s most popular TV shows – Satyamev Jayete (The Truth Prevails), hosted by Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan – to challenge continued discrimination against dalits. SKA’s Bejawada Wilson spoke about their 10-year campaign to end manual scavenging – the name given to the practice in which thousands of women across India, mostly dalits, still earn a living by clearing human waste from latrines. Using only their bare hands, a brush and a piece of cardboard, it is dangerous and humiliating work. Despite being outlawed since 1993, the dehumanising practice continues. Early in 2011, SKA – a community organisation led by manual scavengers – finally extracted a pledge from the Indian government to end the practice once and for all. The pledge was even backed with hard cash: the 2011-2012 budget to help manual scavengers find

alternative livelihoods was increased from just over £600,000 to £13.3m. Task forces have been established and are collaborating with SKA to identify existing manual scavengers, destroy all existing dry latrines and review the ill-enforced law to make it more effective. SKA has helped more than a million women to access government resources providing rehabilitation and alternative employment. Wilson’s appearance on Khan’s show received an overwhelming response from the public in India and worldwide, accelerating the agenda for change. Khan followed up with a moving column in The Hindu, one of India’s largest English-language newspapers, arguing for an end to ‘untouchability’. Christian Aid’s India country manager Anand Kumar says: ‘This kind of popular challenge to deeply-engrained cultural practices is imperative to ensure government investment in eradicating manual scavenging is effective.’

SUPPORT FOR ONE WORLD WEEK CHRISTIAN AID IS backing the efforts of hundreds of organisers around the country who are putting the final touches to their plans for One World Week 2012 from 21-28 October. With the theme of ‘Sharing Destiny – Moving Towards One World’, the week asks how we can shape our lives to contribute to an equitable future for all. This has always been relevant in a Christian context. Last year’s event included displays about climate change, inspiring talks, Fairtrade fetes, football matches, vigils, acts of worship, discussions, quiz nights, films, global meals, international parties and inter-faith activities. The many helpful resources on the One World Week website include posters, activities, faith-based resources and points for discussion and debate. A selection of hymns, prayers, readings, sermons, raps, sketches, symbolic actions and pledges can all be downloaded and customised. Designed for Christian congregations of all ages, these can also be adapted to offer an inclusive experience, with the cooperation of members of various faiths. Those who register their local event on the website can feel even more a part of this sharing. Go to oneworldweek.org

Christian Aid/Johanna Rogers

Such diVine poetry

loopholes and security risks threaten the process of land restitution, while forced displacement also continues. ABColombia recommends that the state guarantees full security to those having their land returned. Communities should also be given support to re-establish their livelihoods in a dignified way. The report urges the European Union

Women ‘liberated’ from a life of manual scavenging

and the UK and Irish governments to support programmes that enable the safe and sustainable return of people to their lands. International governments should also ensure that no aid, trade support or subsidies are given to projects located on forcibly expropriated land. • Visit abcolombia.org.uk to read the report.

CELEBRATED AUTHOR and screenwriter Frank Cottrell Boyce joined Divine and Christian Aid to judge the 10th annual Divine Poetry Competition held in association with Christian Aid. For the first time, this year’s competition was also open to Welsh language speakers, with Welsh children’s poet laureate Eurig Salisbury leading the judging panel. Entrants were invited to imagine owning their own chocolate shop – that really got the creative juices flowing! More than 2,000 entries came in from budding poets aged seven to 70, and from Inverness to St Ives and Llanllyfni to Lowestoft. The winners will receive hampers filled with Divine chocolate and t-shirts, book tokens and Christian Aid hooded tops, mugs and pens. • Visit divinechocolate.com/poetry to view the winning poems.

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NEWS FOCUS: MALI

‘MANY PEOPLE ARE FACING REAL STARVATION HERE’ As we step up our west Africa emergency appeal, Christian Aid’s head of media Andrew Hogg reports from Mali on how the west Africa food crisis is being exacerbated by the insurgency that has driven hundreds of thousands of people from their homes

Christian Aid/Tom Pilston

Djougal Tapily with the bowl of millet which is the daily ration for two adults

APPEARANCES IN MALI are deceptive. It’s a country in the grip of a food crisis, yet fields on either side of the road heading north from the capital Bamako are lush with newly grown crops of maize, millet and okra. Mango trees abound, alongside baobabs, valued for their fruit pulp which makes a porridge high in vitamin C, as well as karite trees – called shea in English – which bear nuts that provide cooking oil. Roadside stalls boast bananas, guavas and aubergines, while fishermen in pirogues – small, flat-bottomed boats – can be seen on the broad, dun-coloured waters of the River Niger, or one of its major tributaries, the Bani. However, the further one journeys towards the front line with the north of the country – largely desert and now in the hands of Islamist rebels and Tuareg secessionists – the sparser the vegetation, and the hungrier the people. Lack of rains last year across the Sahel, that part of west Africa lying just south of the Sahara, resulted in poor harvests that sparked higher prices for staples such as millet, which have left 19 million people across the region dependent on food aid. The situation was already perilous when the rains failed; a food crisis in 2010 had left more than 10 million facing shortages. In Mali, some 4.6 million people are now in need, with the poor harvest just part of the problem. The rebellion in the north earlier this year, following an army coup in the capital, displaced hundreds of thousands of people, disrupting food supplies and agricultural production. Many fled across Mali’s borders with Mauritania, Niger and Burkina Faso, adding to the food crisis those countries were already experiencing, while the UN estimates that more than 300,000 made their way south into government-held territory, many descending on relatives

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Christian Aid/Tom Pilston

Adiarorkoye Habra Toure fled with her children when insurgents came to their home

or friends who already faced shortages of their own. Aid in Mali provided by Christian Aid partners GRAT and APH, which has so far reached some 50,000 people, takes the form of rice and cereal distribution, cash transfers, cash-for-work programmes and the provision of seeds for market gardening. Working through Norwegian Church Aid (an ACT Alliance partner), Christian Aid has also provided £50,000 for the supply of food to people in remote villages in the region around the northern town of Gao, which is in the hands of an Islamist faction. Several shipments of food have been sent from the south to Gao by pinasse – long wooden cargo boats that ply the River Niger – where they are taken by lorry to distribution points, with donkey carts making the last part of the journey. Christian Aid country manager Yacouba Kone said it is too early to tell whether this year’s rains will produce a harvest plentiful enough to fill the grain stores. ‘The fields may look as if they are full of food – the rains so far this year have been good – but the harvest is still months away and meanwhile the granaries are bare, and people are struggling,’ he said. ‘A 100kg sack of rice last year cost 30,000 West African francs. Now the price is 50,000. Poverty here is entrenched and only a few can afford the fruit and vegetables you see for sale. In recent years the level of the Niger has also fallen, badly hitting fish stocks.’ He reels off a grim litany of other factors affecting food supplies. These

include the fact that when the rains come they are more intense than they used to be, leading to flooding that washes away valuable soil. Agricultural resources are in short supply. Many subsistence farmers have flocked to towns looking for work, leading to a labour shortage in the fields, and some of the best farms beside the Niger are now in the hands of major foreign concerns – including the government of China – growing food for its own people. Locusts are another threat. Conflict in the north has disrupted eradication programmes, giving new swarms a chance to breed unchecked, with devastating results. In Konna, one of the northernmost towns in Mali still in government hands, several families a day still cross from the rebel area, often with nothing but the clothes they wear. Some have been forced out by insurgents, others have left through fear. Sexual abuse of women has reportedly been widespread, while men suspected of being in the military have been taken away and not seen again. GRAT is focusing distribution on the most vulnerable, with some 50 tonnes of rice and cereal, and 10 tonnes of seed going to the internally displaced and to families hosting them.

Adiarorkoye Habra Toure, a mother of four from Douentza, 100km beyond Konna, was at home with her family when the rebels came, demanding the key to her brother-in-law’s motorcycle. ‘When he didn’t hand it over he was beaten in front of us. My children were terrified,’ she said. Leaving her schoolteacher husband behind, she and her children fled by bus, running the gauntlet of a series of rebel checkpoints where the bus and belongings of passengers were picked through for valuables. Mohamdou Coulibaly, a logistician with a non-governmental organisation, from Gao, said rebels who took the town quickly established a strict Islamic code. Women had to wear the veil and could not be seen out in the company of men. They were forbidden from driving cars, and watching television was banned. In Socoura, several kilometres south of Konna, Mayor Zeine Diallo said: ‘Many people are facing real starvation here. Rice and seed have been distributed to the most needy, but another 800 tons are needed.’ The area’s 40,000-strong population, many of whom already required food aid, has been swollen by more than 2,000 people from the north. One new arrival was farmer Mohamed Bereck Bouhair Dicko, who grew rice outside Timbuktu. ‘There was no authority there. We had to save our lives. It’s a tragedy – I was a food producer. I just left everything behind,’ he said. Away from the highway, in countryside outside the town of Bandiagara – not long ago a favourite tourist spot – the threat of the insurgency is of less concern than simply surviving the present food shortages. In Binour, village elder Djougal Tapily survives with his wife and their family of six on millet supplied by our partner APH. A small bowl of uncooked cereal is the daily allowance for two adults. ‘It keeps us alive but it is not enough. We are always hungry, but we have to manage what we have. I spend all my time worrying about how the family will be fed.’

West Africa emergency appeal Many supporters responded to our west Africa crisis appeal during the spring, helping us to raise nearly £457,400. During his trip, Andrew saw the valuable work that this help made possible – but he also saw the extent of hunger and deprivation growing across the region. Please help us extend the work we are doing by visiting christianaid.org.uk/westafrica

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Christian Aid

CAMPAIGNS

TIME TO CATCH THE TAX JUSTICE BUS All aboard! The Tax Justice Bus tour is on the road, and Christian Aid campaigns officer Clare Fussell hops on to tell us what’s been happening IT’S BEEN MORE than a fortnight since our Tax Justice Bus first opened its red, shiny doors to welcome visitors aboard. And what a fortnight it’s been! Since launching at the Christian arts, faith and justice festival, Greenbelt, on August bank holiday we’ve been thrilled to meet many of you as the bus tour has wound around the West Midlands,

south Wales and the West Country. Our partners have been travelling with the bus and sharing their stories along the way. So far we’ve welcomed the Rev Suzanne Matale, general secretary of the Council of Churches of Zambia, Alvin Mosioma, coordinator of Tax Justice Network Africa, and Filomeno S. Sta. Ana III, coordinator of

Action for Economic Reforms in the Philippines. Their presence with us has been truly inspirational.

So, what’s the tour all about? Christian Aid estimates that poor countries lose US$160bn each year due to some unscrupulous companies dodging the taxes they owe. This is more than the annual global aid budget. For the governments of these impoverished nations this lost income

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Christian Aid campaigners with Rev Suzanne Matale (centre) from Zambia, outside the Tax Justice Bus at Greenbelt

is desperately missed. It’s money that is needed to provide essential services such as schools and hospitals, or to invest in infrastructure such as roads, electricity and water for communities that have none. Receiving the revenue from taxes that they are rightfully owed would provide governments with a sustainable and long-term source of income that would reduce poor countries’ dependency on international aid. Over the past four years, thousands of you have called on accountancy firms, businesses and politicians alike to take steps to tackle tax dodging by making the financial system more transparent. Thank you! The campaign is making good progress and we want to build on the energy for change that has already been generated.

WE’RE REALLY EXCITED that the Rev Suzanne Matale, general secretary of the Council of Churches in Zambia, came to Greenbelt Festival this summer to launch our Tax Justice Bus! Rev Matale has been involved with Christian Aid’s tax campaign for many years and is joining us in taking our tax justice message around Britain and Ireland. Here she explains why tax is such a vital issue in Zambia. ‘Tax dodging in Zambia is a serious problem. It is strongly linked to our poverty levels. We have very rich minerals in our ground, we know the price of copper is at an all-time high and we also know the investors who have come are not paying the full value of tax to go to Zambians. ‘We believe the G20 countries and parliamentarians in the West have a duty to ensure the investors from their countries are actually giving Zambia a fair deal. It is our role as the churches, and we are mandated by our faith, to bring out the voice of the voiceless. Our message from the Church in Zambia to the Church in the West and to Christian Aid is not to relent.’

Over 53 days, the tax bus will visit every region and nation. From Norwich to Chelmsford, Belfast to Bangor, the bus will be coming to a town near you! We will also be joined on the bus tour by our partner Church Action on Poverty. It brings a unique perspective on how tax dodging by companies in Britain affects those living in poverty here on our doorsteps. We hope that this collaboration will give churches the chance to come together and campaign on a crucial issue that affects people living in poverty both here and around the world. • We look forward to welcoming you aboard and taking you on an inspiring journey to help us end global poverty. To ﬁnd out when the bus will be in your area, see pages 24-25 or visit christianaid.org.uk/tax-bus

POWER TO YOU! OUR TRACE THE TAX campaign has had a huge impact on how UK-listed companies view tax, and has opened doors that were previously closed to organisations such as Christian Aid. When we started the campaign, who would have thought companies such as Unilever, Vodafone, TUI Travel and Intercontinental Hotels Group would sit down with Christian Aid to talk about how they can help the movement for global tax justice? But that’s what they have been doing, and it’s all thanks to your support. It’s taken four years, dozens of meetings, hundreds of actions and thousands of postcards, but we’ve persuaded these four UK top companies to engage with us on tax justice. While we will now take a break from our public campaigning to the four companies, the dialogue with them and with other companies continues. Tax as a development issue is firmly on the agenda, and your perseverance has been crucial in achieving this. The Tax Justice Bus marks the launch of the next phase of our tax justice campaign. We’re taking the tax justice message across Britain and Ireland to build a movement that will turn the public anger at tax dodging into real change for the world’s poorest people. Actions such as this protest in London raised the profile of our tax message

Christian Aid

WHY TAX MATTERS TO ZAMBIA

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CAMPAIGNS

WE HAVE THE POWER TO END THE SCANDAL OF HUNGER

Christian Aid/Matthew Gonzalez-Noda

This year and next offer major opportunities for governments to ease the plight of almost 1 billion people around the world who don’t get enough food. It’s time for major development organisations to step up the pressure on them to do so, say Christian Aid journalists Rachel Baird and Andrew Hogg

A GRIMLY FAMILIAR pattern reappeared this summer: poor harvests in major grain producing countries such as the US, Russia and India, followed by food price surges and warnings that worsening global hunger will not be far behind. Higher food prices are devastating to families living in poverty, because buying food already takes up so much of their money. Here in the UK, Office for National Statistics figures show that less than 15 per cent of the average household’s spending goes on food and non-alcoholic drinks. But according to the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization, poor people in developing countries spend 60-80 per cent of their incomes on simply getting enough to eat. In fact, almost 1 billion people around the world don’t have enough to eat and go to bed hungry every night, even though the planet produces enough to feed everyone. Fundamentally, they are

hungry because they are poor. Food is often for sale in the countries where they live – but at a price they can’t afford. Christian Aid believes passionately that it doesn’t have to be this way. Governments have the power to end the scandal of hunger. And 2013 presents major opportunities for them to make progress. Debate is now under way about what new targets should be set when the current millennium development goals (MDGs) end in 2015. Halving the proportion of people who suffer from hunger is part of the first of the existing MDGs, but according to the World Food Programme, this is a long way from being achieved in parts of Asia, the former Soviet bloc and sub-Saharan Africa. With Prime Minister David Cameron a member of the UN panel looking at this issue, plans to tackle hunger are set to gain prominence. The UK government has already shown concern about the food crisis –

exemplified by a global hunger event held in London during the Olympics. Next year, the UK will chair the G8 group of powerful countries, giving it an even greater opportunity to influence global priorities. Christian Aid is using this opportunity to join with other major development organisations in 2013 to campaign for a fairer global food system that works for everyone. An important part of the solution, we believe, is tax justice. Tax revenues help countries to help themselves, which is why it’s vital that multinationals and others pay what they owe in every country in which they operate. At present, we estimate that developing countries lose a staggering US$160bn a year due to tax dodging by some unscrupulous multinationals and other businesses trading internationally, who manipulate their accounts to reduce their tax liability. That is more than poor

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countries receive in aid each year. What, you may ask, has that got to do with global hunger? Well, tax pays for services such as health and education, which in turn support people’s ability to work and earn a living. Tax also funds the infrastructure, such as roads and ports, needed by people and companies (who provide jobs) to get their goods to market, as well as funding other essentials such as police forces and justice systems. In addition, tax gives governments the means to invest in their nation’s agriculture, on which many millions of people in poor countries still depend for survival. It also pays for a social safety net to prevent people starving, while funding work to better prepare communities against disasters such as floods and droughts, which damage crops and fuel hunger. That’s why next year, with allies across the development sector, Christian Aid will continue to campaign for reforms to help countries collect more of the taxes they’re due. Specifically, we’ll continue to call on governments to end tax haven secrecy and require companies to be more transparent about the taxes they pay and the profits they make in every country where they work. We hope you will join us. Look out for more information in the next edition of Christian Aid News and on the Act Now pages of our website.

Government backs our carbon call Christian Aid is delighted to announce that Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, on behalf of the UK government, has committed to introducing measures that will oblige companies listed on the London Stock Exchange to report all of their carbon emissions. Christian Aid has been calling for this since we launched our climate change campaign in 2007, so we are very glad that the government has finally backed this demand. Christian Aid supporters (you!) have taken more than 60,000 actions on this key issue over the past five years. Thank you for the time you gave to campaigning. It has paid off! Nick Clegg has also acknowledged your role in this important work: ‘It’s important that organisations such as Christian Aid continue to push hard on these vital issues. The UK is blazing a trail by making all businesses listed on the London Stock Exchange publish full details of their greenhouse gas emissions, which will ultimately encourage them to operate more sustainably but also save them money by doing so. Your support for this

makes all the difference when we’re making these decisions,’ he said. In 2007 Christian Aid estimated that global investment from UK companies is responsible for 12-15 per cent of all carbon emissions. So getting businesses listed on the London Stock Exchange to report their UK carbon emissions is a great step forward in learning the true carbon footprint of UK companies. This will help civil society and government to hold businesses to account for the level of their carbon emissions, and is an important move towards reducing global emissions further. This is a timely boost for our campaigning at a crucial time. The world’s poorest are paying the highest price for climate change. They need rich countries to meet their responsibilities when it comes to their carbon emissions – and that must start with knowing for sure how much businesses are contributing. As the only international development agency to call for this we should rightly be very proud of our work – and we could not have done it without your support. Thank you.

Rio fails to nail sustainability goals Campaigns journalist Rachel Baird reports on a disappointing outcome to the Rio+20 conference in Brazil We knew that this summer’s Rio+20 conference on sustainable development was never going to solve the scandal of poverty or the global environmental crisis – but the outcome still left us disappointed. It was ‘stunning only in its lack of urgency’, according to Christian Aid’s senior adviser on sustainable development, Dr Alison Doig. ‘We leave Rio with a text that contains no deadlines for countries to take action and lamentably few other targets,’ she said, as the talks closed in late June. For instance, negotiators failed to agree on a target date by which everyone in the world should have access to sustainable energy – something that

some 1.4 billion people currently lack. But there is still cause to hope that the Rio talks will have a positive legacy. Negotiators made important progress towards the creation of a new set of sustainable development goals (SDGs). These will help to set the direction of future development work after 2015, when the existing millennium development goals expire. ‘The SDGs could help make global food production more sustainable and ensure that many millions more people can enjoy clean water and sustainable modern energy,’ added Dr Doig. ‘But this will only happen if citizens keep up the pressure as work

continues on shaping the goals.’ People in the UK are especially wellplaced to influence things for the better, because the United Nations has chosen Prime Minister David Cameron to cochair the panel that is working on the replacement for the MDGs after 2015. Another potentially important part of the Rio outcome document – a 49-page tome called The Future We Want – is a section about major companies. It could help to increase the pressure on them to reveal publicly how their activities affect people and the environment. Similarly, by far the best news of all in Rio was also about big companies in the UK having to come clean about some of their contributions to climate change. See story ‘Government backs our carbon call’ above.

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FRONTLINE Stories from around the world showing how Christian Aid and our partners are working to empower people to shape a better future for themselves and their communities

Photos: Christian Aid/Simon Williams

One of the biggest protest marches India has seen will take place in October when 100,000 people from the country’s poorest groups will converge on Delhi. Christian Aid communications officer Sarah Filbey explains how the march will go ahead in the face of growing government pressure

‘IF WE DON’T ACT NOW, THERE WILL BE NOTHING LEFT FOR THE POOR PEOPLE’ CHRISTIAN AID PARTNER Ekta Parishad is facing mounting pressure from political quarters to cancel its October land rights march. Meanwhile, shortages in food to sustain the marchers double the threat to this landless people’s campaign. Facing these challenges, Ekta Parishad says it is determined to ensure the potentially historic march is not compromised, stressing that even in the

face of government opposition, the people must have their massed voices heard. Organising 100,000 people from across India to march together, as one, in a nonviolent protest was always going to be an extraordinarily challenging feat. The success of Ekta Parishad’s Janadesh march in 2007 helped tens of thousands of adivasi tribal people gain rights to their land. This has encouraged India’s poor, landless and displaced

people to protest once more by preparing to join the Jan Satyagraha march this October. The march will call on the government to deliver on promises made five years ago. At least 80,000 people have signed up to march the 350km from Gwalior to Delhi, with at least 20,000 more expected to be joining through other Indian land rights organisations. This is four times the size of the 25,000-strong, 2007

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Main picture: supporters prepare for the Jan Satyagraha March for Justice. Inset, below: Ekta Parishad president Rajagopal addresses the crowds

Janadesh march. The marchers, most of whom come from deprived tribal and dalit communities that continue to suffer severe discrimination in Indian society, have been saving precious grains for a year now to feed them on the march. These grains will be cooked by Ekta Parishad, but, worryingly, only constitute 50 per cent of what’s needed. As Ekta

Parishad appeals through its networks to meet the financial deficit, Christian Aid’s country manager Anand Kumar met with Ekta Parishad’s leadership at the start of August to see what could be done. Although Christian Aid gives a yearly £50,000-£60,000 to Ekta Parishad for its development work, Indian government legislation restricts international funding to people’s campaigns such as Jan Satyagraha, preventing us from helping to finance the march directly. With Ekta Parishad largely dependent on raising funds within the country, Anand, along with the heads of other international agencies based in India, is composing a letter urging Indian friends and contacts to respond directly. ‘If the deficit is not met’, said Anand, ‘Ekta Parishad believes the marchers will be prepared to continue on just one simple meal a day, rather than diminish their opportunity to be heard.’ Ekta Parishad continues to engage with Indian government representatives, and has also met with the heads of prominent industries involved in the question of land distribution. Even though the march is not in itself illegal, Ekta Parishad is being urged by some parties to cancel it, but influential Indian public figures such as political and social activist Aruna Roy are pledging support, aiding the team’s confidence to go ahead. ‘Our leaders are willing to risk being arrested and taken to court, rather than cancel the march,’ said Ekta Parishad’s Ran Singh Parmar. ‘We want to walk with all who have been preparing for so long.’ The resolve of Ekta Parishad’s leadership does not surprise me, given my conversations with their president Rajagopal P V who I met 60 days into Ekta Parishad’s year-long preparatory journey across India. He spoke of the urgent need for poor people’s voices to be heard, with India’s unequally distributed wealth continuing to grow disproportionately, to the detriment of its poorest. Initially the government appeared to welcome Ekta Parishad’s campaign, sending two prominent MPs to meet the travelling team in January 2012. Yet, from the start, Rajagopal understood the potential political backlash. ‘When you resist, the government becomes very oppressive,’ he said. ‘Rather than listening to the voices of people, understanding why

people are resisting, why people are protesting, the government is trying to use police and force to put down their voice. ‘In a democratic country people should have the right to voice their dissent against any process of development, especially affecting their lives. That democratic space is shrinking every day, and as a result you will find thousands of non-violent struggles appearing. And because of this constant oppression by the state, many of these non-violent struggles are becoming violent.’ Determined that the Jan Satyagraha campaign will remain non-violent, Ekta Parishad will invite international delegates to a two-day peace conference in Delhi before beginning the monthlong march on 2 October, the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday. At this conference, Rajagopal will likely continue to call for shows of global solidarity with this and other land struggles taking place in Africa, Latin America and elsewhere. ‘In a globalising world where large companies are coming to India, Africa and other countries to buy land, the government is forcing people to sell their lands in the name of mining, wildlife protection, infrastructure development and other projects – it’s become common,’ he said. ‘If we don’t act now, there will be nothing left for the poor people.’ Rajagopal explained that Ekta Parishad’s unique strength as an organisation lies in the support it enjoys from a great number of people, both within India and globally. ‘The success of Jan Satyagraha will be based on how much solidarity support we are able to get,’ he said. ‘We will prove that some struggles can succeed, and those successes will inspire more people, and that is how you build a better world.’ • If you want to show your support for Ekta Parishad’s marchers, Christian Aid is holding several solidarity Marches for Justice around Britain. To ﬁnd out how to join one of these, visit christianaid.org. uk/marchforjustice-uk • To see more photos, watch videos and read a blog sharing insight on the campaign, visit christianaid.org.uk/ marchforjustice • And to listen to an audioboo on the march, go to http://bit.ly/QhM63E (An audioboo is a digital recording that can be played on computers.)

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FRONTLINE

Christian Aid/Sarah Malian

Christian Aid director Loretta Minghella explains how our vision to bring about an end to poverty can be achieved by working with others in a Partnership for Change â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and highlights the part we can all play in making this happen

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CHRISTIAN AID IS AMBITIOUS and impatient for change. We know that the work we’ve been able to do in the past six decades has improved the lives of millions, but we also know that to achieve lasting change on the scale that’s needed, we must build an even bigger force for good. To do this we seek to strengthen our work through partnership. We know that it is by working together with others that we can achieve an end to poverty for the world’s poorest people.

The time is now The world in which we operate is changing dramatically, and on so many fronts: economic power, available resources, ideologies, communications and climate. While some of these things may be used to help in the battle against poverty, they can also threaten the ability of vulnerable communities to claim their rights and gain equality. Societies today are becoming increasingly unequal. Power is shifting to the fast-growing economies of the global East and South, while international institutions find themselves overwhelmed by the task of tackling the world’s economic problems. Supplies of resources – from copper to water, food to fossil fuels – are getting tighter, and those with the greatest power often exploit it. New conflicts emerge. Our insufficient care for our planet leads to more frequent natural and man-made disasters, and increased migration. And alongside all this, technology is transforming the way we interact, trade, create communities and build political movements. Globalisation certainly opens up opportunities but it can also undermine cultural diversity and local enterprise. In the face of these threats to the world’s poor, Christian Aid believes it is essential that individuals and communities play an even stronger role. And that they come together to stand alongside each other – to use their influence to protect the rights of all and ensure the dignity of every person.

Partnership with whom? Building equality: Christian Aid partner AWEC helped teenage prisoner Nozeni Izatullah (centre) – convicted of a ‘moral’ crime – learn embroidery and literacy skills to help her find work upon her release

Who are the partners with whom we seek to work? They are many and varied: the churches and other NGOs, certainly, but also government and businesses. And we seek to build partnerships with

individual supporters – all of you who so tirelessly organise and influence your communities: raising and giving money, praying, campaigning and building political pressure for change. Each of us lives within a network of relationships, which give us opportunities to influence others: within our communities and our churches, in our business dealings and with our shopping choices and our political actions – to name just a few. And each and every one of us can influence these relationships for good. In our churches and communities, we can raise awareness, give, act and pray in support of Christian Aid. As voters and lobbyists, we can use our power to rouse the conscience of politicians by campaigning on issues such as tax justice and climate change. And as consumers and campaigners we can change the policies of business, large and small, through initiatives such as the Trace the Tax campaign. Christian Aid is committed to growing and deepening relationships between individuals, communities and countries; between civil society, business, government, charities and churches; between people of all faiths and of none, in order to evolve and strengthen a vast, necessary and unequivocal movement for change. This is what we call our Partnership for Change.

To seek what? Christian Aid’s analysis of poverty is that at its root is a lack of power: the power, for example, to have your say and be heard, to know your rights and demand them, to have access to essential services, to share fairly in the world’s resources and to have the security of not just surviving, but also of thriving. Rooted in our belief in a creative and loving God, Christian Aid is clear that poverty can be eradicated through supporting and empowering individuals and communities to change their lives. We believe we can achieve this ambition by focusing our skills and experience where they can make the greatest impact. • The five examples outlined on the following page highlight those areas on which we will focus. Bless you and thank you for all that you do to partner with us to turn our new strategy into real and lasting change.

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FRONTLINE

Power to change: villagers in Bajarangpura pledge their support for the March for Justice in India (see also story on page 16)

Christian Aid/Sarah Filbey

Tackling violence: Major Javier Bulambo is one of 492 high-ranking soldiers trained in civilian rights by our partner CBCA in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Essential services: Rogers Ochieng Otieno distributes malaria nets in Kenya on behalf of Christian Aid partner Anglican Development Services

Christian Aid/Elaine Duigenan

Fair shares: Christian Aid partner Soppexcca has helped 22 communities in Nicaragua to set up coffee cooperatives

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OUR FOCUSES FOR CHANGE Power to change institutions

Christian Aid/Ally Carnwath

In 2007, the Bajarangpura community of the Sahariya tribe marched with 25,000 other excluded people to hold the Indian government to account on its promise to listen to dalit and adivasi people’s claims to land rights. The march was organised by Christian Aid partner Ekta Parishad, and one of the results was that the Bajarangpura villagers, among an estimated 10,000 adivasis, won rights to the land on which they live. A second march, expected to number four times as many marchers as before, is planned for October 2012 and some of the Bajarangpura villagers will walk again, in solidarity with others who have yet to win rights to their land. See story on page 16. We want to see all people having the power to influence institutions – so that the decisions affecting their lives are made responsibly and fairly.

The right to essential services Rogers Ochieng Otieno is a volunteer community health worker with Christian Aid partner Anglican Development Services, which runs the Rural Transport Network in Nyanza Province, Kenya, with Virgin Unite. Rogers is one of 12 volunteer motorbike riders in the province who provide access to health education and support. As well as educating families on malaria prevention, Rogers also supports people living with HIV, helping them collect essential medicines each month and providing food to ensure that they eat a balanced diet. Rogers also helps to fight HIV stigma within the community. We want to see all people able to fulfill their right to access the services essential for them to have a healthy and secure life.

Fair shares in a constrained world

Christian Aid/Tom Pilston

Twenty-two communities in Nicaragua have been supported by Christian Aid partner Soppexcca to set up coffee cooperatives and a processing plant for the coffee they grow. The result for these cooperatives is far greater power to negotiate a good price for their beans and to plough additional money back into their communities. They are now

exploring the possibility of also growing cocoa, which is more resilient to floods and a warmer climate. With an eye on the future, younger members of the communities are planting trees to help protect the environment, and the skills they have been taught for running the cooperatives will help them when they take over from older generations. We want to see all people able to have a fair and sustainable share of the world’s resources.

Equality for all Nozeni Izatullah (pictured on previous page) was 15 when she was held captive by her boyfriend’s family for more than 50 days, during which time she was raped and abused. She escaped by climbing out of a window, but was arrested and sentenced to five years in Maimana prison, in northern Afghanistan, for the ‘moral’ crime of running away with her boyfriend. Christian Aid partner AWEC helped Nozeni in prison, by teaching her embroidery and literacy. It provided her with skills to enable her to earn a living when released. In 2011 AWEC also began providing legal support to the women in the prison, which enabled Nozeni to apply for a presidential pardon. This led to an early release, halfway through her sentence. We want to see a more inclusive world where identity – gender, ethnicity, caste, religion, class, sexual orientation – is no longer a barrier to equal treatment.

Tackling violence and building peace Major Janvier Bulambo was one of 492 high-ranking Congolese soldiers to take part in civilian rights training organised by Christian Aid partner CBCA. He now spreads understanding of the need for army discipline, zero tolerance of rape, and the role the Congolese army can play in bringing peace to the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Since CBCA organised a reconciliation ceremony in the village of Kibati, soldiers and civilians have even begun singing together in the church choir, a step towards improved relationships. We want to see vulnerable people protected from violence and living in peace.

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LIFE AND SOUL

Christian Aid believes that working with the private sector is key to eradicating poverty, so we seek out and work with ethical businesses that share our vision of a better world. One such firm is food producer the Good Little Company. Two years into our partnership with the company, Christian Aid corporate fundraiser Brendan Brosnan took its brand manager Craig Blaney to Malawi, to see the enormous difference the company’s contribution is making to the lives of some of the world’s poor. MILLIONS OF MALAWIANS eat maize every day and would consider a meal to be incomplete without it. It’s such an integral part of their lives and culture that they have a picture of a stalk of maize on the back of the 1,000 kwacha note. But the months between December and March are known as the ‘hunger season’ because this is when Malawi’s poorest people run short of supplies, including maize. The effects of climate change have devastated the land, leaving people struggling to grow enough to eat. Two years ago, the Good Little Company decided to help Christian Aid combat this by offering proceeds from the sale of its food products to help vulnerable communities. Now, every time someone buys a pack of Good Little Sausages, Meatballs or Burgers, 7p is donated to Christian Aid so that people in need can access essentials such as maize seed. By combining this seed with new, more effective farming techniques, including the use of solar power to irrigate the land, communities are becoming more resilient to seasonal drought. In one of the communities benefiting

Brendan Brosnan

The way we lead our own lives can have a tangible impact in the fight to end poverty. By ‘doing the right thing’ we show we have a commitment to a sustainable lifestyle that places a high value on helping others

HOW A LITTLE GOOD GOES A LONG WAY from this work – a village called Mawale in the country’s Central region – Craig Blaney met Martin Nkhoma, a farmer and a father of three. Three years ago, Martin became involved with Christian Aid partner The Baptist Clinic, when it began working with his community to help it grow enough to eat. At this time, Martin’s family regularly suffered food shortages and poor health stemming from malnutrition. ‘During the hunger season, the amount of food we used to grow was just not enough,’ says Martin. Donations from the Good Little Company helped Martin and farmers like him to access the maize seeds they needed to grow enough food for their families and to sell at market. ‘Now we have a surplus that we can sell and can help our families get things that they need. They are healthier, they

are happier; they are getting what they want,’ says Martin. Craig was overwhelmed to hear about the impact the partnership between Christian Aid and the Good Little Company is having on people. ‘It was incredibly moving to hear people’s experiences, with many of them having lived in constant fear of hunger. Now they have a surplus to sell on and buy “luxuries” such as education for their children, better housing and newer clothes. Their lives are no longer just about survival and they look forward with hope, not fear for the future.’ • To find out more about the partnership, visit: christianaid.org.uk/sausages • The Good Little Company range is available in more than 200 Waitrose stores across Britain, and in selected Tesco stores in Northern Ireland.

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Will yOu be A FAir TrAder? CHRISTIAN AID and Traidcraft have thousands of supporters who regularly sell Christmas cards and Fairtrade products within their communities. Known as ‘fair traders’, they sell ethical goods in various places, including churches, schools, colleges or universities, through websites, at work and at farmers markets. This Christmas, you too can sell Christmas cards within your community. By doing this, you would be helping to ensure that people in developing countries achieve a fair price for their goods. Christian Aid receives a percentage of the total value of all Christmas cards sold through Traidcraft and other charity partners. Last year, Traidcraft donated £47,000 to Christian Aid as a result of our joint efforts, so get involved this Christmas and help us raise even more money for the world’s poor. • To find out more, call 0191 497 6563, visit traidcraft.co.uk/sellcards or email fairtrader@traidcraft.co.uk.

WILL AID CREATES A LEGACY OF HOPE WILL AID IS BACK this November. If you don’t have a Will, or need to update your existing one, Will Aid presents an ideal opportunity for you to put your affairs in order while helping to raise money for nine Will Aid charities. During November 2011 charitable solicitors across the country helped to raise a record-breaking amount of more than £2m for charity. They encouraged people to have a professionally written Will and donate to the Will Aid charities instead of paying a fee. The money raised by Will Aid’s solicitors is used by the nine participating charities, including Christian Aid, making a real difference to those in need across the world. ‘The support of the Will Aid solicitors is greatly appreciated by Christian Aid,’ says legacy manager Alison Linwood. ‘Not only do we receive a significant amount in donations but the campaign also provides an opportunity for people to include a gift in their Will to Christian Aid. Legacy gifts are crucial. Last year our income from legacies could have more than paid for all our work in Latin America and the Caribbean.’ On a recent trip to India, Alison met Gita, a social worker with Christian Aid partner Sakhi Kendra. At age 13, Gita was kidnapped and spent years as a slave, suffering abuse and starvation. When she finally escaped and returned home, her parents refused to take her back as they felt her experiences would bring shame on them and make it difficult for her siblings to find good marriages. With Sakhi Kendra’s help, Gita found a safe haven, completed her education and is now helping other girls through difficult times. ‘Because of Christian Aid and Sakhi Kendra, I’ve been able to come so far. It’s with the support from all of you that I can step forward into my future,’ says Gita. Please help us to help more young women like Gita by supporting Will Aid in 2012. • For further information about Will Aid, please contact the legacy team on 020 7523 2173, or visit christianaid. org.uk/legacies

GIVING THANKS - A TIME TO REMEMBER ON 6 NOVEMBER the Christian Aid Legacy and In Memoriam team will be holding a thanksgiving service in London. A tenth of all our work is made possible by people who leave a legacy or give gifts in memory of a loved one, and the service will be a time for families and friends to come together and remember the lifetime achievements of supporters no longer with us. For those unable to travel to London, we will be streaming the service live online. • For more details, please contact Kerry McMahon on kmcmahon@ christian-aid.org or 020 7523 2173.

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE GOAT! On television the meerkat is everywhere. But for Christian Aid supporters it is still all about the goat. Last Christmas the goat was our most popular Present Aid gift. But will that change when we launch our new Present Aid website in October? The site offers great new options for churches and other groups to select and purchase gifts together, as well as lots of new individual gifts. So will there be a new favourite this year? And with new print-at-home or e-cards added to our normal postal service, the new website will definitely offer the best virtual gift choice on the market. • Visit presentaid.org from October, or, if you prefer to order by post, ring 0845 3300 500.

The Good Little Company’s Craig Blaney meets Malawian farmer Martin Nkhoma

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Days 50-53 North West

UK registered charity no. 1105851 Company no. 5171525 Scot charity no. SC039150 NI charity no. XR94639 Company no. NI059154 ROI charity no. CHY 6998 Company no. 426928 The Christian Aid name and logo are trademarks of Christian Aid © Christian Aid August 2012 13-189-J627

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AROUND CENTRAL ENGLAND Friday 12 October Marple, Knutsford, Crewe Saturday 13 October Bury, Bolton, Wigan, Chester Sunday 14 October Lancaster, Garstang, Preston Monday 15 October Liverpool, Warrington, Manchester

The Tax Justice Bus is coming... 15

Day 32 West Midlands

Monday 24 September Stafford, Stoke-on-Trent, Shrewsbury

with local decision makers will be held Days 30-31 East Midlands on board from 4-5pm. FINISHES Saturday 22 September HERE On Sunday Leicester, Nottingham23 September, the bus Sunday 23 September will stop at Cliff College, in 8 8 the Hope 10 Calver, Buxton, Ashbourne Valley, in the morning and then onto St 9 Thomas More School in Buxton, for an Days 28-29 Oxford Area 6 ecumenical lunch with the Bishop of 1 Thursday 20 September Bedford, Stevenage, St Albans its East Midlands leg Derby. It will finish 21 September atFriday Ashbourne, before moving back to 7 Oxford, Witney, Reading 2 the West Midlands. 7 STARTS AT GREENBELT On Monday 24 September, you can Days 26-27 East of England 5 catch it at Market Square, Stafford, …to the east of England and the 3 Tuesday 18 September Ipswich,9-10.30am, Bury, Cambridge and in Stoke-on-Trent from Midlands Wednesday 19 September (venue tbc), from 1-2pm, 6giving visitors Having already toured part of the Peterborough, Norwich a chance to hear stories from the UK West Midlands in August, the Tax 4 and around the world. From 7pm the Justice Bus returns to our Days area17-25 when London and South East bus will be at the United Reformed it arrives in Ipswich town centre from Sunday 9 September Chichester, Bognor Regis, Worthing Church, Coleham Head, in Shrewsbury, 9-11am on Tuesday 18 September. It Monday 10 September – Wednesday 12 September giving the public time to look around, Brighton will then drive to Bury St Edmunds for Thursday 13 September Days 13-16 before a 7.30pm ‘Question Time’ on tax 12 South noon,West leaving there at 2.30pm to Horsham, Guildford, Central London Wednesdaytravel 5 September Friday 14 September and poverty. on to Cambridge. The bus will Truro, Falmouth Central London, Ealing, Teddington, Streatham parked in the centre of Saturday Cambridge Thursday 6be September 15 September • To confirm details for the East Torbay, Exeter, Honiton Bromley, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, of Eastbourne England leg, please email outside Eden Baptist Church, Fitzroy Friday 7 September Sunday 16 September Dorchester,Street, Poole, Salisbury eastengland@christian-aid.org from 6-7.30pm priorBexhill-on-Sea, to a Dover, Canterbury, Rochester Saturday 8 September Monday 17 September 4 • To learn more about the East Midlands 5 ‘Question Time’ event being held at the Southampton, Locks Heath, Portsmouth Basildon, Chelmsford, Colchester leg, contact the Loughborough Unitarian Church in Emmanuel Road. office on 01509 265013 or email This will feature author, Guardian eastmidlands@christian-aid.org columnist and tax campaigner Richard EAST OF ENGLAND (18-19 September) SCOTLAND (1-5 October) • For information on the West Midlands Murphy; Niall Cooper, the national Contact: Julian Bryant, 01603 620051/ Contact: Diane Green, 0141 241 6136, stops – and confirmed venues – email coordinator for Church Action on 0752 820 6865, jbryant@christian-aid.org dgreen@christian-aid.org birmingham@christian-aid.org or call Poverty; and theologian, author and OXFORD AREA (20-21 September) NORTH WEST (6 October; 12-15 October) 0121 200 2283. business ethics lecturer Richard Contact: Jessica Hall, 01865 246818, Contact: David Hardman, 01925 582820, jhall@christian-aid.org Higginson. Other guests will include dhardman@christian-aid.org local MPs, andSeptember) the event is open to all. EAST MIDLANDS (22-23 NORTH EAST (7-8 October) Contact: Judi Perry, 01509 265013, On Wednesday 19 September theContact: Judith Sadler, 0191 228 0115, eastmidlands@christian-aid.org bus will be in Peterborough Cathedral jsadler@christian-aid.org NORTH WALES (25-26 September) Precincts from 9-11am and will go on to Contact: Anna Jane Evans, 01248 353574, YORKSHIRE (9-11 October) Norwich arriving at 2.30pm at Norwich aevans@cymorth-cristnogol.org Contact: Lindsey Pearson, 0113 244 4764, (Anglican) Cathedral. We will be inviting lpearson@christian-aid.org IRELAND (27-30 September) MPs,Thomas, church 028 leaders, local councillors Contact: David 9064 8133, dthomas@christian-aid.org and local business people to join uschristianaid.org.uk/tax-bus on board for briefings. Supporters are also welcome to look around the bus. 8/10/12 5:00 PM On Saturday 22 September, the bus reaches the East Midlands. It will spend the morning in Leicester, parked outside St Martins House, where events will be held with local MPs and church leaders. It then goes to St Andrew’s Central region interns, with Castle Gate United Reformed Alice Cane, Oliver Fricker Church in Nottingham, where it will and Doug Owen aboard stay from 3-6pm, and another event the Tax Justice Bus Christian Aid

Morely, Huddersfield, Halifax, Bradford, Leeds

Harry routs the record book AN 87-YEAR-OLD from Norwich broke all records recently when he became the oldest person to complete a Christian Aid sponsored canoe trip. Harry Rout paddled up the River Bure from Horstead to Buxton and back, undeterred by a powerful side wind blowing up spray. Harry was one of four members of Wroxham Road Methodist Church who took to the water, including the minister, Rev Nigel Fox, to raise money for Christian Aid partner the YMCA in Bethlehem, which helps to rehabilitate Palestinians crippled or maimed by violence in the region.

Riders take to the water CONGRATULATIONS TO our intrepid team of cyclists who completed Christian Aid’s first ever one-day sponsored bike ride around Rutland Water in July. One rider who deserves a special mention is Chayne Adcock, below, who took part despite having a ‘fixed knee’ condition, which meant he had to cycle the 19 miles using just one leg. Thanks to all.

Welcome to the new Christian Aid interns WE’D LIKE TO SAY a huge hello to three new interns who have joined our regional offices and will be with us until June 2013. East Midlands welcomes Alice Cane, from Canterbury. Alice studied archaeology and anthropology at Cambridge University. West Midlands office welcomes lifetime Christian Aid collector Doug Owen, who is looking forward to expressing his passion for social justice, with Christian Aid. Joining the East of England team is Oliver Fricker. Oliver, who studied geography at Cambridge University, is currently an ‘eco intern’ at St Aldates in Oxford.

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AROUND NORTH ENGLAND TAX JUSTICE TOUR 24 August – 15 October 2012

Sunday 7 October 11am-1.30pm, St Nicholas’ Cathedral, Newcastle. 3-4pm, Town Hall, Durham. 4.30-5.30pm, Durham Cathedral. Monday 8 October 7.30-9am, Traidcraft, Kingsway, Gateshead (invitation only). 11.30am-2pm, Minster Church, Sunderland. 6-8.30pm, St Peter’s Church, Redcar Lane, Redcar. Tuesday 9 October 9-10am, Northallerton Methodist Church, High Street. 11am-12 noon, Ripon. 1.30-2.30pm, York Minster. 3-5pm, Archbishop Holgate School, Hull Road, York, and University of York, Heslington. 7.30-9.30pm, Endsleigh Centre, 481 Beverley Road, Hull. Wednesday 10 October 9-10am, Doncaster Minster. 11am-12.30pm, Rotherham Minster. 1.30-3pm, Barnsley Baptist Church, Sheffield Rd, S70 1JJ. 4-5pm; 7-9pm, Sheffield Cathedral. Thursday 11 October 9-10am, Town Hall, Morley. 11am-12 noon, Huddersfield Methodist Mission, Lord St. 12.30-1.30pm, The Piece Hall, Halifax. 2.30-3.30pm, Saltaire United Reformed Church, Bradford. 7-9pm, Leeds Methodist Mission, Oxford Place. Friday 12 October 11am-12 noon, Marple. 3-5pm, Knutsford. 7pm, Christ Church, Crewe. Saturday 13 October 9.30-11am, Bolton. 12 noon-2pm, Holy Cross Six Form College, Bury. 3-5pm, Wigan town centre. 7pm, Chester. Sunday 14 October 10am, Lancaster Methodist Church. 2.30pm, Lancaster University. 3.30pm, FIG cafe, Garstang. 5pm, Fulwood Methodist Church, Preston. Monday 15 October 8.30-10am, Liverpool. 11.30am-1pm, Warrington Town Hall. 3-4pm, Luther King House, Brighton Grove, Manchester. 7-9pm, Albert Sq, Manchester.

ALL ABOARD FOR TAX JUSTICE! Days 39-43 Scotland

Day 44 North West

Monday 1 October Borders Tuesday 2 October Glasgow Wednesday 3 October Edinburgh Thursday 4 October St Andrews Friday 5 October Inverness

Saturday 6 October Carlisle, Hexham

Days 45-46 North East

Days 47-4

Sunday 7 October Newcastle upon Tyne, Durham Monday 8 October Gateshead, Sunderland, Redcar

Saturday 29 – Sunday 30 September Belfast

WATCH OUT NEXT MONTH as Christian Aid’s Tax Justice Bus arrives in our region and stops off at a number of locations to spread our message on tax dodging. The red London Routemaster double-decker will be a focus for briefings, campaign actions, debates, stories, meals, exhibitions, press conferences, stunts and services. According to Church Action on Poverty, our Tax Justice Bus partners, ‘tax avoidance of all kinds … steals £35bn from the UK every year’. Meanwhile, Christian Aid estimates that tax dodging costs developing countries US$160bn dollars every year – more than one-and-a-half times the global aid budget! The bus, which began its odyssey at the Greenbelt Festival near Cheltenham over the August bank holiday weekend, will have spent several weeks wending its way through England, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Scotland, before making its final stops in our region. To get involved, take a look at the dates on the left and see where your nearest event will be. For more detailed information contact your regional office, or visit the regional section of the Christian Aid website at christianaid.org.uk/inyourarea

Friday 12 O Marple, Knu Saturday 13 Bury, Bolton Sunday 14 O Lancaster, G Monday 15 Liverpool, W

Days 35-36 Republic of Ireland Thursday 27 September Dublin Friday 28 September Limerick

11 12

Days 33-34 North Wales Tuesday 25 September Wrexham, Llandudno Wednesday 26 September Bangor, Holyhead

Mo Sta

Da FINISHES HERE

Sat Leic Sun Calv

10 9

1 Friday 24 August – Monday 27 August Greenbelt Festival, Cheltenham

2 STARTS AT GREENBELT

Days 6-7 West Midlands

Friday 31 August Cardiff Saturday 1 September Carmarthen, Swansea, Neath Sunday 2 September Newport, Chepstow

Days 17-25 London and

Days 13-16 South West

Wednesday 5 September Truro, Falmouth Thursday 6 September Torbay, Exeter, Honiton Friday 7 September Dorchester, Poole, Salisbury Saturday 8 September Southampton, Locks Heath, Portsmouth

Days 11-12 West England

Sunday 9 September Chichester, Bognor Regis, Worthi Monday 10 September – Wedne Brighton Thursday 13 September Horsham, Guildford, Central Lond Friday 14 September Central London, Ealing, Teddingto Saturday 15 September Bromley, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, E Sunday 16 September Bexhill-on-Sea, Dover, Canterbury Monday 17 September Basildon, Chelmsford, Colchester

WEST MIDLANDS (29-30 August; 24 September) Contact: John Cooper, 0121 200 2283, jcooper@christian-aid.org

EAST OF ENGLAND (18-19 September) Contact: Julian Bryant, 01603 620051/ 0752 820 6865, jbryant@christian-aid.org

SCOTLAND Contact: Dian dgreen@chris

SOUTH WALES (31 August – 2 September) Contact: Mari McNeill, 029 2084 4646, mmcneil@christian-aid.org

OXFORD AREA (20-21 September) Contact: Jessica Hall, 01865 246818, jhall@christian-aid.org

NORTH WES Contact: Dav dhardman@c

WEST OF ENGLAND (3-4 September) Contact: Lydia Nash, 01454 415923, lnash@christian-aid.org

EAST MIDLANDS (22-23 September) Contact: Judi Perry, 01509 265013, eastmidlands@christian-aid.org

SOUTH WEST ENGLAND (5-8 September) Contact: 01395 222304 or 023 8070 6969 or southwest@christian-aid.org

NORTH WALES (25-26 September) Contact: Anna Jane Evans, 01248 353574, aevans@cymorth-cristnogol.org

LONDON AND THE SOUTH EAST (9-17 September) Contact: Kate Parr, 020 7523 2376, kparr@christian-aid.org

IRELAND (27-30 September) Contact: David Thomas, 028 9064 8133, dthomas@christian-aid.org

13-189-J627-Tax map artwork amends v4.indd 1

Christian Aid’s new North region interns, Andrew Forsyth, Eleri Birkhead and Thom Flint board the Tax Justice Bus

partner organisations. We want those with a concern for justice to have a better understanding of what is happening in this region, and how the churches can contribute to peace and justice there. That is why we are supporting the day conference ‘Peace & Justice in the Holy Land’ in Gateshead on Saturday 3 November. With a range of speakers from organisations including Christian

Aid, Rabbis for Human Rights, Kairos Palestine and churches of several denominations, we hope that this event will lead to deeper understanding and positive actions on behalf of all people living in this part of the world that so many of us regard as holy. • For a leaflet and registration form, contact the Christian Aid office in Newcastle on 0191 228 0115 or email newcastle@ christian-aid.org

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Tue Ipsw We Pet

Days 8-10 South Wales

Monday 3 September Bristol, Taunton Tuesday 4 September Taunton

Wednesday 29 August Birmingham, Evesham, Sutton Coldfield Thursday 30 August Wolverhampton, Worcester, Lichfield

Thu Bed Frid Oxf

Days 1-4 Greenbelt Festival

PEACE AND JUSTICE CONFERENCE EVERY DAY PEOPLE in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory (IOPT) are forced to face the impact of injustice, including conflict, fear and poverty. In the midst of this complex situation are people from all the affected communities, who are prepared to confront fear and injustice and work towards peace. Christian Aid supports those working for peace and development through

Tuesday 9 O Northallerton Wednesday Doncaster, R Thursday 11 Morely, Hud

Days 50-5

Days 37-38 Northern Ireland

Christian Aid

Saturday 6 October 2-4pm, Carlisle Old Town Hall. 6.30-8.30pm, St Mary’s Catholic Church, Hencotes, Hexham.

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NORTH EAS Contact: Jud jsadler@chris

YORKSHIRE Contact: Lind lpearson@ch

christiana

AROUND SCOTLAND

ALL ABOARD THE TAX BUS AS IT ARRIVES IN SCOTLAND!

Locations for the Tax Justice Bus public events are: Monday 1 October 1pm, Northwest Church, Dumfries. 7.30pm, Alloway Parish Church. Tuesday 2 October 7.30pm, Renfield St Stephens, Glasgow.

THE TAX JUSTICE BUS is coming to Scotland this October, and we have designed a programme of events that will take us through Dumfries, Ayr, Glasgow, Edinburgh, St Andrews, Inverness and Inverurie. We’re taking the message of tax justice on the road around Britain and Ireland in a double-decker bus, meeting supporters and journalists, and hosting briefings about our tax justice campaign for

Wed 3 October 7.30pm, Augustine United Church, Edinburgh. Thurs 4 October 12 noon, St Leonard’s Church, St Andrews. 7.30pm, Inshes Church, Inverness.

politicians and senior church leaders. We’ll be joined on the bus by Lidy Nacpil from our partner Jubilee South, a network of anti-debt coalitions in more than 60 countries across Asia, Africa and Latin America. We’ll also have a representative from Church Action on Poverty on board to talk about how tax dodging affects lives and livelihoods in poorer communities in the UK.

Friday 5 October Inverurie (tbc). For up-to-date details and to get involved please check:2012 christianaid. 24 August – 15 October org.uk/scotland or contact Diane Days 39-43 Scotland Days 45-46 North East Day 44 North West 14 Green on 0141 241 6136 or dgreen@ christian-aid.org

TAX JUSTICE TOUR Saturday 6 October Carlisle, Hexham

Days 47-49 Yorkshire

Sunday 7 October Newcastle upon Tyne, Durham Monday 8 October Gateshead, Sunderland, Redcar

Days 50-53 North West

Friday 12 October Marple, Knutsford, Crewe Saturday 13 October Bury, Bolton, Wigan, Chester Sunday 14 October Lancaster, Garstang, Preston Monday 15 October Liverpool, Warrington, Manchester

Days 37-38 Northern Ireland Saturday 29 – Sunday 30 September Belfast

Tuesday 9 October Northallerton, Ripon, York, Hull Wednesday 10 October Doncaster, Rotherham, Barnsley, Sheffield Thursday 11 October Morely, Huddersfield, Halifax, Bradford, Leeds

Days 35-36 Republic of Ireland Thursday 27 September Dublin Friday 28 September Limerick

11 12

Days 33-34 North Wales Tuesday 25 September Wrexham, Llandudno Wednesday 26 September Bangor, Holyhead

Day 32 West Midlands

Other events 10

Monday 24 September Stafford, Stoke-on-Trent, Shrewsbury

Days 30-31 East Midlands

Friday 21 8 September/ Tuesday 2 October Days 28-29 Oxford Area Take One Action Days 1-4 Greenbelt Festival Film Festival 7 Edinburgh Days 26-27 East of England Days 6-7 West Midlands filmhouse. Kathy Galloway 6 1 will speak after Days 17-25 London and South East Days 8-10 South Wales Surviving Progress at 8.15pm on 21 Days 13-16 South West 2 September and Paul Brannen after Days 11-12 West England We’re not Broke on 2 October 4 5 3 at 8.30pm. See christianaid.org. WEST MIDLANDS (29-30 August; 24 September) EAST OF ENGLAND (18-19 September) SCOTLAND (1-5 October) Contact: John Cooper, 0121 200 2283, Contact: Julian Bryant, 01603 620051/ Contact: Diane Green, 0141 241 6136, uk/scotland jcooper@christian-aid.org 0752 820 6865, jbryant@christian-aid.org dgreen@christian-aid.org FINISHES HERE

Saturday 22 September Leicester, Nottingham Sunday 23 September Calver, Buxton, Ashbourne

Friday 24 August – Monday 27 August Greenbelt Festival, Cheltenham

Thursday 20 September Bedford, Stevenage, St Albans Friday 21 September Oxford, Witney, Reading

STARTS AT GREENBELT

Friday 31 August Cardiff Saturday 1 September Carmarthen, Swansea, Neath Sunday 2 September Newport, Chepstow

Wednesday 5 September Truro, Falmouth Thursday 6 September Torbay, Exeter, Honiton Friday 7 September Dorchester, Poole, Salisbury Saturday 8 September Southampton, Locks Heath, Portsmouth

Monday 3 September Bristol, Taunton Tuesday 4 September Taunton

SOUTH WALES (31 August – 2 September) Contact: Mari McNeill, 029 2084 4646, mmcneil@christian-aid.org

Tuesday 18 September Ipswich, Bury, Cambridge Wednesday 19 September Peterborough, Norwich

Christian Aid

Wednesday 29 August Birmingham, Evesham, Sutton Coldfield Thursday 30 August Wolverhampton, Worcester, Lichfield

OXFORD AREA (20-21 September) Contact: Jessica Hall, 01865 246818,

Sunday 9 September Chichester, Bognor Regis, Worthing Monday 10 September – Wednesday 12 September Brighton Thursday 13 September Horsham, Guildford, Central London Friday 14 September Central London, Ealing, Teddington, Streatham Saturday 15 September Bromley, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Eastbourne Sunday 16 September Bexhill-on-Sea, Dover, Canterbury, Rochester Monday 17 September Basildon, Chelmsford, Colchester

Monday 1 October Borders Tuesday 2 October Glasgow Wednesday 3 October Edinburgh Thursday 4 October St Andrews Friday 5 October Inverness

COMINGS, GOINGS AND WINNINGS WE’VE RECENTLY WELCOMED our new youth NORTH WEST (6 October; 12-15 October)

Contact: David Hardman, 01925 582820, Sundayjhall@christian-aid.org 25 intern, Catherine Falconer, who will work with dhardman@christian-aid.org WEST OF ENGLAND (3-4 September) EAST MIDLANDS (22-23 September) November NORTH EAST (7-8 October) Contact: Lydia Nash, 01454 415923, Contact: Judi Perry, 01509 265013, youth groups over Scotland, exploring Contact: Judith Sadler,all 0191 228 0115, lnash@christian-aid.org eastmidlands@christian-aid.org jsadler@christian-aid.org Paisley Abbey SOUTH WEST ENGLAND (5-8 September) NORTH WALES (25-26 September) development issues and inspiring young people Contact: 01395 222304 or 023 8070 6969 orThank You Contact: Anna Jane Evans, 01248 353574, YORKSHIRE (9-11 October) southwest@christian-aid.org aevans@cymorth-cristnogol.org Contact: Lindsey Pearson, 0113 244 4764, lpearson@christian-aid.org 6.30pm,IRELAND Paisley LONDON AND THE SOUTH EAST (9-17 September) (27-30 September) to take action to overcome poverty and injustice. Contact: Kate Parr, 020 7523 2376, Contact: David Thomas, 028 9064 8133, Abbey. An kparr@christian-aid.org dthomas@christian-aid.org Apartchristianaid.org.uk/tax-bus from spending some time with our Tax ecumenical service Justice Bus, Catherine will be visiting Zimbabwe of thanksgiving to supporters led by in October, and afterwards will be happy to visit Kathy Galloway. church and youth groups to share her experiences.

13-189-J627-Tax map artwork amends v4.indd 1

Scotland youth intern, Catherine Falconer (second left) with other campaigners aboard the Tax Justice Bus

8/10/12 5:00 PM

We’re saying farewell to our youth officer, Matt Grady, who is packing his bags to spend a year with the Christian Aid team in Sierra Leone. We wish him and his wife Allison all the best. • Well done to the winners of our Christian Aid Week paper quiz – Graham Rees of Dunkeld, Elizabeth Thomson of Kelso, and also a winner from Dunoon. Each received Fairtrade treats. Great work!

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AROUND THE SOUTH EAST Regional news and events in Beds, Berks, Bucks, Herts and Oxon

Sarah Clay

THERE ARE MANY amazing people who give their time and skills to volunteer for Christian Aid. Whether going into a school to give an assembly, organising a fundraising event or collecting door-to-door during Christian Aid Week, their efforts help us to achieve more. We really value our volunteers and try to support them as best we can. Here, two volunteers Volunteer teacher Alban Macdonald from this region tell us what motivates them… Margaret Burbidge from Berkhamsted is a volunteer teacher, who regularly goes into secondary schools to speak in assemblies or lead discussions in lessons. She says she volunteers because ‘I believe each generation of children and young people need to hear the Christian Aid message about poverty and working to eradicate it.’ She adds: ‘Volunteering is a small, practical way of being a Christian.’ Alban Macdonald not only organises the Christian Aid Week collections where he lives in Sandy, Bedfordshire, but has also taken on the role of volunteer teacher. He says: ‘I’m driven by Jesus’ commandment to love one another. My faith drives me to volunteer. It’s a desire for justice for all and to do what I think God wants me to do. I believe the work of Christian Aid helps bring a little more justice to the world. ’ If you already help us make a difference – thank you for everything you do. And if you feel inspired and want to get involved, please get in touch with Sarah Clay in the regional office on 01865 246818, or email sclay@christian-aid.org

EVENTS SATURDAY 6 OCTOBER March for Justice Sponsored Walk 10.30am, Bridge Street, Abingdon. Walk in solidarity with India’s landless farmers, 8.5 miles along the Thames Path. Contact Jess Hall on 01865 246818 or jhall@christian-aid.org FRIDAY 30 NOVEMBER Advent Hope 8pm, Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford. Advent gives us time to wait expectantly and to reflect on our journey with Christ. It is a time of preparation – so together we will make it a time of action too… a time when heaven touches earth.

Contact Steve Johnson on 01865 246818 or sjohnson@christian-aid.org WEDNESDAY 4 DECEMBER, THURSDAY 5 DECEMBER The Big Christmas Sing 6.30pm, Oxford Town Hall. Join primary schools from across Oxfordshire singing their hearts out in anticipation of Christmas. Tickets £4/£2. Contact Sarah Clay on 01865 246818 or sclay@christian-aid.org Find news and events for our region at christianaid.org.uk/ oxford. Your Christian Aid events can be publicised there too – just send us the details.

CATCH THE TAX JU CHRISTIAN AID’S TAX JUSTICE BUS will be making a series of stops in the South East region over the coming weeks. Come and hear how tax dodging affects the lives of the world’s poorest communities and learn what Christian Aid is doing to bring about tax justice. We will be joined by fellow campaigners Church Action on Poverty, who will talk about how tax dodging also affects lives and livelihoods in the UK. See also stories on page 4 and Campaigns, page 12.

Here’s where you can catch the bus as it tours our region Saturday 15 September Shirley, Croydon 12-2pm, Shirley Methodist Church, Eldon Avenue, CR0 7PT. Soup lunch. Come and explore the bus. Tonbridge 3.30-5pm, Tonbridge Methodist Church, Higham Lane, Tonbridge TN10 4GT. Afternoon tea. Eastbourne 7.30-9pm, St Richard’s Church, Priory Road, Eastbourne BN23 7AX. Cheese and wine evening. Sunday 16 September Bexhill-on-Sea 9-11.30am, St Barnabas Church, Sea Road, Bexhill-on-Sea TN40 1JG. Come and explore the bus before you head off to church. Dover 1pm, St Mary’s Church, Cannon Street, Dover CT16 1BY. 1-2pm for lunch and talk, and 2-3pm drop-in to look at the exhibition on board the bus, which will be parked nearby. Canterbury 3.30-5pm, Christ Church University Campus. Tax Justice tea party Rochester 6.30pm, St Luke’s Methodist Church, City Way, Rochester ME1 2BQ. Tax justice church service. Monday 17 September Basildon 11.30am-2pm, Town centre square. Drop-in to look at the exhibition.

Chelmsford 3.30pm-5pm, Backnang Square, Meadows Shopping Centre. Drop-in to look at the exhibition. Colchester 6.30pm, High Street (opposite Colchester Town Hall). Drop-in to look at the exhibition, followed by a prayer service at the Baptist Church at 7.30pm. For further information, contact Kate Parr, 020 7523 2376, kparr@ christian-aid.org Thursday 20 September Bedford 9am, 10am and 11am, Harpur Square MK40 2SR. Tax justice briefings. Stevenage 2pm, 3pm and 4pm, Town Square SG1 1BP. Tax justice briefings. St Albans 7.30pm, Vineyard Church, Brick Knoll Park, Ashley Road AL1 5UG. Tax dodging hurts the poor: panel event.

Christian Aid

Be inspired! Volunteer!

Friday 21 September Oxford 11am-12 noon, New Road Baptist Church, Bonn Square, Oxford OX1 1LQ. Tax justice workshop. Witney 2.30-3.30pm, Market Square and Windrush Room, Langdale Hall, Witney OX28 6AB. Tax justice workshop. Reading 7.30-8.30pm, Caversham Heights Methodist Church, Reading RG4 7BG. Tax justice workshop. For further information, contact Jess Hall on 01865 246818 or jhall@christian-aid.org

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AROUND THE SOUTH AND WEST

HIKING, BIKING AND NOT TALKING! Christian Aid supporters in the south and west are finding many different and exciting ways of raising money and awareness on behalf of the world’s poorest communities

Christian Aid/Nigel Quarrell

2011 marchers gather at Tewkesbury Abbey

MANY SUPPORTERS WILL again be walking in solidarity with dalit and tribal people in India who are marching for their land rights in October (see page 16). This year the popular March for Justice in the Severn Vale starts in Framptonon-Severn and ends at Gloucester Cathedral. On a smaller scale, supporters in Wimborne will be walking between the town’s churches on a circular route. Details of both these walks can be found in the Events panel, opposite. Experienced walkers Jim Hunter and Mark Hoole from Exmouth have been inspired to do their own March for Justice, taking on the 103 miles of the Two Moors Way, over three days in

October. To cover the distance of more than a marathon a day, they’ll need a combined effort of walking and running as they negotiate the rugged terrain of the moors. Congratulations to John Wilmut, who completed his 1,084-mile challenge, walking from Land’s End to John O’Groats three days earlier than planned, and raised more than £8,000 for Christian Aid’s work in improving education. Meanwhile, on two wheels, Jane Hough from Winchester, who takes on a major cycling challenge each year to raise money for Christian Aid, recently completed her Grand Tour of Great Britain, celebrating the Queen’s Jubilee. She managed 1,109 miles in just over two weeks and raised £1,105. Two members of our South West team, Charlotte Page and Helen Burgess, are also taking to their bikes as part of the Cathedrals to Coast Sponsored Bike Ride – more details in the Events panel. Christians Together, in Paignton, has been organising a sponsored silence for Christian Aid for the past seven years and the amount raised over that time has averaged around £1,000 a year. This year it decided to focus on a specific project as an example of what the money could achieve. This was the installation of a solar thermal system at a hospital in the Kailahun district of Sierra Leone. This meant that the silence, together with a coffee morning, raised £1,800.

STAFF UPDATE

WE ARE VERY PLEASED that Gill Alexander (pictured left) will soon be returning to the West team following her maternity leave. Gill comes back to work, on a half-time basis, at the end of October as regional coordinator for Somerset. As a result, we are equally pleased that Lydia Nash (pictured above, right) will continue, also on a halftime basis, as regional coordinator for Greater Bristol. Lydia will also continue to be responsible for youth work in the West region. Louise Eldridge has recently joined the West team on our internship scheme as student and youth worker. Louise comes from London and has been studying at Warwick University. She will soon be visiting Christian Aid partners in Zimbabwe and if you would like her to speak to your youth group, please contact the Bristol office. On a more solemn note, we were sorry to hear of the recent death of Cliff Warren after a long illness. Cliff was responsible for the work of Christian Aid in Hampshire for more than 20 years until he retired in 2000. Supporters in the county will hold warm memories of Cliff, and our condolences go to his wife Valerie, family and friends.

THERE WAS A GREAT response when Christian Aid’s Tax Justice Bus toured the south and west at the beginning of September. Supporters and campaigners joined church leaders, MPs and other civic figures to visit the bus when it stopped in their area. They heard our message of tax justice from expert campaigns staff and partners from around the world explained how tax dodging affects their lives and what they are doing to bring about change.

The red London double-decker’s journey began at the Greenbelt festival in Cheltenham on 24 August and after briefly visiting south Wales, it made stops in Bristol, Taunton, Truro, Falmouth, Torquay, Exeter, Honiton, Dorchester, Poole, Salisbury, Southampton, Locks Heath and Portsmouth. You can find photos and stories of the journey on the West and South West regional webpages and Facebook pages (see top of opposite page).

Christian Aid

SEEING RED FOR TAX JUSTICE

South and West team members Anna Potts, right, and Louise Eldridge aboard the Tax Justice Bus

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AROUND WALES

FROM PUDDINGS TO PRAISES

BAGS FOR LIFE

Geraint Rees’ ‘organathon’ raised more than £1,100

Alun Lenny

LAST WINTER’S EDITION of Christian Aid News featured a fundraising evening in west Wales organised by two sixth-form students to raise money for the Christian Aid East Africa Appeal. One of those who supported the evening was Geraint Rees, a keen musician and local chapel organist. Over the years Geraint has taken part in a number of ‘organathons’ to raise money for local charities, and he was so impressed with the efforts of the organisers of ‘Pwdin a Phaned’, that he decided the time was ripe to do another one for Christian Aid. ‘I have supported Christian Aid through the chapel for many years,’ says Geraint, ‘but had never done anything myself to raise money for it. When I saw what these two young girls had achieved, I felt that this was my opportunity to do something myself.’ The organathon took place on Saturday 7 July from 10am-6pm, at Rama Chapel near Carmarthen. Geraint played the organ for eight hours, with a friend stepping in to allow him the occasional comfort break. ‘I played my favourite music and

pieces that I was familiar with, and that I knew people who called in would enjoy. Mostly hymns, but also other popular works,’ he says. ‘I teach a number of local children and young people to sing and had arranged for them to take part as soloists and in groups. I had also invited other people I know to come along and take part during the day, and of course people who came to listen joined in with the hymns and songs they knew. We are fortunate to have a lot of local talent, which added some variety to the programme.’ ‘I think that what impressed me most was the fact that people were coming in throughout the day. Some would stay for one or two items, while others were there for a long time. Indeed, at one time in the afternoon, I counted at least 50 people in the little chapel joining in with some of their favourite hymns!’ With sponsorship signed up beforehand and donations during the day and after the event, the organathon has already raised more than £1,100, which just goes to show how one good idea can spark off others.

CHRISTIAN AID IN WALES is pleased to announce a partnership with Merched y Wawr (the leading Welsh-language organisation for women in Wales) in a project for 2012/13, Beth am Gyfrannu – BAG (Why not contribute a bag). During the year, members of the organisation will contribute and collect bags of all sizes, and for all uses and occasions, for Christian Aid, culminating in a bag fashion show and grand bag sale at the National Eisteddfod in Denbigh in August 2013. In the past, Merched y Wawr has taken part in two similar projects with other charities, collecting bras and shoes, both of which proved to be very successful. Merched y Wawr hopes to persuade some prominent and well-known women in Welsh media, politics and public life to contribute a bag, and will also approach some of its other partner organisations to take part in the project. In addition, it is inviting members of the public to donate a bag. All bags will be stored at the Merched y Wawr headquarters in Aberystwyth, and no bag will go to waste. Any deemed not good enough for the sale will be sold to a bag recycling company. Merched y Wawr president Gill Griffiths said that she is ‘very pleased to be working with Christian Aid’, and that the idea of contributing a bag has already ‘fired the imagination of members’. There are, for example, plans to have a short story competition using the bag theme. She also felt that it was appropriate that ‘the money raised from the sale will go towards some of the many Christian Aid partner projects supporting women in the poorest countries.’ It is hoped that Gill will be able to travel to see some of these projects during the year in order to promote the appeal with Merched y Wawr’s local groups around Wales.

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Marching for Justice This autumn, Christian Aid supporters can join several sponsored walks in solidarity with land rights marchers in India. (See story on page 16). • The Malvern March for Justice on Saturday 6 October will be a 10-mile sponsored walk across the Malvern Hills from Ledbury to Malvern. It will be followed by a celebration service in Malvern Priory. Contact Jill Stone on 0121 200 2283, or email jstone@christian-aid.org • Peterborough’s March for Justice on the same day will kick off with a circular route around the city, bringing together different faith groups. We finish at about 4pm, at St John’s Church in Cathedral Square, where there will be refreshments and children’s activities, followed by a service at 5pm. For more information, contact the East of England office on 01733 345755 or email eastengland@christian-aid.org • In Bury St Edmunds on Saturday 6 October, we start at 10.30am with a service in Bury Cathedral, followed by a footprint trail around the building. At 12 noon there will be a picnic in Nowton Park, and a sponsored walk around the edge of the park. • In Norwich we will be walking on Saturday 29 September. We will pray at six churches along the way, starting at St Thomas’, Earlham Road, and finishing with evening prayers at the Anglican Cathedral at 3.30pm. For more information about the Norwich and Bury St Edmunds walks, call the East of England office in Norwich, on 01603 620051, or email eastengland@christian-aid.org

EVENTS IN CENTRAL ENGLAND East Midlands Friday 28 September Good Will Supper 7pm for 7.30pm, Edward King Room, Lincoln Diocesan Offices, The Old Palace, Minster Yard, Lincoln LN2 1PU. Tickets are £15 and include meal and entertainment. For details, please contact the East Midlands office on 01509 265013, or email eastmidlands@christian-aid.org Saturday 29 September Quiz supper 7pm, Storrs Road Methodist Church, Chesterfield S40 3PY. Quiz plus bring and share supper. Donations to Christian Aid. Sunday 30 September Loughborough Simple Sunday Lunch 12.30pm, All Saints’ Church, Thorpe Acre Road, Loughborough LE11 4LF. Saturday 6 October Book sale 10am-12 noon, The Civic Hall, Dronfield S18 1PD. Giant paperback book sale for Christian Aid. Also includes CDs, tapes, DVDs, bric-a-brac, cake stall, Traidcraft goods, Christmas cards, food and refreshments. Wednesday 10 October 5th Annual Christian Aid Quiz and Supper Evening 7.15pm for 7.30pm start, The Rothley Centre, LE7 7PR. 100 questions plus a ploughman’s supper. Teams of up to four people. Suggested donation from £5 per person. Book places in advance (from September) with Albert on 0116 230 3500 or Helen on 0116 230 4634. SATURday 27 October Once and For All 6pm for 6.45pm start, The Grand Hall, St Martin’s House. Complimentary drink (at 6pm), dinner, presentation and auction. Tickets are £20. To book, email eastmidlands@christianaid.org or ring 01509 265013. Sunday 28 October Loughborough Simple Sunday Lunch 12.30pm, The Good Shepherd, Loughborough. Sunday 25 November Loughborough Simple Sunday Lunch 12.30pm, Trinity Methodist, Royland Road, Loughborough LE11 2EH.

Sunday 23 December Loughborough Simple Sunday Lunch 12.30pm, Baptist Church, Baxter Gate, Loughborough. West Midlands Friday 14 September Once and For All 7pm, Carrs Lane Church (URC), Birmingham B4 7SX. A thank you event with Nader Abu Amsha (from the YMCA in Beit Sahour, Bethlehem). A dynamic presentation of stories, music and images from around the globe. Be inspired, challenged and thanked by a glimpse of what your fundraising helps achieve. For further information, please email birmingham@christianaid.org or ring 0121 200 2293. Saturday 15 September Event for the Nuneaton churches 7:30pm, St Paul’s Stockingford, 94 Church Rd, Nuneaton CV10 8LG. Christian Aid Middle East church partnership scheme. Headline speaker is Nader Abu Amsha, director of the rehabilitation programme at Christian Aid partner the YMCA in Bethlehem, which works with young people with disabilities in the West Bank. For details, contact Anne Vincent on 024 7635 0737, or email pannevincent@ googlemail.com SATURDAY 6 OCTOBER Malvern March For Justice Solidarity Walk. See panel, left. Saturday 13 October Care for Creation – A Celebration 10.30am-12 noon, 2-4pm, Lichfield Cathedral, Lichfield, WS13 7LD. Come to all or some of a special day to celebrate our role in working for climate justice by caring for creation. A morning’s Messy Church to celebrate ‘what a wonderful world’ followed by a picnic. The afternoon session will have two distinguished speakers, Professor Tim Gorringe (University of Exeter) and Isabel Carter (Operation Noah). Sunday morning worship at the Cathedral, the following day, will include liturgy available for use around the diocese. For more information on this exciting day contact Ruth Brooker (Mon and Weds). Email: tc@lichfield.anglican.org or tel: 01922 707864.

FRIDAY 19 OCTOBER Once and For All – a thank you event 7.30pm St Philips Church, Church Road, Bradmore, Wolverhampton WV3 7EJ. A multimedia presentation of stories, music and images (with buffet supper). For details, contact the Birmingham office on 0121 200 2283 or email birmingham@christian-aid.org 1-30 November Will Aid Will Aid presents an ideal opportunity for you to put your affairs in order while helping to raise money for the nine Will Aid charities, including Christian Aid. To find out more, please visit willaid.org.uk or contact your legacy and regional coordinator, Pete Kelsall at 0121 200 2283 or pkelsall@christian-aid.org. Sunday 2 December On the Road to Bethlehem – Nuneaton’s Big Christmas Sing 6.30pm, St John’s Methodist Church, Nuneaton. Celebrate the approach of Christmas with choirs, musicians, a short puppet presentation for the youngsters and favorite carols. For more information, call Anne Vincent on 024 7635 0737 or email pannevincent@gmail.com Friday 7 December Christmas Concert 7pm, Small Heath Baptist Church, 14 Jenkins Street, Birmingham B10 0QH. The 4th annual Young Strings Project Christmas Concert to raise funds for Christian Aid. For details contact Dave on 0121 200 2283 or see christianaid.org. uk/westmidlands 6 January 2013 Birmingham Sponsored Swim 10am-6pm, University of Birmingham. Join this fantastic event in its 2nd year and take the plunge to end poverty. Last January swimmers from seven to 76 raised more than £1,500. For more information visit christianaid.org.uk/swim East of England Saturday 29 September March for Justice See panel, left. Saturday 6 October March for Justice See panel, left.

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Days 47-49 Yorkshire

EVENTS IN NORTH ENGLAND

Tuesday 9 October Northallerton, Ripon, York, Hull Wednesday 10 October Doncaster, Rotherham, Barnsley, Sheffield Thursday 11 October Morely, Huddersfield, Halifax, Bradford, Leeds

SATURDAY 15 SEPTEMBER Day 32 West Midlands Christian Aid Coffee Morning Monday 24 September 9 Stafford, Stoke-on-Trent, Shrewsbury 10am-12 noon, Hornsea Parish Hall, Hornsea. Days 30-31 East Midlands Saturday 22 September All welcome. Leicester, Nottingham Sunday 23 September Calver, Buxton, Ashbourne

FRIDAY 21 SEPTEMBER Quizaid Days 28-29 Oxford Neston Area Thursday 20 September 7:30pm, Parkgate & Neston Bedford, Stevenage, St Albans Friday 21 September 7 Reformed Church, Oxford, Witney, Reading United Parkgate Road, Neston. Days 26-27 East of England Tickets cost £7.50 and include a Tuesday 18 September Ipswich, Bury, Cambridge fish-and-chips supper. Wednesday 19 September 6 Peterborough, Norwich

SATURDAY 22 SEPTEMBER, SATURDAY 6 OCTOBER March for Justice Various venues A series of solidarity walks are being held in support of 100,000 dalit and landless people in 5 India, who are marching for land rights. Walks range from a short SCOTLAND (1-5 October) stroll to a day’s hike. Contact: Diane Green, 0141 241 6136, Saturday 22 September – Rydal dgreen@christian-aid.org Hall Cafe, Cumbria, from 9:30am. NORTH WEST (6 October; 12-15 October) Contact: David Hardman, 01925 582820, Saturday 6 October – Ripon dhardman@christian-aid.org Cathedral, 10am. NORTH EAST (7-8 October) Contact: Judith Sadler, 0191 228 0115, Saturday 6 October – Bede’s Way jsadler@christian-aid.org Sponsored Walk. YORKSHIRE (9-11 October) For information and to Contact: Lindsey Pearson, 0113 244 more 4764, lpearson@christian-aid.org register, contact your regional christianaid.org.uk/tax-bus office or visit: christianaid.org.uk/ marchforjustice-uk

Days 17-25 London and South East

FRIDAY 14 SEPTEMBER Days 50-53 North West Bucket collection Friday 12 October York Railway Station Marple, Knutsford, Crewe Saturday 13 October Bury, Bolton, Wigan, Chester Any offers of help gratefully Sunday 14 October Lancaster, Garstang, Preston received Monday 15 October 17 Liverpool, Warrington, Manchester Contact christianaidyork@ googlemail.com

8/10/12 5:00 PM

MONDAY 24 SEPTEMBER Volunteer training day 10.30am-3pm, Bank Quay House, Sankey Street, Warrington WA1 1NN. For speakers and teachers, a day of inspiration looking towards Christmas. To book your place, contact the Warrington office on 01925 573 769. FRIDAY 28 SEPTEMBER Poverty Over Youth Event 7-9.30pm, Durham Cathedral. An evening of free workshops, debate and worship for young people from Year 7 upwards. For information and booking, please contact Caroline Johnson on education@durhamcathedral. co.uk or 0191 374 4070. SATURDAY 29 SEPTEMBER British Legion Band Concert 7.30pm, St Mary’s Church, Thirsk. Contact Paul Rathbone paul2rathbone@btinternet.com

SATURDAY 29 SEPTEMBER Volunteer training day 10.30am-3pm, Sandylands Methodist Church, Sandgate, Kendal LA9 6EU. For speakers and teachers, a day of inspiration looking towards Christmas. To book your place, please contact the Warrington office on 01925 573 769.

THURSDAY 11 OCTOBER Fashion show 7-9pm, M&Co, Prince Street, Bridlington. Tickets £5, to include a glass of wine/soft drink and nibbles, available from the store. For more details, contact Janet Padwick, janet@padwickbrid. orangehome.co.uk

SATURDAY 29 SEPTEMBER – MONDAY 15 OCTOBER, Poverty Over Exhibition Ripon Cathedral. Please contact the Yorkshire office for more information.

SATURDAY 13 OCTOBER Harrogate Band Concert 7.30pm, Holy Trinity Church, Ripon. Tickets £6 adults, £4 children. Optional candlelit meal (£10) at 6.30pm. For more information or to book, contact Michael Montgomery on 01765 605276 or email littlethorpe@btinternet.com

SUNDAY 30 SEPTEMBER Guisborough Boundary Walk Join Guisborough Christian Aid Group on sponsored walks around the parish boundary – several walks available between 2.5 and 22 miles! For more information contact alwyn.jones3@ntlworld.com WEDNESDAY 3 OCTOBER Christian Aid Coffee Morning 10.30am-12 noon, Palm Court Hotel, St Nicholas Cliff, Scarborough. All welcome. More information contact David Bridge on 01723 362091 or davidgarnerbridge@googlemail. com FRIDAY 5 OCTOBER, THURSDAY 8 NOVEMBER Once and For All A dynamic new presentation that unveils Christian Aid’s transforming work in developing countries and our vision of Poverty Over. For more information, contact the Warrington office on 01925 573 769. Friday 5 October – 7pm, Formby. Thursday 8 November – 7.30pm, Murdishaw Church, The Ridgeway, Murdishaw, Runcorn WA7 6ER. SATURDAY 6 OCTOBER Leeds Street Collection Contact the Leeds office to offer your help. WEDNESDAY 10 OCTOBER Volunteer training event 10.30am-3pm, Christian Aid North East Office, 42-44 Mosley Street, Newcastle. For volunteers and people interested in volunteering. Please register interest with Sarah Moon on smoon@ christian-aid.org

FRIDAY 9 NOVEMBER Sing for your Supper 7.30pm, Holy Cross Church, Timperley. For more information, contact Doris Robinson on 0161 973 2882. SATURDAY 17 NOVEMBER Christian Aid Coffee Morning 8.30am-12 noon, Town Hall, Market Place, Richmond. Cake stall, tombola, Christmas stall. All welcome. TUESDAY 27 NOVEMBER Cathedral celebration 7pm, Carlisle Cathedral. Join the Carlisle Transition Choir to celebrate the end of ‘Home for Haiti’ project. For more information, contact Beck Hurst on 01925 582 829.

WEDNESDAY 17 OCTOBER Fundraising Day St Crux, York. Including refreshments, bric-abrac, books. Any offers of help gratefully received. Contact christianaidyork@ googlemail.com

SUNDAY 2 DECEMBER Santa Dash 9am, Pier Head, Liverpool. Join 8,000 Santas in a 5K run through Liverpool City Centre. For more information contact Karen on 01925 582 825 or text Santa to 07414 829 744.

SUNDAY 21 OCTOBER Bungee off the Bridge! Transporter Bridge, Middlesbrough. Fancy trying an adrenalin-filled bungee jump to raise money for Christian Aid? For more information, please contact events@christian-aid.org or 0207 523 2127.

SUNDAY 2 DECEMBER Advent Hope Service 7pm, Methodist Church, Wesley Avenue, Sandbach. For more information contact the Warrington office.

FRIDAY 26 OCTOBER – SATURDAY 27 OCTOBER Sanctuary Youth Event 7.30pm-7am, Blackburn Cathedral. An all-night event for young people, including workshops, drama, arts and inflatables! FRIDAY 2 NOVEMBER Haiti Evening 7:30pm, Tithe Barn, Carlisle. The evening includes a Caribbean buffet, live music and a talk from the Bishop of Carlisle. Tickets cost £7.50. For more information, contact the Carlisle Tourist Information Centre or phone 01697 473556. SATURDAY 3 NOVEMBER Peace & Justice in the Holy Land 10am-4pm, St Joseph’s Parish Centre, Gateshead. £6 (£3 concession) See story, left. For more information or to book, please contact the Newcastle office on newcastle@christianaid.org or 0191 228 0115.

SATURDAY 8 DECEMBER Sheffield Carol Sing 10.30am-4.30pm, Sheffield City Centre. Collectors and singers needed. For details, contact Sara Millard on 0114 2864427 or cello67@ hotmail.com SATURDAY 22 DECEMBER Carol singing/Big Christmas Sing 11am-12noon, Thirsk Market Place. Contact Paul Rathbone at paul2rathbone@btinternet.com MONDAY 24 DECEMBER Carol singing and bucket collection York Railway Station. Musicians, singers and collectors wanted. Please contact christianaidyork@ googlemail.com SATURDAY 26 JANUARY 2013 Christian Aid Quiet Day 10.30am-3pm, St Antony’s Priory, Durham. With Kathy Galloway, director of Christian Aid Scotland. Please register interest with Sarah Moon on smoon@christian-aid. org or 0191 464 4782.

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More poetry, less poverty

KERYN BANKS, from the Scotland team, will be heading off to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory to volunteer with the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI). EAPPI is a World Council of Churches programme run by Quaker Peace and Social Witness on behalf of churches in Britain and Ireland. It sends volunteers to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory to monitor human rights violations, witness the suffering of ordinary Palestinians and tell their stories when they return home. Christian Aid has been partnering with the Quakers to run this programme since 2002. Keryn, who will be in the field from September to December, will be blogging to share some of her experiences while she is there. Her blog will be on the Christian Aid Scotland website during this time – please check christianaid.org.uk/scotland for updates. On her return, in 2013, Keryn will be available to come and speak to your church or community group. Please get in touch with the Glasgow office on 0141 221 7475 or email Keryn directly on kbanks@christian-aid.org

Bring Burns Night to your church, workplace, school or local community next January by taking part in Christian Aid’s Burns Supper! You can order a free fundraising pack that contains all you need to help you organise a Burns Supper, including recipes, poems and new ideas on how to make your Burns Supper one for all to enjoy. You don’t have to do a full traditional Burns Supper. Instead, why not have a soup-andsandwich lunch with cock-a-leekie soup and haggis sandwiches? Order the free fundraising pack to give you some inspiration and get in touch with us at Christian Aid for lots more ideas. Join us all in saying NO to poverty and YES to poetry. See christianaid.org.uk/burnssupper

CALLING ALL MUSICIANS ARE YOU MUSICALLY talented and do you enjoy performing the work of Johann Sebastian Bach? If so, we need you for our Bach 2 Bach Marathon on Saturday 4 May 2013 at St Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh. From 9am-12 midnight the Bach Marathon will host up to 30 unique performances of Bach and we are looking for volunteers to book a slot to perform a Bach classic of their choice, in their own way, either solo or as part of a group. For more information contact Amy Menzies at amenzies@christian-aid.org or go to christianaid.org.uk/bach2bach

SHORN-AGAIN CHRISTIAN The long…

and the short!

We’d like to say a special thanks to the Rev Ranald Gauld, from Keith, who recently raised nearly £1,200 by having a sponsored haircut for Christian Aid

Marching for justice in Inverness In October 2011 Christian Aid partner Ekta Parishad began a year-long series of land rights rallies and marches to mobilise marginalised dalit and tribal people from across India to take part in a month-long march to lobby the government in October 2012. (See page 16.) This autumn Christian Aid Scotland is marching in solidarity with those in India. Access and rights to land are vital for rural communities to support themselves and their families, and could potentially lift hundreds of millions of Indians out of extreme poverty. This year, to coincide with Ekta Parishad’s main 100,000-strong march from Gwalior to Delhi, Christian Aid has been organising March for Justice walks across Britain. In Scotland we’ll be holding an event in Inverness on Saturday 6 October, which will take participants on a tour of the city churches, with exhibitions about our work on land rights in India and around the world. Gathering support for the march in India

Christian Aid/Simon Williams

Jen Clark

Keryn’s mission

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Regional news and events in London, Essex, Surrey, Kent and Sussex

X JUSTICE BUS

WELCOME TO THE TEAM HELLO TO OUR NEW student and youth interns – geography graduates David (who supports Exeter and loves kayaking) and Lisa (a selfprofessed adrenalin junkie who also likes movies and ice cream). And we are also welcoming Miriam, who will be working nationally to support young people from United Reformed Churches. During their 10 months with us, the interns will visit our partners overseas (probably in Zimbabwe) and then work

to get students and young adults in our region to join in the fight against poverty! This can be through Bible studies, debates, campaign stunts, films, creative ideas, such as the disgusting Flying Toilet challenge, or sponsored abseils off church towers! So email LSE@christian-aid.org to invite them to pay your church youth group a visit. And while you are at it, check out our new website for young people: christianaidcollective.org We love it and we are sure you will too!

Hannah Peterson

A ‘WHEEL’ CHALLENGE

London and South East region interns, Chris Bright, Miriam Webb, Lisa Douglas, rear, Joanna Callender, and David Millar aboard the Tax Justice Bus

Hannah will always have Paris

on 18 July, Christian aid’s London regional coordinator, Hannah Griffiths, and 32 other Christian aid supporters set off on a mammoth four-day,

312-mile bike ride from London to Paris. The route took them through the poignant Somme area and, eventually, to the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Hannah says that although challenging, it was an incredible experience, topped off with the chance to see Bradley Wiggins winning the Tour de France! As a group, the cyclists have raised a fantastic £60,000 for Christian Aid’s work with the world’s poorest communities. If you’re looking for an exhilarating challenge, why not join Team Poverty on one of our sponsored bike rides, treks or runs? To find out more, visit christianaid.org.uk/events

EVENTS For more information about any of the events below, please contact the London and South East office on 020 7523 2105 or email LSE@christian-aid.org. You can also visit our regional web pages (see top of page). SATURDAY 29 SEPTEMBER Richmond Park March for Justice Sponsored Walk This harvest, Christian Aid supporters will be raising money for the world’s poorest communities by taking part in the Richmond Park Sponsored Walk. We will also be walking in solidarity with 100,000 people in India who are marching for land rights this October (See page 16). The walk is family-friendly and open to all. Take part in a three-

or six-mile walk. • Registration: 10am at the Cambrian Centre, Cambrian Road, Richmond TW10 6SN. • Walk start time: 10.30am. WEDNESDAY 17 OCTOBER Poverty Over Exhibition Launch event, 5.15pm for 6pm, Chelmsford Cathedral. A sculpture and photographic exhibition challenging our responses to those living in poverty and highlighting our work around the world to end injustice. The exhibition will be on display until 26 October. FRIDAY 26 OCTOBER-TUESDAY 13 NovembeR Poverty Over Exhibition Rochester Cathedral.

ThuRsday 1 NovembeR Campaigns evening 5.30-9pm, 35 Lower marsh, London SE1 7RL. Learn more about tax justice, be inspired by our partners and get equipped to take action in your church and community. TUESDAY 4 DECEMBER Advent Hope, Carols by Candlelight 7.30pm, Lancing College Chapel, near Worthing. A special candlelit service with music from Worthing Choral Society. Tickets free but on a firstcome, first-served basis. SATURDAY 8 DECEMBER Hope in this Holy Land: an Advent Retreat

1-5pm, King’s College Chapel, Strand, London WC2R 2LS. An afternoon of stories, prayer and reflection exploring Christian Aid’s peace and reconciliation work in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. ThuRsday 31 JaNuaRy Annual supporters’ evening 2-4.30pm or 6-8.30pm, InterChurch house, 35-41 Lower Marsh, London SE1 7RL. A great opportunity to find out more about 2013’s Christian Aid Week materials, to meet other volunteers and to hear about a very important year for campaigning. As with last year, we are running the session twice, once in the afternoon and once in the evening.

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Loretta picnics with supporters

Stephen Dominey

Loretta Minghella addresses supporters in Winchester

CHRISTIAN AID DIRECTOR Loretta Minghella joined a celebration picnic to launch the Poverty Over exhibition at Winchester Cathedral in June. The sun shone and the band played as Christian Aid supporters from across Hampshire joined Loretta in the Dean of Winchester’s garden. The picnic followed a Christian Aid-themed service

at the Cathedral, at which Loretta preached. In her sermon, Loretta shared the moving story of her own journey with Christian Aid. and her own experiences of rediscovering her faith. Loretta also talked about her visit to partner organisations in Sierra Leone, this year’s focus country for Christian Aid Week. At the garden party,

Loretta paid tribute to the dedication of local Christian Aid supporters and their commitment to our work to eradicate extreme poverty. The picnic’s party atmosphere was enhanced by Portchester Community School’s Panjazz International steel band, which played at the invitation of the Very Rev James Atwell and his wife, Lorna. Christian Aid’s Poverty Over Cathedral Exhibition, with its stunning sculpture centrepiece, Eye of Poverty, has also visited Salisbury Cathedral and will come to other cathedrals in the region over the coming year. Loretta will be also be at the West team’s annual supporter event at Manvers Street Baptist Church, Bath, on 26 March 2013.

YOUR LOCAL OFFICE BRISTOL OFFICE (Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wiltshire) 57 High Street Thornbury Bristol BS35 2AP 01454 415 923 west@christian-aid.org facebook.com/ ChristianAidWest EXMOUTH OFFICE (Cornwall, Devon) 35a The Parade Exmouth Devon EX8 1RH 01395 222 304 southwest@christian-aid.org SOUTHAMPTON OFFICE (Channel Isles, Dorset, Hampshire, Isle of Wight) Isaac Watts Church Winchester Road Southampton SO16 6TS 023 8070 6969 southwest@christian-aid.org

EVENTS IN THE SOUTH AND WEST SATURDAY 22 – SUNDAY 23 SEPTEMBER Cathedrals to Coast Sponsored Bike Ride Starting at Esher Common and taking in Guildford, Winchester and Salisbury cathedrals, Mottisfont Abbey and the New Forest, before reaching the Jurassic Coast at Christchurch and finishing in Weymouth. Contact Helen Burgess on 01395 222308 or email hburgess@christian-aid.org SATURDAY 22 SEPTEMBER Weymouth Bridge Afternoon 1.45pm for 2pm, St Andrew’s Church Rooms, Church Road, Preston, Weymouth. An afternoon of bridge with tea, cost £6.50 per person. Contact Julia Moore on 01305 776138. SATURDAY 6 OCTOBER March for Justice – Severn Vale Sponsored Walk A 12-mile walk in solidarity with dalits and tribal people who are marching for land rights in India. The route is from Frampton-onSevern to Gloucester Cathedral through beautiful countryside along the Severn Way and

Gloucester and Sharpness Canal. Register at christianaid.org.uk/ walks or call 01454 415 923. SATURDAY 6 OCTOBER Yate Sponsored Swim 6-7pm, Yate Leisure Centre, Kennedy Way, Yate. A sponsored swim for Christian Aid using both pools so all ages and abilities can take part. Contact Gus Smith at gus. smith@o2.co.uk SATURDAY 6 OCTOBER Purton Christian Aid Concert 7pm, Bradon Forest School, The Peak, Purton. Concert featuring the Wessex Male Choir, the Jubilate Choir and a guest women’s choir from London. Contact Anna Potts on 01454 415923 or email apotts@ christian-aid.org SUNDAY 7 OCTOBER Once and for All 6.30pm, Teignmouth Methodist Church, Somerset Place, Teignmouth. Find details of this multi-media event at christianaid.org.uk/ churches Contact Exmouth office on 01395

222308 or email exmouth@ christian-aid.org SATURDAY 13 OCTOBER Make Your Money Count Conference 9.30am-3.30pm, Council House, College Green, Bristol. Christian Aid joins with other agencies to bring you an array of expert speakers at this conference on ethical finance. Cost £15 (£10 concessions). Contact Lydia Nash on 01454 415923 or email lnash@christian-aid.org SATURDAY 13 OCTOBER Wimborne March for Justice A short walk around Wimborne in solidarity with dalits and tribal people who are marching for land rights in India. The walk starts and finishes at St Catherine’s Church and stops for short reflections at various town centre churches. Contact Southampton office on 023 8070 6969 or email southwest@christian-aid.org FRIDAY 19 OCTOBER Once and For All 7.30pm, Cullompton Community Centre, Pye Corner, Cullompton.

Find details of this multi-media presentation and event at christianaid.org.uk/churches. Contact Exmouth office, as before SATURDAY 3 NOVEMBER Isle of Wight Sponsored Abseil Find out more about our sponsored abseils at christianaid.org.uk/events Contact Helen Burgess, as before. SATURDAY 1 DECEMBER World AIDS Day Abseil and Reflective Service Plymouth. Find out more about our sponsored abseils at christianaid.org.uk/events Contact Helen Burgess, as before. FRIDAY 7 DECEMBER Truro Big Christmas Sing 7.30pm, Truro Cathedral, Pydar Street, Truro. Find details of our Big Christmas Sings at christianaid.org.uk/ events Contact Exmouth office, as before.

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TAX JUSTICE TOUR 24 August – 15 October 2012 Days 39-43 Scotland

Day 44 North West

Monday 1 October Borders Tuesday 2 October Glasgow Wednesday 3 October Edinburgh Thursday 4 October St Andrews Friday 5 October Inverness

Saturday 6 October Carlisle, Hexham

Days 45-46 North East

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH WHAT’S HAPPENING ACROSS WALES: LOG ON TO christianaid.org.uk/wales 13

Sunday 7 October Newcastle upon Tyne, Durham Monday 8 October Gateshead, Sunderland, Redcar

Days 47-49 Yorkshire Tuesday 9 October Northallerton, Ripon, York, Hull Wednesday 10 October Doncaster, Rotherham, Barnsley, Sheffield Thursday 11 October Morely, Huddersfield, Halifax, Bradford, Leeds

Days 50-53 North West

Friday 12 October Marple, Knutsford, Crewe Saturday 13 October Bury, Bolton, Wigan, Chester Sunday 14 October Lancaster, Garstang, Preston Monday 15 October Liverpool, Warrington, Manchester

Days 37-38 Northern Ireland

EVENTS IN WALES DIGWYDDIADAU YNG NGHYMRU Saturday 29 – Sunday 30 September Belfast

Days 35-36 Republic of Ireland

SATURDAY 29 SEPTEMBER Day conference for youth workers 10am-4.30pm, Hope Community Church, Newtown, Powys. SATURDAY 6 OCTOBER Diwrnod i’r Brenin 10.30am-4pm, Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells. A day of celebration and faithbuilding for the churches of the Union of Welsh Independents and the Baptist Union of Wales. Worship, workshops, speakers, music, various stalls, activities for children and young people and a Christian Aid presence. Full details available on annibynwyr.org and buw.org.uk SADWRN 6 HYDREF Diwrnod i’r Brenin 10.30am-4pm, Maes y Sioe, Llanelwedd. Diwrnod o ddathlu a dysgu i eglwysi Undeb yr Annibynwyr Cymraeg ac Undeb Bedyddwyr Cymru. Addoliad, gweithdai, siaradwyr, cerddoriaeth, stondinau, gweithgareddau i blant ac ieuenctid. Bydd staff Cymorth Cristnogol yno gyda’r adnoddau diweddaraf. Manylion pellach ar gael yn www.annibynwyr.org a buw. org.uk SATURDAY 6 OCTOBER Bangor Diocesan Conference Coleg Meirion Dwyfor, Dolgellau.

Christian Aid stall with all the latest resources. Full details from the Bangor office on 01248 353574 or bangor@christian-aid.org SATURDAY 6 OCTOBER St Asaph Diocesan Conference Llangollen Eisteddfod Pavilion, Llangollen. Guest speaker: David Pain, associate director of Christian Aid. Christian Aid stall with all the latest resources. Details from the Bangor office, as above. GWENER 12 – SUL 14 HYDREF Carreg wrth Garreg Coleg Trefeca, Talgarth, Powys. Penwythnos blynyddol Eglwys Bresbyteraidd Cymru, sy’n gyfle i glywed am waith partneriaid Cymorth Cristnogol ar draws y byd. Manylion pellach gan Catrin Roberts ar 01269 871871 neu catrinrob@btinternet.com FRIDAY 12 OCTOBER – SUNDAY 14 OCTOBER Stone by Stone Trefeca College, Talgarth, Powys. Organised by The Presbyterian Church of Wales, this popular weekend conference is an opportunity to learn about the work of Christian Aid partners around the world. For further details and registration contact Catrin Roberts on 01269 871871 or catrinrob@btinternet.com

Thursday 27 September Dublin Friday 28 September Limerick

11 SUNDAY 18 NOVEMBER Christian Aid Service Days 33-34 North Wales 6pm, Arrarat Church, Whitchurch, Cardiff. 10 Organised by the Amicus youth group. Theme: tax justice and conflict minerals in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Guest speaker: Days Jeff 1-4 Williams, Greenbelt Festival head of Christian Aid Wales. Tuesday 25 September Wrexham, Llandudno Wednesday 26 September Bangor, Holyhead

John Rowlands

John trains for his walk

Day 32 West Midlands Monday 24 September Stafford, Stoke-on-Trent, Shrewsbury

Days 30-31 East Midlands 11

FINISHES HERE

Saturday 22 September Leicester, Nottingham Sunday 23 September Calver, Buxton, Ashbourne

Thursday 20 September Bedford, Stevenage, St Albans Friday 21 September Oxford, Witney, Reading

Friday 24 August – Monday 27 August Greenbelt Festival, Cheltenham

STARTS AT GREENBELT

Tuesday 18 September Ipswich, Bury, Cambridge Wednesday 19 September Peterborough, Norwich

Wednesday 29 August Birmingham, Evesham, Sutton Coldfield Thursday 30 August Wolverhampton, Worcester, Lichfield

EICH SWYDDFA LEOL – YOUR LOCAL OFFICE Friday 31 August Cardiff Saturday 1 September Carmarthen, Swansea, Neath Sunday 2 September Newport, Chepstow

Monday 3 September Bristol, Taunton Tuesday 4 September Taunton

Wednesday 5 September Truro, Falmouth Thursday 6 September Torbay, Exeter, Honiton Friday 7 September Dorchester, Poole, Salisbury Saturday 8 September Southampton, Locks Heath, Portsmouth

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If you would like to sponsor John, contact the Cardiff office for details or visit justgiving.com/ johnmrowlands. • Young people from Salem Canton Chapel in Cardiff got together recently to boost the appeal, by cycling the distance between Guatemala’s east and west coasts – some 450km – using exercise bikes. Without moving from the vestry, they had completed their task by midnight! More than £700 in sponsorship has been raised. This is one of several events the church is holding for this worthy appeal.

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11.15am-12.15pm, St Mary’s Church, Holyhead. Discuss tax justice with your MP/AM and Ricardo Quezeda, from Guatemala. Contact Anna Jane Evans on 01248 353574 for further details of times and locations. Below: Wales team members Anna Jane Evans and Mari McNeil with the Tax Justice Bus

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Christian Aid

JOHN ROWLANDS, who took part in Christian Aid’s 2007 Cut the Carbon march, recently dusted off his walking boots to support us once more. John, who is an elder with the Presbyterian Church of Wales, decided to raise money for the ¡Viva Guatemala! Denominational Appeal for our work in Guatemala. What could be

TUESDAY 25 8 8 10 SEPTEMBER 9 Days 28-29 Oxford Area 8.30-9.30am,6 1 Glyndwr 7 2 University, 7 Wrexham.5 Days 26-27 East of England Days 6-7 West Midlands 3 Breakfast briefing for church 6 leaders, with Ricardo Quezeda, 1 from4Guatemala, a senior Days 17-25 London and South East Days 8-10 South Wales research economist for ICEFI, the Central American Institute Days 13-16 South West 2 of Fiscal Studies. 9.30-10.45am Days 11-12 West England BANGOR (gogledd Cymru/ Arrange to meet your MP or north Wales) 4 5 3 AM on the bus to discuss tax 106 Stryd Fawr, Bangor, justice, in the company of Gwynedd WEST MIDLANDS (29-30 August; 24 September)Ricardo Quezeda. EAST OF ENGLAND (18-19 September) SCOTLAND (1-5 October) John Cooper, 0121 200 2283, Contact: Julian Bryant, 01603 620051/ Contact: Diane Green, 0141 241 6136, LL57 1NS Contact: jcooper@christian-aid.org 0752 820 6865, jbryant@christian-aid.org dgreen@christian-aid.org Tel/Ffôn: 01248 353574 11am-1pm, Yale College, SOUTH WALES (31 August – 2 September) OXFORD AREA (20-21 September) NORTH WEST (6 October; 12-15 October) Contact: Mari McNeill, 029 2084 4646, Contact: Jessica Hall, 01865 246818, Contact: David Hardman, 01925 582820, bangor@christian-aid.org Wrexham. mmcneil@christian-aid.org jhall@christian-aid.org dhardman@christian-aid.org WEST OF ENGLAND (3-4 September) EAST MIDLANDS (22-23 September) Discuss tax justice, with your NORTH EAST (7-8 October) Contact: Lydia Nash, 01454 415923, Contact: Judi Perry, 01509 265013, Judith Sadler, 0191 228 0115, lnash@christian-aid.org eastmidlands@christian-aid.org CAERFYRDDIN/CARMARTHEN MP/AM and Ricardo Quezeda. Contact: jsadler@christian-aid.org SOUTH WEST ENGLAND (5-8 September) NORTH WALES (25-26 September) (de orllewin a’r canolbarth/ Contact: 01395 222304 or 023 8070 6969 or Contact: Anna Jane Evans, 01248 353574, YORKSHIRE (9-11 October) southwest@christian-aid.org aevans@cymorth-cristnogol.org Lindsey Pearson, 0113 244 4764, south west and mid Wales) 4-6.30pm, Gloddaeth United Contact: lpearson@christian-aid.org LONDON AND THE SOUTH EAST (9-17 September) IRELAND (27-30 September) Kate Parr, 020 7523 2376, Contact: David Thomas, 028Street, 9064 8133, 75 Heol Dwr,Contact: Caerfyrddin/ Church, Gloddaeth christianaid.org.uk/tax-bus kparr@christian-aid.org dthomas@christian-aid.org Carmarthen Llandudno. SA31 1PY Arrange to meet your MP/ Tel/Ffôn: 01267 237257 AM on the bus to discuss tax carmarthen@christian-aid.org justice, with Ricardo Quezeda. 7pm, Gloddaeth United CAERDYDD/CARDIFF Church. (Cenedlaethol/National office) A public meeting with 5 Station Road, Radyr, speakers Ricardo Quezeda, Caerdydd/Cardiff and a representative from CF15 8AA Church Action on Poverty. Tel/Ffôn: 029 2084 4646 cardiff@christian-aid.org WEDNESDAY 26 SEPTEMBER 9-10am, Bangor Town Clock. Discuss tax justice with your MP/AM and Ricardo Quezeda.

JOHN’S OFFA AGAIN FOR ¡VIVA GUATEMALA! more fitting than another walk? This time he only had to cover the 177 miles of Offa’s Dyke over 14 days – a mere stroll compared to the 1,000 miles he walked in 80 days back in 2007, but just as important for John. ‘The need is great in Guatemala, with more than half the children under five suffering from acute malnutrition,’ he says. John, a keen walker, began his trek on 6 September in Chepstow and has been holding services in Presbyterian churches along the way. He hopes to reach Prestatyn on 19 September.

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INPUT

Inspired? Enraged? Send your views to: The Editor, Christian Aid News, 35 Lower Marsh, London SE1 7RL or email canews@christian-aid.org DEVELOPMENT: THE BEST CONTRACEPTIVE? Thank you for the fact that you have permitted, even encouraged, discussion of population growth in your letters column. Other organisations are not so accommodating. It is heartening too that the large majority of your correspondents on this subject express concern about population growth. However I have one or two minor gripes about Ray Hasan’s Comment column (Input, Issue 56). He remarks that poor people often make very rational choices to have many children: quite so, but noone can be said to have exercised choice in the absence of the knowledge or means to make a different choice. Indeed he seems to make that point himself in the paragraph mentioning the 215 million women who have no access to family planning, and he could at that point have made reference to the 42 million women who seek abortions annually, of which some 20 million are unsafe, with a large number of deaths or permanent disabilities resulting: these abortions speak loudly of the absence of proper family planning. Similarly, he scarcely needed to reject the notions about ‘the poor’, and ‘population control’ being a universal panacea. Noone thinks like that any more: nor do they advocate ‘coercion or imposition from outside’. Roger Plenty, Stroud On reading the letters on Population and Fertility (Input, Issue 56) I was moved by Elizabeth James’ comments about the powerlessness of many women, and the links between educated girls and small family size. Yes, education of girls empowers them, giving them choices and sometimes enabling them to break away from their family’s lifestyle, and seek well-paid work. There is an old saying that ‘development is the best contraceptive’.

In many developed countries the fertility rate is very low, sometimes below ‘replacement level’. In the developing world, where there is no social security or pensions and limited healthcare, children provide security for their parents in old age. They can also help the family unit by doing chores and they often work from a very young age to help the family budget. Such families are unlikely to reduce their birth rate until they feel confident that their children will survive into adulthood. Margaret Coombs, Chepstow Human beings, as well as being spiritual, are biological creatures and as such are governed by the laws of biology and evolution. We know from studying other species that if their environment is trashed or reduced too much and their numbers exceed their food supply, the population crashes. What makes us think that we are so different? Because of our brain power and ability to make and exploit various sorts of tools, we can ameliorate some of the adverse effects but ultimately our options run out. Will we ever realise this? Neil Hancox, Abingdon, Oxon

ETHICAL CHOICES AND BOYCOTTS In his letter in the recent Christian Aid News, headed Power to the People (Input, Issue 56), Maurice Vassie asked where he could get information to help him make ethical choices. He and your other readers should use the information gathered by Ethical Consumer. They research many factors of products and services so that consumers can make their own choices on what to buy – or not. They publish a magazine and a website, at reasonable subscription rates. For more details, go to ethicalconsumer.org or call 0161 226 2929. Jill Hathaway, via email

The letter from Maurice Vassie is one with which I heartily agree. Consumer boycott is, I think, the best and possibly only way of really making an impact. As Mr Vassie so rightly says, ways to avoid complying with legislation can always be found, but it would be impossible to avoid the effect of a consumer boycott. Perhaps it is time for us to use this powerful weapon in the fight against such greed and injustice. Mrs P Forbes, via email

TAX AND CORRUPTION

I read with interest your article mentioning tax dodging (Campaigns, Issue 56). I suggest it would be a good idea to: • name the ‘unscrupulous companies’ that do this • contact them and challenge them on it • encourage us to write and protest to the major companies involved. Don Hinson, via email The Campaigns team replies: ‘A key reason we don’t currently campaign directly to unscrupulous companies about their tax dodging is that it is very difficult and time-consuming to put together definitive evidence of corporate tax dodging, due to the lack of financial transparency both within companies and in tax havens that hide companies’ and individuals’ financial dealings. The whole system needs to change so that

CALLING CHRISTIAN AID Main switchboard: 020 7620 4444 • Supporter enquiries: 020 7523 2225 • Donations: 020 7523 2269 Regular giving queries: 020 7523 2046 • Wills and legacies: 020 7523 2173 • National events: 020 7523 2248

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COMMENT

I much enjoyed the summer issue of Christian Aid News – it contained a lot of interesting information. I am supportive of the aims of the tax justice campaign, but there is one aspect which is almost never mentioned in your articles, and that is the creaming off and corruption on the part of officials in many of the countries to which aid is being directed. I realise that you, along with many other charities, try to circumvent that by working with projects in the community. I also recognise that it is no help if Christian Aid workers are expelled from a country because of unfavourable comments about its leaders. However, when making the general case for tax justice, I think you should at least acknowledge that the problem is not confined to corporates – there is tax dodging and manipulation within the countries themselves that contributes to the poverty of the general population. That’s not an argument for not giving aid – but it is a factor that should be recognised when assessing why so many people remain in an extreme state of poverty around the world. Lesley King, via email The Campaigns team replies: ‘While Christian Aid actively works to ensure more accountable governance in developing countries, it is important not to assume that all developing country governments are corrupt and that state funds will automatically be used fraudulently. However, the secrecy of our financial system currently provides cover for tax dodgers and corrupt officials alike. Our tax justice campaign calls for greater transparency and an end to tax haven secrecy which, as well as ensuring governments receive the taxes they’re due, would mean that it would be much harder for ill-gotten gains to be hidden away from view.’

When you donate to Christian Aid, you rightly expect that your money will be put to the best possible use. Amanda Farrant, donor communications advisor, explains how we go about making sure that is exactly what happens In Kenya’s urban slums, Christian Aid partner Maji na Ufanisi trained young people to lobby their local government for regular rubbish collections. As a result, 60,000 people have been benefiting from fortnightly collections since 2009 and slum conditions have improved enormously

Christian Aid/Elaine Duigenan

all companies are required to be more transparent – not just the ones that we might name and shame.’

VALUE FOR MONEY: A BALANCE BETWEEN RESULTS AND RESOURCES

WHEN ANDREW MITCHELL became UK Secretary of State for International Development, he committed to targeting taxpayers’ hard-earned cash where it can do the most good and provide the best value for the world’s poorest people. Christian Aid aspires to see an end to poverty, and to get there we also need to achieve the most impact by getting the most value out of our supporters and donors’ contributions. Unarguable aspirations. The conundrum, however, is how to know where our money does the most good and where it achieves the most value. Who’s to say that spending money on a maternal health project does more good or provides better value than spending it on an agriculture programme? Some might perceive value for money as a project that costs less, but going for the cheapest option can risk sacrificing lasting impact for short-term savings. Others could argue that development funds are best spent on helping citizens to hold governments to account over policies or spending, which ultimately

benefits more people, permanently. Others still might feel that value lies in an emotional and personal connection between donor and recipient. Christian Aid recently hosted an event in London with the UK Department for International Development, the Overseas Development Institute and others to discuss ways to improve value for money in development. Most agreed that value needs to include the results achieved for poor people, not just savings on costs per item or per individual. Daniel Jones, head of Programme Innovation and Learning at Christian Aid, believes that value for money is about management, not measurement. ‘There’s no magic wand. It’s about making better decisions – it’s about always working for the best balance between results and resources.’ Christian Aid believes that we will get most value for money by bringing about the most lasting and far-reaching change for as many of the world’s poorest, most marginalised people as possible. This is why we invest in campaigns such as Ekta Parishad’s land rights fight in India (see page 16) and the global tax justice campaign; why we support vulnerable communities to become resilient to crises and disasters, and why we invest in learning about what we do well. Christian Aid’s approach is outlined in our new Value for Money briefing paper and case studies, on the Christian Aid website. See christianaid.org.uk/valuefor-money

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EVENTS We work with some of the world’s poorest communities. They face huge challenges every day, so why don’t you challenge yourself? Have fun while fighting poverty: join one of our events or do your own fundraising

IT’S BEEN A HUGE YEAR for Christian Aid’s Team Poverty – and it’s not over yet! So far in 2012 we’ve trekked across the country and through the night, we’ve run 26.2 miles in London, Brighton and Edinburgh and we’ve just pedalled an incredible 300 miles from London to Paris. Most importantly though, along with developing blisters, making our knees ache and having massive amounts of fun, Team Poverty has been raising funds and awareness to give some of the world’s poorest people the tools they need to build the lives they deserve. This autumn will see supporters up and down the country face their fears to support Christian Aid. On 21 October, those brave enough can take part in our first ever Bungee off the Bridge in Middlesbrough! By raising a minimum of just £100 sponsorship you can take part in this once-in-a-lifetime experience and bungee 160ft off the famous Transporter Bridge. A true adrenalin hit!

For those looking for a slightly slower descent, why not take on the challenge of a Christian Aid sponsored abseil? Abseils are taking place at St Mary the Virgin church in Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, in October, and on the Isle of Wight on 4 November. On Saturday 1 December, Christian Aid is holding a special abseil followed by a reflective service in Plymouth to commemorate World AIDS Day. If you’re up for a challenge, go to christianaid.org.uk/abseil – why not rope in some friends to face their fears too? Next year, we continue our essential work with more challenge events, including another London to Paris Bike Ride and more treks. We could not continue to fight poverty without our fantastic runners, cyclists and trekkers and we’d love you to be one of them! You can sign up on our website for everything from a Santa Fun Run to a full marathon – just visit christianaid.org.uk/events

Bungee off the Bridge in Middlesbrough

UK Bungee Club

ARE YOU ‘UP’ FOR THE CHALLENGE?

PIT YOUR WITS FOR QUIZAID THIS SEPTEMBER, people across Britain and Ireland are pitting their wits against friends and family and raising funds to help Christian Aid challenge poverty – by hosting a Quizaid. If you haven’t signed up yet, don’t fret! You can hold a Quizaid whenever it suits you and we have fundraising packs available, complete with quiz questions and answers and other resources to ensure your event gets top marks. To those who have already registered, thank you and good luck! • For a free fundraising pack or to order or download extra resources, visit christianaid.org.uk/quizaid

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JOIN HUNDREDS of Christian Aid supporters in Britain who are walking in solidarity with 100,000 landless tribal and dalit people in India. Christian Aid partner Ekta Parishad has been mobilising people across India taking part in a monthlong 350km walk to demand a fairer share of land and resources. You can take part in one of the solidarity marches in Britain, being organised in Severn Dale, Malvern, Norwich, Peterborough, London, Oxford, Yorkshire, Inverness and Bedes Way. • See page 16, your regional pages or visit christianaid. org.uk/walks to find out more.

What a way to do it your way! WE’VE HEARD SOME wonderful stories about how some of Christian Aid’s fantastic supporters have been ‘doing it their way’ to raise vital funds for our work. In Berkshire, David Smith took on the challenge of a 100-hour sponsored silence, raising an amazing £1,479. This involved attending school governor meetings, making train journeys, ordering lattes and doing the supermarket shop with his mouth taped shut! In London, Luke Fowler shaved off the dreadlocks he’d had for five years, and raised a brilliant £1,581. And teenagers from Ashbourne Methodist Church bounced the night away to raise more than £600 in a 24-hour trampoline-athon! Jonny and Joel are ‘doing it their way’ in the extreme, hoping to raise £10,000 by crossing Europe on rollerblades. Check out: skatejourney.com If you’ve been inspired by the stories you’ve heard, why not hold your own event for Christian Aid. Visit our website for more information at christianaid.org.uk/yourway We’ve got some fantastic new resources for you to download, including posters, flyers, invitations and how-to guides for a variety of events. Whether you are growing plants to sell, cooking

up a storm for a bake sale or going all out and holding a concert for Christian Aid, we can offer support, whatever you decide to do. • For advice, support and extra reources, contact the Christian Aid Events team on 020 7523 2019.

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BUPA GREAT NORTH RUN 16 September 2012 CATHEDRALS TO COAST BIKE RIDE 22-23 September 2012

SANTA DASH 5K FUN RUNS December 2012 BIG CHRISTMAS SING December 2012 BURNS SUPPER 21-28 January 2013 SPONSORED ABSEILS February/March 2013 SUPER SOUP LUNCH 29 March 2013 BRIGHTON MARATHON 14 April 2013 Teenage supporters in Ashbourne braved the elements to stage a sponsored trampoline-athon

IT’LL BE CHRISTMAS BEFORE YOU KNOW IT! IT MAY ONLY BE September, but now’s the time to begin planning your festive fundraising. There are a variety of ways you can get in the festive spirit and achieve that warm glow from supporting Christian Aid at Christmas. The Big Christmas Sing will be taking place throughout December in school halls, churches, pubs and at Christmas parties nationwide. It’s a great opportunity to spread Christmas joy to those in your area and to some of the world’s poorest communities with whom Christian Aid partners work. When you register for the Big Christmas Sing you will receive your free fundraising e-pack, including song sheets and a guide to holding your

QUIZAID 10-16 September 2012

ROYAL PARKS HALF MARATHON 7 October 2012

Catherine Green

MARCH FOR JUSTICE

EVENTS FUNDRAISING CALENDAR 2012-2013

event. You can register at christianaid. org.uk/bigsing On the other hand, if you fancy something more active, join hundreds of Christian Aid supporters who will be putting on their Santa suits this December to take part in Santa Dashes up and down the country. A Santa Dash is like no other fun run, with a special atmosphere the whole family can enjoy. This year Christian Aid will have teams in Glasgow, Liverpool, Loughborough, London and Marlow, but you can run in an event nearer home and still fundraise for Christian Aid! • For more information, email events@christian-aid.org or contact your local Christian Aid office.

VIRGIN LONDON MARATHON 21 April 2013 BUPA GREAT MANCHESTER RUN 20 May 2013 EDINBURGH MARATHON 26 May 2013 HOLY ISLAND NIGHT HIKE Summer 2013 HADRIAN’S WALL WEEKEND TREK Summer 2013 LONDON TO PARIS BIKE RIDE 17-21 July 2013

Visit christianaid. org.uk/events to find out more.

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LAST WORD A reflection on playing a part in the fight against poverty, and living life in the wider family of Christian Aid

LISTENING TO COMMUNITIES IS KEY TO LASTING CHANGE

Christian Aid trustee Charlotte Seymour Smith recently visited Ethiopia to see how our partners there are responding to huge development challenges – and opportunities

Binyam Bekele

SINCE THE 1970s, Ethiopia has been firmly fixed in the global public consciousness as suffering drought after drought, and famine after famine. Arriving in Ethiopia’s capital and travelling to the country’s far south, it became clear, however, that the reality was more complex. Leaving Addis Ababa’s outskirts we drove along the roads that connect Ethiopia’s main towns and cities, passing new shops and blocks of flats in various stages of completion, and roads being maintained and upgraded. Major investments are planned or underway, including for hydro-electric power, dams and irrigation. These projects have enormous potential, but must carefully consider the needs of the poorest if they are to deliver improvements in the lives of people across Ethiopia. For example, in the Rift Valley there are a number of commercial growers of flowers and fruit for export, who use the water from the nearby lakes. Noone would deny that it is important for Ethiopia to get vital export earnings. Yet neighbouring tenant farmers lack any improved water supply and struggle to get enough water to grow crops for subsistence or for market. Is this water justice? Certainly, for Christian Aid’s partners in Ethiopia, ensuring that communities – including the most vulnerable – drive their own plans for development work is critical. By doing so, partners are ensuring that supporters’ money delivers lasting results, whether it is donated for an emergency response or for longerterm development work. It was heartening to see that the community and government in Ethiopia’s Arsi-Negele District continue to take responsibility for managing and maintaining a water project eight years after it was handed over to them by

Charlotte (centre) visiting a shallow well in Hamer district with the Christian Aid team and partner Action for Development

partner Centre for Development Initiatives. And because they listened, when the project was designed, to those responsible for providing water for their families – the community’s women – they have seen transformational results. These include an increase in girls’ enrolment in primary school in the area, from four per cent to 46 per cent, in part because girls no longer need to travel six hours a day to fetch water. In South Omo, which is home to the Hamer, the Dasenech and other pastoralist communities and which was particularly badly affected by the drought in 2011, I met men and women working together to identify the risks their communities face and how they can address them. While they are traditionally excluded from making decisions in the public sphere, women like Bola were speaking up about the needs of their communities and were evidently taking real ownership of implementing projects that should reduce the impact of future droughts, from digging boreholes to diversifying their means of earning a living. We may not know precisely when, but we may be certain that Ethiopia will face

drought again. In this context, we hope that our support allows partners to improve conditions in a country that remains one of the poorest in the world. Yet it is gratifying to hear that these partners regard Christian Aid as more than a funder – as a genuine partner, a leader, and an organisation prepared to invest in helping them improve. And it is touching, too, to hear from the people supported by these projects, who would like to pay Christian Aid back one day for the help they have received to break the cycle of hunger, poverty and vulnerability.

Our trustee Charlotte Seymour Smith is a member of Christian Aid’s board of trustees, having joined in November 2007. She is the author of the Macmillan Dictionary of Anthropology and she has worked with the UK Department for International Development and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in Mozambique, Brussels, Delhi and London.

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INTRODUCES CHRISTIAN AID TRIODOS BANK INTRODUCES TRIODOS

CHANGE YOUR BANK. CHANGE THE WORLD.

*The donation can only paid applicants complete either an online application form *The donation canbe only beif paid if applicants complete either an online application form and select ‘Partner – Christian Aid’ in the ‘H andTriodos select ‘Partner Christian in the ‘How did you hearand about Triodos Bank?’–field, or Bank?’– field, or aAid’ paper application form write ‘Partner Christian Aid’ in the ‘How did you hear about Triodos Bank?’ box a paper application form and write ‘Partner – Christian Aid’ in the ‘How did you hear about paid after the balance of the account reaches £100. One donation made per customer (one donation made in event of joint account Triodos Bank?’ box. The donation will be paid after the balance of the account reaches reserves the right toper decline any(one application. This offer may changed £100. One donation made customer donation made in event of be joint account or withdrawn without notice at any time. General Terms and opening). Triodos reserves the rightand to decline any application. This offer mayaccount be changed personal savings accounts, any specific conditions for the also apply. or withdrawn without notice at any time. General Terms and Conditions for personal savings accounts, and any specific conditions for the account also apply. Bank NV (incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands with limited liability, registered in England and Wales BR3012). A Triodos Triodos Bank NV (incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands with limited liability, CentralinBank (DNB) and regulated by the Financial Services (FSA) for the conduct of UK business. Registered office: Triod registered England and Wales BR3012). Authorised by the Dutch CentralAuthority Bank (DNB) Bristol BS1 5AS. Services Authority (FSA) for the conduct of UK business. andRoad, regulated by the Financial Registered office: Triodos Bank, Deanery Road, Bristol BS1 5AS.

Are your savings being used to support something you don’t believe in? 13-360-J632

At Triodos Bank we only lend our savers’ money to people and organisations who are working to make a positive impact, and we promise you’ll always know where your money goes. You can be confident that your savings will help create a fairer world. Ads.indd 2

Save and support: open an account with us, deposit £100 and we’ll donate £40 to Christian Aid*

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Client Client team

Proof date 14/08/12 Feedback due 16/08/12

Kerry McMahon Events and Fundraising

There is a time to love. There is a time to act. When we think about our Will, we think with love of family, friends and causes we care deeply about. And from that love comes the inspiration to act: it reminds us that we actually need to write or update that Will. Write your Will with a Will Aid solicitor during November and instead of paying the solicitorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fee, you will be invited to make a donation to the Will Aid charities. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the perfect time to think about whether your Will can reflect your love and desire for a more just world. By including a gift to Christian Aid in your Will, you can extend your support for the people you are already doing so much to help in your lifetime. Please use Will Aid this November. It is always time to love. Now is the time to act. To find out more about Will Aid and the caring power of Wills, complete and return the form below, or contact Kerry McMahon: kmcmahon@christian-aid.org or 020 7523 2173.

Please send me information on legacy giving and the Will Aid scheme Title:

First name:

Surname:

Address: Postcode: Email: Telephone:

Once completed please return to: Christian Aid, PO Box 100, London SE1 7RT

A015076

13-503-J637

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