Blog Action Day: Inequality #BAD2014, #Inequality, #BlogAction

On the 16th October, people from around the world raised their voices through Blog Action Day to generate an unprecedented conversation on how we can address inequality. An audience of millions saw that message — which will continue to ripple forth for some time.

“Malala knew the power she had to speak up for herself, and those who couldn't, by sharing her story. Authentic voices are always the best way to convey struggles of inequality and tell stories of our shared humanity.” — Malala Fund post

“Extreme inequality should not be ignored—or worse, celebrated as a sign that we have a high-performing economy and healthy society.” — Bill Gates' post

“Being a female and from a country where gender discrimination continues to be an enormous problem, I didn’t have to think twice about the topic to write on. The fight starts off from my mother’s womb.” — Blogger Rekha Dhyani's post

These are just a few tastes of the conversation that started yesterday.

If you'd like to see some other highlights, the best place to do so is Orbit http://launch.orbit.do/. Orbit is Blog Action Day's sister platform, where you can feature your own blog's content as part of a conversation, like we saw around #inequality yesterday. You could also search for #BAD14, #BAD2014 and "Blog Action Day" on your social media networks or visit the participants list.

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The Specials - Ghost Town.

Haiti: Cancel the debt

This comes from Oxfam:

"At the moment the world's attention is focused on Haiti. Leaders are pledging to stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Haiti and help them build a brighter future out of the rubble.
There is one thing they can do right now to potentially transform the future prospects of Haiti. By cancelling the country's crippling debt, Haitian people can have a chance to build a brighter future.

Even before the earthquake, Haiti was weighed down by debt. They owed over $891 million to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and others. This is a legacy of loans to unelected governments of years past.

Leaders are meeting in Montreal on Monday to decide on the amount of aid that they will give. The IMF has said that it will work to cancel the debt, and this now needs to happen.

They have also offered a $100 million loan to Haiti but this should be converted into a grant. The head of the IMF, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, has subsequently said that they will turn this loan into a grant but we need to make sure that he does everything that he can to make this happen.
If these debts aren't cancelled, Haiti will be sending tens of millions to the IMF and other international bodies even as it struggles to rebuild. If these debts are cancelled, the Haitian government will have a better chance to build their country, so that it is stronger than before.

Email the head of the IMF Dominique Strauss-Kahn to demand that when leaders meet on Monday they cancel Haiti's debts immediately. Make sure that earthquake relief doesn't create a new debt burden."

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Moby - Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad.

The Wave

UK climate negotiators are off to crucial talks in Copenhagen next week. And what better send-off than thousands of passionate people dressed in blue encircling Parliament. That's what our Peace & Justice committee at St Johns Seven Kings think and they will be meeting at the church at 9.30am on Saturday 5 December in order to travel into Central London together to take part.

We want our message of climate justice to be ringing in the governments' ears, reminding them to seal a strong and fair deal for the world's poorest people. That's why Tearfund, among others, are joining with the Stop Climate Chaos coalition for The Wave church service and march this Saturday, 5 December.

The day will look like this ...

11am: Church service at Central Hall, Westminster, SW1H 9NH, central London (opposite Westminster Abbey). From there we will walk together to join the march. Maps will be provided on the day.

1pm: March leaves Grosvenor Square. Assemble there if you can't make it to the service.

3pm: Encircling of parliament followed by tea and cakes with Tearfund at the Mothers Union, Mary Sumner House, 24 Tufton St, SW1P 3RB

Or join The Wave in Glasgow and Belfast city centre on the same day.

To get in the mood, why not take e-action from Tearfund's website. Also please pray for The Wave, the climate talks and the people most affected by climate change.

Oxfam say, "These marches are the best chance we have to tell the UK government and world leaders that we care about what is agreed at the climate change negotiations in Copenhagen this December."

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The Beach Boys - Don't Worry Baby.

Stop biofuels deepening poverty

This comes from Oxfam:

"Demand for biofuels is having a devastating impact on poor people - pushing up food prices and releasing greenhouse gases. But with strong safeguards, we can make sure biofuels help rather than harm.

The European Union is only 48 hours from deciding on tougher legislation for biofuels production - we need to pull out all the stops to make sure it comes into place.

Send an urgent message to Geoff Hoon, UK Secretary of State for Transport, asking him to use his influence at the EU

The cost of basic foods is at record levels, and biofuels are in part to blame - global demand is forcing crops, such as maize and wheat, out of production.

To make things worse, clearing land for biofuels actually releases massive amounts of CO2.
The EU is aware there's a problem, and earlier this year started to consider legislation that should stop biofuels production from exposing people in poor countries to higher food prices, land-grabbing, and exploitation.

This happened in part because Oxfam supporters from 19 countries sent an overwhelming total of 35,000 emails calling for a review of EU policies.

We need to pile the pressure on one more time, but we must move fast.

A crucial EU meeting will take place on Monday 8 December.

The UK Government is a powerful player within the EU and Geoff Hoon - Secretary of State for Transport - has a real opportunity to use his influence.

Together we can make a difference."

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Danielson - Did I Step on Your Trumpet.

Reducing oil dependency (and other resource scarcity issues)

Redbridge Faith Forum have published a report from the meeting held with Redbridge Green Fair on 'What can Redbridge do to reduce oil dependency?'

At St John's we have decided, following our PCC Away Day, to look at some materials giving a Christian perspective on peak oil in our homegroups in the New Year and will be using materials that Sam Norton has posted to do so.

On Monday I attended a very useful day's training on 'Energy Efficiency and Community Buildings', again organised by the Faith Forum and delivered by the Energy Saving Trust. Their national support programme, Community Action for Energy, is a network of like-minded people with an interest in community-based energy projects. Membership of the network is free and offers:

• Community helpline;
• Community support network providing 1.5 days of professional consultancy;
• Travel bursaries;
• Training courses;
• A guide to energy efficiency projects;
• Website;
• Case studies;
• Newsletter;
• E-news updates; and an
• Annual conference.

Finally, last night I went to the Tomorrow Network event on 'The Future of the Food Crisis' at the Royal Society where I heard Duncan Green, Director of Research at Oxfam, and Alex Evans, of the Center on International Cooperation, discuss the current food crisis throughout the world and its future prospects.

Among the points they made were the following:

• Recent food price rises represent a structural shift not a temporary blip because of four resource scarcity issues: energy (tight supply fundamentals and effect of bio fuels); water (demand has tripled over past 50 years); land availability (only 12% usable arable land left and pressure for other uses of it); and effects on agriculture of climate change (low crop yields and emissions from agriculture).
• The cost of high food prices is 850m + hungry people selling their futures (e.g. livestock); getting credit from loan sharks; sending children to work; and parents eating too little in order to feed their children.
• Agriculture must be made pro-poor through: small farmer-based agricultural growth (e.g. Viet Nam and India); effective states with active citizens (e.g. consumer associations such as the grain banks in Uganda); shifts to low carbon production; addressing the challenges of supermarketization, biofuels and outmigration; and solving the dilemma of food vs feed vs fuel.
• Property rights matters for poorer people and women in particular. A fairer distribution of land leads to greater growth (e.g. Taiwan and South Korea).
• Build community resilience to climate change i.e. addressing the loss of inherited knowledge when climate patterns change.
• Actions needed now include: raising yield and making food production more sustainable, resilient and fair; invest more in agriculture; focus on small farms (largest employer in the world); aid donors to focus on the four resource scarcity issues; social protection for poor people; develop security of supply through buffer food stocks and equitable trade agreements with developing countries; address effect that Western lifestyle (bio fuels and diet) has on the rest of the world.

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U2 - Love and Peace or Else.

Stop the global food crisis

The following comes from Oxfam:

Global food prices are soaring and are now at record levels. And the world's poorest people are suffering the most. Use your voice here to help make a difference.

For poor people, who typically spend 50-80 per cent of their income on food, spiralling prices are spelling disaster as basic foods become increasingly unaffordable.

We've already seen food riots in Mexico, Egypt, Tanzania and Senegal - and they're not alone.
Oxfam has joined Avaaz and GCAP in calling for world leaders to take emergency action, and make longer-term reforms, to end this crisis.

Add your name by signing the petition, and join the call for governments to prevent the world’s most vulnerable people from further suffering.

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Tinariwen - Amassakoul.

Be Humankind

Oxfam have revamped their website making it easier to find all the different things we can do to 'Be Humankind.'

As they say, there’s strength in numbers so why not add your name to the roll call of people who refuse to sit back and do nothing.

Here are their current list of actions:

• Throw a Swap It party and help curb crazy consumption
  Every 2 hours we throw out enough stuff to fill the Royal Albert Hall. So swap your stuff and save your money and the planet.
• Sign the '6 Million More' pledge
  The world needs 6 million more health workers and teachers. To make this happen, we need your voice.
• Sign the I count pledge
  Together we count. Together we can stop climate chaos. Pledge to do your bit.
• Make Europe's new trade deals fair
  World trade is rigged against poor people. Help us balance things out.
• Pledge to watch Black Gold the movie
  Pledge to watch Black gold movie.
• Write to your local newspaper
  1 billion people live on less than US$1 a day. If this makes your blood boil too, help us keep poverty in the public eye.
• Training for Campaigners
  Ruffle feathers. Be outspoken. Become an Oxfam activist.
• Tackle your MP about poverty
  Put fighting poverty at the top of your MP's to do list.

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Veljo Tormis - How Can I Recognize My Home?