EIGHTY religious leaders, including the Archbishop of
Canterbury, have signed a letter warning the G8 group of world
leaders not to use the financial crisis as an "excuse" to delay
fulfilling the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The letter was published in the Financial Times on
Friday, 1000 days ahead of the deadline to meet the MDGs. The G8
leaders are scheduled to meet in the UK in June.
The letter states: "Thirteen years on from the start of the
millennium, the values and principles that drive these goals are as
imperative as ever. The financial crisis may be a reason but is not
an excuse for hesitation or deferral. . .
"With a focus on tax, trade and transparency, the UK Presidency
of the G8 this year has the potential to advance the MDG agenda in
ways that strike at the underlying causes of poverty, in particular
by ensuring the wealth created by developing countries is not lost
through unfair tax practices, a lack of transparency or a failure
to secure the benefits of trade for developing countries."
The letter goes on to recommend that the G8 leaders take three
actions: fulfil their commitments to spend 0.7 per cent of national
income on aid; launch a "G8 Convention on Tax Transparency", which
would commit countries "to prevent individuals and companies from
hiding wealth so that it's untraceable"; and "press for greater
financial transparency from governments of developing
countries".
As well as Archbishop Welby, signatories to the letter include
the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, the Most Revd David
Chillingworth; the RC Archbishop of Westminster, the Most Revd
Vincent Nichols; and the President of the Methodist Church in
Britain, Dr Mark Wakelin. Leaders of other faiths also signed the
letter.
The Bishop of Bradford, the Rt Revd Nick Baines, said on Friday:
"With only 1000 days left to achieve the Millennium Development
Goals set by the UN, it is imperative that the G8 Heads of
Government set the pace and do not allow this to fail. I shall be
tweeting my support using #1000DaysToGo and hoping the flood of
comments encourages governments not to waver."
Christian Aid's senior adviser on poverty and inequality, Helen
Dennis, said on Friday that there was "nothing to replace" the MDGs
once they expire.
"Without a new plan in place, political leaders could relegate
tackling poverty to a 'nice to have' rather than a 'must do'," she
said. "It is vital that David Cameron and the G8 make this a
priority at their meeting in June. . .
"They need to focus on promoting financial transparency and
tackling tax dodging in developing countries, which cost them $160
billion a year - much more than they receive in aid."
The full letter, including a complete list of signatories, can
be read here. A video message from the Secretary
General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-Moon, can be
watched here.
Earlier this year, a coalition of charities and churches
launched the "Enough Food for Everyone IF" campaign, which called
on G8 leaders to combat world hunger (
News, 25 January).
Paul Vallely