Omnibus News - Diocese of Nottingham

omnibus 20
Have a hand in history
What’s your vision At
CAFOD, we’re striving for a
world free from poverty and
injustice where every person
can flourish, live in dignity and
safety, and in harmony with
the rest of creation. That vision
underpins everything we do.
By influencing people in
power locally, nationally and
internationally, we believe we
can make this vision a reality
and make the world a fairer
place for millions of people
living in poverty.
Prioritising international
poverty
The decisions taken by the
incoming government, on
issues like aid, climate change
and regulating business will
have far-reaching consequences
for poor communities
worldwide. In 2009 millions of
people around the world
joined the call for climate justice
but Copenhagen didn’t
produce the deal the world’s
poor so urgently need. We
must keep up the pressure this
year by asking the incoming
government to keep pushing
for a fair climate change deal
at the UN.
But we must also ensure
other issues vital for tackling
global poverty are on the new
government’s agenda. All three
main political parties have said
they are committed to spending
0.7 per cent of national
income on aid, but we need to
cafod now
make sure that once in power
they honour this commitment,
and that this money is directed
at reaching the poorest.
We must also recognise the
growing importance of the private
sector in the developing
world, and building on the
success of campaigns such as
CAFOD’s “Unearth Justice”
campaign, make sure that the
incoming government acts to
ensure that businesses are
accountable to the people in
poor countries who are affected
by their operations there.
Election
In the coming general election, MPs and parliamentary candidates
will all be looking for our vote. It’s a great time for us to
get our issues on the agenda. Whether it’s talking to someone
knocking on your door, through to attending, or even organising
a hustings, make sure you ask your candidates what action they
would take to prioritise action on poverty.
CAFOD has produced a handy guide to the election. You can
download it at cafod.org.uk/election.
“Change is possible. But it cannot be left to politicians alone to
bring about. It needs all of us,” says “Choosing the Common
Good”, a pre-election report from the Bishops’ Conference. The
report calls on all of us to reflect on what sort of society we live
in and how we want it to be.
We know change is possible, after all less than 100 years ago
women were not even allowed to vote. Now let’s make sure we
use this vote to carry on bringing about the change we want to
see in the world.
CAFOD asks of parliamentary candidates and the incoming
government:
To make tacking global poverty a priority by:
* pushing for a fair climate change deal at the UN
* honouring commitments to spend 0.7 per cent of national
income on aid
* ensuring businesses are accountable to people in poor
countries who are affected by their operations
Time for a
Robin Hood Tax
Join CAFOD and many others to campaign for a new global
tax that will create huge change for the world’s poor. Just a
tiny tax on bankers will raise billions to tackle poverty and
climate change.We are only asking for 0.05 per cent traded
by banks - 50p for every £1,000. And yet this could raise
around $400 billion per year to help fight poverty and help
developing countries combat climate change.
We are also calling for governments in favour of these taxes to
implement a tax on trade in currencies now, to show it can be
done, and to raise much-needed cash. A Robin Hood Tax will
also ensure banks pay their share of the costs of the global crisis
they helped to generate and also discourage risky and shortterm
speculation.
CAFOD Director Chris Bain says: "It would be morally bankrupt
to miss this opportunity. At a time when the financial crisis
has pushed developing countries further back in their fight
against poverty, we need financial markets that work for development
and not against. A Robin Hood Tax is an important and
symbolic step in the right direction."
Please so your support at http://www.cafod.org.uk/takeaction/robin-hood-tax
To sign up to become a MP Correspondent, visit
cafod.org.uk/election
To order cards or support materials contact CAFOD on
020 7095 5692 or campaigns@cafod.org.uk
Page 20 April 2010