Movement 124

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working, to set aII free
Churches Together in England will be running a major
project next year to commemorate the 2OOth anniversary
of the abolition of the slave trade.
Slavery is still alive and well in 2006. Although some
may think it died a painful death on the American
plantations in the 19th century, it is estimated that
over 20 million people around the world are still
in forms of servitude today. Sunday 25 March 2OO7
marks 200 years to the day that a Parliamentary
Act came into effect to end Britain's involvement
in the transatlantic slave trade. set all free has
been established by Churches Together in England
to commemorate this significant date in British history.
set all free aims to challenge modern society
on the issue of slavery and its legacies, as well as
to encourage people to engage with the Christian
values that motivated the abolitionists of yesteryear
such as William Wilberforce, Olaudah Equiano and
Hannah More to end slavery in their time.
Slavery is unfinished business. set all free seeks to
remember the transatlantic slave trade, reflect on
its impact affecting society today, and respond by
working to end its legacies and modern forms of
slavery, including bonded labour, unconditional
worst forms of child labour, descent-based slavery,
forced labour and human trafficking.
set all free believes that there needs to be greater
understanding about the impact of the transatlantic
slave trade and its legacies. These legacies include
racism and racial discrimination, as well as the
underdevelopment of countries and communities
affected by the trade.
We see education as the key to a better understanding
of the ongoing effects of the transatlantic slave
trade and we encourage the government to make
the teaching of this a core component of the National
Curriculum. set all free has produced a range
of materials on historic and modern slavery, which
explains the significance and consequences of the
transatlantic slave trade and what can be done to
finally end slavery once and for all in our world.
set all free is working closely with Anti-Slavery International
to'ensure that politicians work to finally
end slavery. lt is encouraging campaigners to write
to their Members of Parliament on key areas of
concern in the run-up to the bicentenary. For more
information on this, please visit www.antislavery.
or{2007 / actionmp.htm I
For more information about set all free, see the
website: www.seta I lfree. net O
Richard Reddle is Project Director for set all free.
SCM will be promoting set all free as part of our
theme for the year - see the box on the right.
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Each year SCM chooses a social action campaign to go with its
year theme. This year's theme is Reading the Bible, so our campaign
will centre on proclaiming the'good news' within it. We'll
be calling for greater awareness of the liberating message of
Cod's love, exposing the broken relationships and structures of
evil in our society, challenging local, national and international
failures to act with justice and compassion, and encouraging
a radical alternative world vision rooted in the hopeful 'good
news'of the Bible.
The spirit of the Lord is on me,
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He has ruit *" to proctaim freedom for the, BIBIf
prisoners and recovery of sight for the blino,
to release the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour' (Luke 4.18)
The campaign will have three areas of focus over the course of
the year:
Autumn term: Peace and violence
ln a world increasingly broken by conflict we shall consider
what it might mean to bring good news to those suffering in
wars, from domestic abuse and from state persecution on political
and religious grounds
Spring term: Freedom and slavery
200 years after the abolition of the slave trade by the UK parliament,
we shall consider not just the historical legacy of
colonialism and imperialism, but also modern forms of slavery
and exploitation and ways in which our freedom is curtailed.
Summer term: Social inclusion
As global and national divisions deepen, we shall consider
issues such as the treatment of asylum seekers and refugees, attitudes
towards poverty in this country and the idea of Christian
hospital ity towards others.
Throughout the year, we'll be providing material for discussion,
opportunity for reflection, and practical actions. See www.
movement.org.uk/bible for details. lf you would like more information,
or would like to make suggestions of your own, visit the
policy section at wwwmovement.org.uk/forum. O
Matt Cardner is a member of SCM's Ceneral Council.
movement 7