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R AC LE

O F A MI
T
B E PAR

AUTUMN 2009
MAKING HEADLINES
BONN AGAIN
DREAM ON
CAPED CRUSADER
MAKING CLIMATE HISTORY
THE GREAT PERSUASION

Y E RS
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3 PR T I O N S
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ON
THE
MOUNTAINS
1. Making headlines

Layton Thompson/Tearfund
2. Bonn again
3. Dream on
1. 2.
PRAYER PRAYER

MAKING BONN
HEADLINES AGAIN
Unclean water and poor sanitation accounted The command to love your neighbour
for at least 1,200 times as many deaths as swine looks different in every situation. But for
flu this spring. But the silent killer has received a Sara Shaw and Richard Weaver, Tearfund's
fraction of the attention. climate change policy advisers, it has
involved spending weeks of this year in
Headlines don't lie – they tell us what we want to hear. Daily
newspapers blast reports of celebrity break-ups or breakdowns, the
PLEASE PRAY: Bonn, Germany, lobbying for a fair and
paper clip an MP expensed and Lily Allen's twitter feed. In the age
of the 24 hour news cycle, headlines vie for our attention, and our
• For Christians in the UK feeling compassion strong climate deal.
fatigue, that God would continue to reach
money. The news reflects what we care about – or at least what the
media and advertisers think we do – but not always what we ought to.
into our worlds and inspire us with stories
of people like Stidia and the work the local
Stidia is a 13-year-old girl in Kigazi village, Uganda, and the face church in Kigazi is doing to make life flow. This year is huge for climate change. All eyes will be on PLEASE PRAY:
of Tearfund's Make life flow campaign. Before her local church Copenhagen in December where world leaders must sign a strong
mobilised the community to provide a rainwater tank for her family, • For water and sanitation to get the global climate deal, but those few weeks before Christmas are just the tip • For Richard and Sara as they work to make
she was forced to spend four hours each day walking up and down attention it deserves and for extraordinary of the iceberg of all the earlier negotiations.
sure poor people’s voices are heard at these
dangerous, rocky mountain paths, facing potential attackers and action to be taken to stop the silent scandal.
rapists, experiencing physical exhaustion and neck pain, foregoing her So how is a climate deal that meets the needs of the poorest
meetings:
education, to collect water for her family. This is the stuff of celebrity people made? Well, it's a lot of work. And a lot of that work takes
• For Tearfund's vision for water and
reality TV show challenges, yet it goes uncovered, and seems distant place in Bonn. • For Sara as she works to seal a deal that
sanitation. By 2015, we plan to have
to our daily lives. In a society that is fortunate to have in-home has strong targets in the lead-up to
transformed the lives of three million people
running water as standard, Stidia's story is hard to fathom. Maybe Countries have been meeting throughout the year to discuss what Copenhagen. Currently, only very weak
that's why the 5,000 children who die of illnesses related to unclean with better access to water and sanitation the deal could look like. At these meetings in Bonn and beyond, emissions reductions targets that will do
water and poor sanitation every day, often go unreported through our work on the ground, and many negotiators have been discussing the language and targets that
little to protect the needs of poor people
and unnoticed. times that through our campaigning. will become the building blocks at Copenhagen. Getting a UN deal
are on the table.
can really drag on, but time is ticking for the millions of vulnerable
In today’s world, how can it be that almost 900 million people still To order your Make life flow church pack, filled with stories, films people already living with climate change. This is where Richard
lack access to clean water and 2.5 billion people still have no decent and prayer resources to make water and sanitation come alive in and Sara come in. • For Richard as he lobbies governments to
loo? Lack of water and sanitation should be yesterday's news, but the your church, go to www.tearfund.org/makelifeflow or call provide the funding developing countries
off-the-radar scandal is still with us. 0845 355 8355 today. Sara and Richard are Tearfund's climate change policy advisers, need to adapt to climate change and develop
the global church’s voice in Bonn. Together with hundreds of other in a sustainable way.
That's why Tearfund is campaigning for extraordinary action on water climate justice lobbyists, they've been immersing themselves in
and sanitation from our world leaders. As we raise our global church the talks, helping to push governments to get a move on. So when • For leadership from developed countries.
voice, let's pray that stories of girls like Stidia remind our decision rich countries put weak proposals on the table, Richard and Sara The world needs much more ambition if
makers of the need to Make life flow. are there to call them out. They're reading drafts, feeding into
we’re to get a good deal at the end of
discussions and generally trying to raise the ambition levels of
countries blinded by short-term self-interest.
this year.

Richard and Sara are just two of the thousands of people all over
the world putting everything into sealing a strong and fair deal
this year. They're taking on impossible workloads and pushing
themselves to the limit to see this deal through. Sara says, 'It's
a lot of work, but we're driven by a belief that a strong climate
change deal is what the world needs.'

Richard reminds us that not any deal will do. 'Success of this
deal must be measured by how it benefits the poorest and most
vulnerable – those who are already most affected by climate
change. If it doesn't work for them, then it's not a good deal.'
3.
PRAYER

DREAM
ON
‘You intended to harm me, but God intended
it for good to accomplish what is now being
done, the saving of many lives.’ (Genesis 50:20)

Early in Joseph’s life, his dreams only caused him trouble. They PLEASE PRAY:
made his brothers hate him, plot to kill him, sell him into slavery
and lie to their father that he’d been killed. • Thanking God for his sovereignty and
provision. Ask him to protect and provide
But the same gift enabled him to speak out and save Egypt from
famine. Joseph was the only person who, by God’s will, could
for those affected by climate change,
explain Pharaoh’s dreams. Seven fat and seven lean cows meant particularly those in Egypt and East Africa.
Egypt would be blessed with seven years of abundance followed
by seven years of famine. • Reflecting on the need to take action on
climate change in the next seven years.
Joseph’s interpretation transformed him overnight from a prisoner Pray for world leaders to put aside short
to a ruler of Egypt. Pharaoh’s willingness to listen, and Joseph’s term political concerns and commit to
actions, saved a nation on the brink of famine.
reduce emissions.
Just as Egypt had seven years to prepare for the famine, climate
• For people who dream and speak out for a
scientists predict that the world has seven years until emissions
must peak and start to decline. After 2016 global emissions must more just world and for the global church’s
be reduced significantly each year to prevent global temperature role in this. Give thanks for the 30,000
reaching catastrophic levels. people who now subscribe to Global
Action or Act Fast.
Today, Egypt is highly vulnerable to climate change. The majority
of people live in the Nile Delta where the land is most fertile, but
it’s vulnerable to sea-level rise. East Africa is also suffering from
reduced rainfall. These climate changes could force people from
the land and lead to water and food shortages.

World leaders cannot just dream about how they could solve
the problem. Developed countries must take action by reducing
emissions by 40 per cent by 2020. Failure to respond to this will
lead to climate chaos – floods, droughts, sea-level rise, failed
harvests – hitting poor countries the hardest.

Like Joseph, we must listen to the warnings, pray and speak out,
calling for urgent action to control climate change.

Photo: Margaret Chandler/Tearfund


Geoff Crawford/Tearfund
TAKE
ACTION
1. Caped crusader
2. Making climate history
3. The great persuasion

Geoff Crawford/Tearfund
1. 2.
ACTION ACTION

CAPED MAKING
CRUSADER CLIMATE HISTORY
What happens in Copenhagen doesn’t stay
in Copenhagen this December.
Everything you wanted to know about
being a modern-day prophet (but were History is not always made by the famous or the feted. This
year, history will be made in an unassuming conference centre in
Take action, complete and send the Act Fast card to your MP,
asking them to pass on your message to the Prime Minister to seal
afraid to ask) Copenhagen by negotiating teams whose names and faces most
of us wouldn't recognise.
a strong deal in Copenhagen – two people influenced for the price
of one stamp!

Guided by their countries' governments, they will decide (or not) Get a behind-the-scenes look at the climate change talks at
the next international climate deal. What they agree to will only www.tearfund.org/deal
be as strong as the commitments their governments are prepared
to make. And, worryingly, most rich governments aren't showing
Q: What do Batman, Wonderwoman and the prophet Isaiah have Sign up for one of the climate justice evenings below:
much sign of ambition. They need to be pushed by the public
in common? Email enquiries@tearfund.org or phone 0845 355 8355.
during these next few months.
Go to www.tearfund.org/deal to find out more.
A: They all fight injustice wherever they encounter it.
Events are now planned for:
Like many of the prophets in the Bible, Isaiah’s life is synonymous

3.
with highlighting injustice and calling out for change. As part of • Sevenoaks:
ACTION

THE GREAT
the global church, we take to heart the words in Isaiah Chapter St Nicholas Church, Sevenoaks TN13 1JA
58, which call on us to do the same thing. Wednesday 23 September
7.45pm for 8pm
However, unlike superheroes, not many of us have a secret bat

PERSUASION
cave to store our injustice-fighting tools, or a costume to run • Guildford:
around in, turning wrongs to rights. But we do know that God St Saviour's Church, Guildford GU1 4QD
calls us to love one another. Our challenge is how we live this Tuesday 6 October
out in a world where the poorest of poor people – those already 7.30pm for 8pm
on the edge of survival – are being pushed beyond limits by
climate change. • Leeds:
South Parade Baptist Church, Leeds LS6 3LF
Sometimes, like the prophets, God offers us the opportunity
to stand up and challenge those in power to do what is right.


Thursday 8 October
7.45pm for 8pm
Before the upcoming general election, MPs will be
This December we have just such an opportunity.
• London:
scrambling to hear what constituents want. It’s
On Saturday 5 December, thousands will gather in London
for The Wave church service and march, urging the UK government


All Souls Church, Langham Place, London W1B 3DA
Thursday 19 November
a great opportunity for the church to express its
to seal a strong and fair climate deal at UN talks that begin the
following week.
6.30pm for 7pm
passion for global justice.
• Reading:
We need to make the voices of poor people, those most vulnerable The Church of St John and St Stephen, Reading We don’t know the exact date of the next election, but we do Micah Challenge is also encouraging churches to take part in
to (and least responsible for) climate change heard. As modern-day RG1 3JN know it must happen within the next eight months. It’s likely to The Great Persuasion on 18 October as part of Micah Sunday.
prophets we can take their voices and their needs and present Thursday 22 October be dominated by discussion about the economy. But imagine the It will be a great way to encourage churches to express their
them to our government, in whose hands their future lies. 7.30pm for 8pm impact if every candidate standing in the general election was passion for justice to their MPs.
visited on the same day by constituents campaigning passionately
Sound daunting? Don’t worry. Tearfund has put together a • Oxford: against global poverty. Find out more about The Great Persuasion and Micah Sunday
series of climate justice evenings this autumn to equip you to Details to be confirmed by visiting www.tearfund.org/election
be a modern-day prophet. These events will also help you to Check out www.tearfund.org/deal for more The Great Persuasion, on the weekend of 17–18 October, aims
get your friends, family and whole church involved. Together, information to remind politicians that the needs of people living in poverty
we can speak truth to power and protect our brothers and sisters around the world should be a priority at the next election. Along
already struggling with droughts, floods and insecurity caused by with other development and environmental groups, Tearfund is
climate change. asking campaigners like you to arrange a meeting with the main
candidates standing in your constituency to tell them you’re
concerned with climate change and world poverty. And then ask
them what they would do about it if elected.
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Bishop George Katweigye


from Tearfund partner
Diocese of Kigezi in
Uganda lobs a loo roll
while visiting the UK to
promote the Make life
flow campaign.

www.tearfund.org We are Christians passionate about the local church bringing justice and Contributors: Tom Baker, Laura Hughes, Helen Heather, Alisha Sanvicens
100 Church Road, Teddington TW11 8QE transforming lives – overcoming global poverty. And so our ten-year Print: Bishops Printers
Challenge House, 29 Canal Street, Glasgow G4 0AD vision is to see 50 million people released from material and spiritual Cover photo: Clare Kendall
Ty^ Catherine, Capel Cildwrn, Llangefni, Ynys Môn LL77 7NN poverty through a worldwide network of 100,000 local churches.
Copyright © Tearfund 2009. All rights reserved. Permission is granted for
Rose House, 2 Derryvolgie Avenue, Belfast BT9 6FL If you don’t have access to the internet and would like to be sent the the reproduction of text from this publication for Tearfund promotional
enquiries@tearfund.org 0845 355 8355 web-based information mentioned in the magazine, please call us on use only. For all other uses, please contact us.
Registered Charity No. 265464 (England and Wales)
0845 355 8355.
Registered Charity No. SC037624 (Scotland)
Also available: Sign up for Global Action email or choose to receive
www.tearfund.ie
Act Fast only. Visit www.tearfund.org/actfast or call 0845 355 8355.
Tearfund Ireland, Ulysses House, 22-24 Foley Street, Dublin 1
enquiries@tearfund.ie 01 497 5285
Registered Charity No. CHY 8600
Jay Butcher/Tearfund

19362-(0809)

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