We suffer from drought and landslides as well as emergencies from everyday poverty.’
So says Maritza Sevilla, a young mother who, through Christian Aid partner Community Movement of Matagalpa (MCM), has taken on a vital role in her community in Nicaragua.
Maritza lives in Nuevo Amanecer, an hour’s drive from Matagalpa. Her community is in a mountainous region, with a river winding through it. The single hillside road wends its way through a harsh landscape. Deforestation and drought have devastated what was once lush, dense forest.
When the river breaks its banks, as it often does, the community here at Nuevo Amanecer can find themselves stranded for weeks, as happened during Hurricane Mitch in 1998.
In response to this vulnerability MCM, with help from the local people, built a community centre where people could meet and learn how to protect themselves better from the vagaries of unpredictable weather. In the absence of emergency services it’s vital that local communities take action themselves.
And so the community elected Maritza, along with Lilian Mercado and Lucila Castro to the Emergency Committee, who have been responsible for devising and implementing the community contingency plan. The women drew up maps of Nuevo Amanecer illustrating the danger zones. These carefully hand- painted maps, with evacuation routes clearly marked, hang in the busy community centre.
we feel safe’ says Lilian, whose house was almost washed away in last year’s flood. Before we weren’t prepared but now we’re ready for rains.’
Christian Aid has been supporting MCM, a grassroots organisation working with rural and urban poor people to improve living conditions in 150 communities, since 1992. A partnership of more than a decade has meant that Christian Aid has been able to give crucial support at some very difficult times. For example, in 1998 Hurricane Mitch hit the country, killing 3000 people, making even more homeless, and devastating the economy. Like Maritza, Lilian and Lucila most Nicaraguans were unprepared for it. Then a drought in 2002 dealt a further cruel blow, hallting much of the progress made in the years after the hurricane. MCM works hard to make sure communities have the best chance of protecting themselves and rebuilding after floods, landslides, droughts and hurricanes.
Christian Aid Week begins this year on 14 May, involving more than 300,000 Christian Aid collectors who will encourage their friends, colleagues and neighbours almost two thirds of UK households to put some of their hard- earned cash into the famous red envelope. What each person adds Christian Aid will multiply, and so will help more people to live life to the full.
It is unlikely that those of us in the UK and Ireland will experience the extreme devastation caused by droughts, floods, landslides and hurricanes that many Nicaraguans face. But through Christian Aid Week we can support MCM and stand in solidarity with those whose lives are characterised by upheaval and struggle, contingency plans and evacuations.
By supporting Christian Aid Week, you are among millions of people who think poverty is a scandal we do not have to accept. Your actions, commitment and contributions will bring about a better life for people in poor communities all over the world.
To find out more go to www.christianaid.org.uk or call 08080 006 006.
Trade justice: the struggle continues
2005 was a huge year for campaigning, and world poverty was high on the UK government’s agenda. The struggle for justice continues for Christian Aid in 2006 and beyond.
It is because of your plea that fundamental to justice is trade justice that finance ministers agreed to demand the right for the poorest countries to decide their own trade reforms.’ UK chancellor of the exchequer, Gordon Brown
What did you do in 2005 to make poverty history?
Perhaps you stayed up all night to wake up Whitehall during the Global Week of Action, joined 225,000 others to rally in Edinburgh before the G8 summit or met your MP at the lobby of parliament in November. To everyone who wore a white band, sent a campaign postcard, voted for trade justice or came to an event, thank you! Your energy, passion and commitment has been tremendous.
How did the UK government respond?
We heard some encouraging words from the UK government on trade justice in 2005. By trade justice we mean the right of governments to protect and support their vulnerable farmers and industries. The report of the Africa Commission, chaired by UK prime minister Tony Blair, concluded: Liberalisation must not be forced on Africa through trade or aid conditions.’ The Department for International Development (DFID) also announced an end to damaging conditions attached to aid. Even the G8 nations said: It is up to developing countries themselves and their governments to take the lead on development. They need to decide, plan and sequence their economic policies to fit with their own development strategies, for which they should be accountable to all their people.’ Overall, we have seen encouraging words on trade, but limited action.
Beyond 2005: what happens next?
2005 was a huge year for campaigning, and world poverty was high on the UK government’s agenda. The struggle for justice continues for Christian Aid in 2006 and beyond.
Onion farmers in Senegal are better off, thanks to your campaigning. Supported by Christian Aid partner The African Network for Integrated Development (RADI), campaigners have successfully persuaded the Senegalese government to ban onion imports during the harvest period, and introduce subsidised fertiliser. Christian Aid will continue to campaign for trade justice alongside partners in the developing world. Our aim is to ensure that rhetoric is turned into action, and that poor countries have the freedom to choose trade policies that will ensure poor people benefit from trade.
By sending your prayer and action card during Christian Aid Week 2006, you can make the UK government deliver action not just words!
Order prayer and action cards for your congregation or home group today. Send the action section to Christian Aid who will deliver them to the prime minister. Keep the prayer section and continue praying throughout the year.
2005 in numbers:
225,000 campaigners rallied in Edinburgh on 2 July
98,000 votes for trade justice cast during Christian Aid Week 2005 Hundreds of MPs lobbied at Westminster on 2 November
Eight world leaders who failed to deliver trade justice in Gleneagles
You may have specific questions about the Trade Justice Campaign. You will hopefully find the answers on our website at: www.christianaid.org.uk/campaign/trade/tradeq.htm or in a handy guide (F1158). To order, call 08700 787 788.
To find out more about the Trade Justice Campaign, visit www.christianaid.org.uk/campaign or call 020 7523 2225.
Christian Aid
London: PO Box 100, SE1 7RT Belfast: PO Box 150, BT9 6AE Cardiff: PO Box 6055, CF15 5AA Edinburgh: PO Box 11, EH1 1EL Dublin: 17 Clanwilliam Terrace, Dublin 2 Websites: www.christianaid.org.uk www.christian-aid.ie
UK registered charity number 1105851 Company number 5171525 Republic of Ireland charity number CHY 6998
Christian Aid Week