Church Leaders Call for Blair to Back up Africa Report with Action

Church leaders have stood by aid agencies this week by urging the British government to change its stance on international trade after the recent publication of the Commission for Africa Report.

The British Prime Minister, Tony Blair has admitted that the poverty condition in Africa is the "biggest moral challenge of our generation", but the Bishop of Chelmsford, Rev John Gladwin responded to the statement by saying that the big political statements had to be backed by action.

Commission for Africa is a government-backed project, and in its recent report it called for an alteration to the way in which the world’s rich nations and the African nations relate to each other. In particular, a call was made for something to be done regarding climate change, which the report stated has a dramatic impact on the African continent.

The chairman of Christian Aid, Bishop Gladwin in a speech to the House of Lords told that the government should not presume that "a general globalised and liberalised economy" would be satisfactory to Africa’s requirements.

In addition, Christian Aid’s Head of Policy, Charles Aburge urged the British government to change its policies if they were in contrast to the Commission’s report.

Currently Britain holds a policy of encouraging African countries to open up their markets, and in return they would be able to trade their goods on the European markets. However, the report stated that the African countries had to have the choice of where to open their markets based on their individual development and poverty reduction plans.

The Commission stated, "The EU must ensure that Economic Partnership Agreements support development needs. This means not forcing poor countries to liberalise."

Christian Aid, although applauding the Commission for Africa’s report, have said that it thinks the report does not go far enough with regards to directing precisely as to the regulations applicable towards multinational companies operating in the African continent.

Mr Aburge said, "The Commission only calls for more adherence to international codes and standards on a voluntary basis. The problem is that none of these codes are legally binding. Our experience shows that companies will abuse social and environmental standards unless there are laws to hold them to account."

The Regional Desk Officer for Southern Africa, West Africa and the Indian Ocean for USPG (United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel), Rev Canon Ossie Swartz criticised the report for the emphasis given towards the corruption taking place in Africa. Swartz commented, "Let us beware the stereotyping of Africa, and reflect with some humility on the long list of exposes of misdemeanours in both government and the churches in the West."

USPG’s regional representative continued, saying that the West had a "moral obligation" to assist the restoration of Africa. He concluded, "We do not want to dwell too much on the mistakes of the past, but we cannot also ignore the fact that Africa has been pillaged over a long time and that it has been the playground of men of war."

Prime Minister Tony Blair stated his belief that the report had bluntly revealed the corruption and conflict in Africa, but at the same time was very sharp in its criticism of rich countries that have continually failed to fulfil promises with regards to aid and fair trade.

In calling for a new partnership, Blair described it as "a partnership which requires us to support this change with more aid and better trade, with help in the face of famine, disease and poverty."

Bishop Gladwin was quick to warn Blair to follow up his comments quickly with actions: "It is easy for politicians to declare a priority for Africa and then for other things to take its place on the agenda and for there to be no structures in place for pursuing these goals."

Joining the host of Church leaders calling for action, Archbishop of Tanzania, Most Rev Donald Mtetemela said that the report would be a waste "if they do not reach and involve the poorest people in the continent’s remotest villages. My concern is always for the eight out of 10 people living in rural areas of my country. They see clouds of good intention forming in the West, but they so often do not see any rain."