Last year, 8.8 million children died in extreme poverty before reaching their fifth birthday; that's more than 24 000 children dying every day - mostly from easily preventable causes, like diarrhoea and pneumonia. These children, who happen to have been born into poverty, have just as much value to God as our kids here in Australia. Micah Challenge wants to see grassroots action to advocate for the world's kids springing up from Churches all over Australia, and have come up with a simple but effective action idea to help Churches engage with this issue.

"We want to see 'Survive Past Five' 5th Birthday Parties held in all 150 electorates across Australia before the 2010 Federal Election", said Micah Challenge National Coordinator, Mr. John Beckett. "The 'Survive Past Five' campaign presents an exciting opportunity to use our voices for justice, by advocating to see more kids survive to their fifth birthday - and beyond."

A 5th Birthday Party is a great way to engage your church, school, workplace or wider community with this key justice issue. The action can be easily adapted to various church-life settings, including family church services, morning teas, kids church, or playgroups. It can also create an opportunity to connect with your local media and your Member of Parliament (MP). Invite your MP to attend your party or send them a photo along with signed 5^th birthday campaign cards to encourage our Government to do its fair share towards making sure that every child can survive past five.

Click here for more information on the 5th Birthday campaign.
Click here to download a media release as a Word document.

National Coordinator of Micah Challenge Haiti, Jean-Valery Vital Herne, has sent out and urgent request for prayer. Click here for more information on the Micah Challenge campaign in Haiti. Micah Challenge International will regularly update their website with reports from Jean-Valery.

Click the links below to view media articles discussing Voices for Justice. Please leave comments and ratings where possible. If you came to Voices for Justice, please don't forget to contact your local media.

Local media articles:
- The Bush Telegraph (Click to download. See page 5)
- The Westerner (Brisbane. Article made the front page.)
- St George and Sutherland Leader
- Berwick and District Journal
- South Sydney Herald (click to download. See page 7)
- Hawkesbury Courier (click to download)
- Central Coast Express Advocate
- Kiewa Valley Observer (click to download)
- Moonee Valley Community News
- Berwick News
- Redcliffe and Bayside Herald (click to download)
- Bayside and Northern Suburbs Star (click to download)
- Inner West Courier
- Manly-Manado
- Blacktown Advocate
- Wagga Daily (click to download)

Christian and denominational media articles:
- Eternity Christian newspaper
- Journey Uniting Church QLD (click to download - Page 6)
- YMIS website
- Uniting World
- Anglican News Canberra & Goulburn (click to download - Page 13 & 16)
- Ekklesia (UK)
- Cath News
- Salvation Army
- Melbourne Anglican
- Eureka Street
- Christian Today
- Sight Magazine
- Lyn Lusi's speech on Sight
- Australian Christian Channel

Radio:
- John Beckett on ABC Sunday Nights (podcast)
- JB on on ABC Sunday Nights (blog)
- John Beckett on ABC Brisbane
- Carlyn Chen on Sonshine FM
- Tim Costello on climate change & the poor on ABC

Other Websites:
- Politicians discuss Micah Challenge on Twitter
- Photos on AAP website
- 5th Birthday Party photo on Bob McMullan's site

PM and Turnbull launch poverty and justice bible:
- Sydney Morning Herald
- Ninemsn
- Christian Today
- SMH
- Brisbane Times

Mr. Rudd's Speech:
- World Vision (video)
- eGovt monitor website
- Sojourners website

Mr. Turnbull's Speech:
- Liberal Party website
- Reverse PR website

Articles mentioning 0.7% and/or climate change:
- The Age
- WA Today
- Brisbane Times
- ABC (radio)

Blogs:
- Servant
- The ONE campaign
- Bishop John
- Gordon Moyes
- Wotnews
- Micah Challenge faith and creation blog
- John Mark Ministries
- Legal forums discussion gateway