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The Poverty Question
9 August, 2010
Everybody is looking for answers these days. But at Micah Challenge, we're looking for people who want to ask a good question! Questions are important! Unless we ask the right questions, we will never find the right answers.
All of the best moments of my life started with a great question; "Dad, can you teach me how to kick the footy?"; "Allie, will you marry me?" And all of the great movements that changed the world started with great questions. For example, a question about the injustice of one person enslaving another caused a guy like William Wilberforce to interrupt his comfortable and privileged existence to fight for the abolition of slavery.
Here's a question for you: Will YOU remember the world's poorest people this election?
It seems to me that our political leaders haven't asked themselves that question this election. We think it's an important question. It's a life and death question for millions of people in our world! In fact we think it is one of the most important questions that anyone promoting themselves as the potential leader of a large and wealthy nation should be asking themselves. Since they seem to have forgotten to ask themselves this question, we're going to ask it for them.
So put it in your diary! Set your alarm clock! Ask your mum to remind you!
9am this Wed 11th Aug join Micah Challenge, Make Poverty History and many thousands across the country to raise THE POVERTY QUESTION to our nation's leaders.
To help us raise The Poverty Question this election, visit: www.micahchallenge.org.au/thepovertyquestion
Remember when you were a kid and your mum ignored you when you were asking a question. You would just ask louder! We need your help to make sure that we ask THE POVERTY QUESTION in such a loud voice that we can't be ignored.
We've got a great question, now we want some answers!
- John Beckett, National Coordinator, Micah Challenge Australia
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A Gillard Government - what does that mean for the poor?
15 July, 2010
By John Beckett, National Coordinator, Micah Challenge Australia
Last night at dinner I was talking to some good friends about poverty and Micah Challenge's recent Voices for Justice conference in Canberra. The conversation turned to the demise of Kevin Rudd and the rise of Julia Gillard, PM. And the question came, as it has a number of times in the last few weeks, 'What does the leadership change mean for Micah Challenge? Does it mean you are back to square one?'
In many ways I was sad to watch the demise of Kevin Rudd. I see him as an idealist who won the hearts of a nation with those ideals, but fell victim to a political system that doesn't often reward idealism. More than that, I am sad (and a little frustrated) that we have lost a great advocate for the poor, and for Australia's responsibility to the poor. But what about the square one question? Have the unpredictable seismic shifts of Australian politics thrown a spanner in the works of the anti-poverty movement?
Julia Gillard is an unknown quantity on most international issues. Her focus has been on domestic portfolios such as education and workplace relations. She was part of the leadership group who developed Labor's existing policy so it would be a surprise if she back-flipped on any current commitments. However, it remains to be seen whether she will be a champion for the cause of poverty. It remains to be seen whether she will be as receptive to the advances and aims of Micah challenge as Kevin Rudd has been.
But are we back to square one? My answer is that I hope we never left it!
One of the things that I tend to harp on about is lifelong advocacy. In the world of campaigning, the aim of most people is to see who can make the loudest noise. In that world, I believe Micah Challenge is distinctive because we are trying to see whether we can make the longest noise.
As a Christian campaign, we are necessarily committed to discipleship, because that is what Jesus was committed to. Disciples are people that follow Jesus and commit to the things Jesus was committed to. Disciples do that regardless of the pressures we face in a broken and sinful world.
For Micah Challenge, discipleship is square one. Disciples are people that understand the call to work for justice for the world's poor is a never changing part of their lives in this world. Never changing commitment in an ever changing world.
Over the last five years since Micah Challenge started we have seen some success in getting policies regarding global poverty changed in this country. We now have bi-partisan commitment to 0.5% GNI going to development assistance by 2015. We have seen increased funding to health, education and sanitation.
However, policies and politicians will come and go. The events of the past weeks only serve to highlight the importance of lifelong advocacy. Lifelong advocacy means always standing against injustice, and for justice. If you ask me what legacy I would like to see Micah Challenge leave, I would tell you I want our legacy to be a changed church in Australia. If we can help Christians in this country and around the world see advocacy for and with the poor as an integral part of their discipleship, then there is good reason to hope that we will continue to see the eradication of poverty.
Lifelong advocacy today means that Christians in this country turn to influencing the policies of a new Gillard-led government to help create a more just world for the poor. It means that we speak loudly to ensure recent advances are not jeopardised. It means we encourage all parties to outline what poverty policy platform they will take into this year's federal election (where we could see more changes). It means we continue to pray.
So a Gillard government simply means more of the same. We never left square one. We are simply reminded of the importance of staying there.
John Beckett is the National Coordinator of Micah Challenge Australia. Before coming to Micah Challenge John worked for eight years with African Enterprise, focusing on partnership development and indigenous mission.
John holds a Masters in Theology from Regent College in Canada and writes on the global responsibility of Christians and churches. A leader, Bible teacher and mentor, John lives in Sydney with his beautiful wife Allie and baby daughter Molly. He desires to see more and more Christians taking on justice, mercy and humility as a way of life and speaking, praying and acting for and with the global poor.Write to the Treasurer
12 May, 2010
Please copy and paste the text below, adapt and email to the Treasurer.
To: Treasurer Wayne.Swan.MP@aph.gov.au
Cc: Shadow Treasurer j.hockey.MP@aph.gov.auDear Treasurer,
I am writing in response to this year's federal budget announcement concerning Australia's overseas aid budget.
Thank you for the much needed increase to Australia's overseas aid of $530 million this year. This is welcome news for the world's poor and has the potential to make a real difference in the lives of many. However, Australia's giving is still below the average OECD effort. In fact, Australia is one of only a few OECD countries not yet committed to a timetabled increase to the internationally agreed aid target of 0.7% GNI.
While increases to education, water and sanitation are welcome; it is disappointing that the proportion of aid going to the priority area of health has decreased from 16% of last year's aid budget to 14% this year. Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 4 and 5 to reduce child mortality and improve maternal health are lagging behind globally to be achieved by 2015. 18 of 29 developing countries in our region are off track to achieve this goal and Australia needs to lift the proportion of its aid to health.
It is also disappointing that there is no new funding in this year's budget to help poor countries cope with climate change. In line with the Copenhagen Accord, Australia is required to give its fair share of new and additional money for climate change in the range of $450-$600 million over the period 2010-12. I am concerned that the money set aside for climate change is not additional to aid commitments.
I ask the Government to:
- Set a timetabled commitment to reach the internationally agreed aid target of 0.7% GNI
- Scale up Australia's contribution to health aid to our fair share of $1.18 billion to tackle priority areas of child mortality and maternal health.
- Give Australia's fair share of new and additional money for climate change adaptation for poor countries, in line with the Copenhagen Accord.
Sincerely,
YOUR NAME:
YOUR POSTCODE:
(Supporter of Micah Challenge Australia)Micah Challenge Federal Budget review
12 May, 2010
"We are encouraged to see the global poor prioritised in this budget, with a sizable increase in aid and development funding", said Micah Challenge National Coordinator, Mr. John Beckett. "The money allocated to poverty alleviation has the potential to transform the lives of some of our poorest brothers and sisters overseas."
The Government has used new international accounting standards to calculate Gross National Income (GNI), which should lead to a more than doubling of the aid budget between now and 2015. This year's $530 million increase lifts aid from $3.82 billion in 2009/10 to $4.35 billion in 2010/11, which means the Government is on track to fulfil its aid commitment to reaching 0.5% GNI by 2015.
"The government's renewed commitment to reaching their 0.5% election commitment is an important step. What we need now is a timetabled plan for reaching the internationally agreed target of 0.7% GNI from both the Government and the Coalition", said Mr. Beckett. "We continue to lag behind many other developed countries on this issue".
Click here to download a media release with an extended budget analysis (Word.doc).
Click here to download a detailed budget analysis from ACFID.
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