Church magazine article on the IF campaign

1 in 8 people in the world will go to bed hungry tonight yet our planet provides enough food for everyone. This is unfair, unjust and frankly, totally preventable. That’s why Christian Aid is joining with other organisations in a campaign to tell our leaders that if they take strong action to tackle the structural causes of hunger, there will be enough to meet the needs of earth’s 870 million hungry people. The ENOUGH FOOD FOR EVERYONE IF campaign tackles 4 issues head on: aid, tax, land and transparency. We can overcome hunger IF:

• We give aid to help the poorest people feed themselves.

• We stop big companies dodging tax in poor countries.

• We stop poor farmers being forced off their land.

• We force governments and big corporations to be honest and transparent about their actions.

2013 gives us the platform to speak out and get world leaders to listen. In March we see the Budget where both aid and tax will be on the agenda. In June the British government will be chairing the G8 summit in Northern Ireland. Before the G8, David Cameron is holding a Hunger summit.

All of these are great opportunities for us to speak out and get world leaders to listen.

David Cameron needs to hear the message loud and clear from the UK public that the current situation is unacceptable. For this coalition campaign to be a success we need you to join with thousands of others in taking action by:

• Get involved in lobbying your MP about the campaign by signing up to be a local lobbyist (visit christianaid.org.uk/actnow)

• Organising an event at your church to raise awareness of the campaign.

• Joining us at events throughout 2013 to call for hunger justice.

Our faith propels us to action. Take 5 minutes now to think and pray about how you and your church could join in with the campaign. Is there an existing (or budding) group of activists who you could spur on to get involved? Or could you speak to your church’s leadership about how to incorporate the campaign message into sermons, prayers or notices in the next few months?

There are lots of campaigning tips from how to lobby your MP to how to organise an effective event at www.christianaid.org.uk/actnow, where you will also find details of Christian Aid’s Regional Offices. Further information about the IF Campaign, including Christian Aid worship resources for churches can be found at www.christianaid.org.uk/if