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Lazarus at Our GateA critical moment in the fight against world poverty
SOCIAL JUSTICE STATEMENT 2013 - 2014
© Australian Catholic Bishops Conference 2013. You may download, display, print or reproduce this material for personal or non-commercial use, as long as you acknowledge the copyright holders. All other rights to the material are retained by the original copyright holders.Australian Catholic Bishops Conference
gathered together and committed themselves to tackling global poverty.
In 2000, the leaders of 189 nations,including Australia,
Their Declaration consisted of
eight Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs) to be achieved by 2015.
By R
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Since this Declaration in
2000,the proportion of
thosewho live in extreme
povertyhas been halved.
Percentage of People living in extreme poverty
(less than $1.25 a day)
1990 2000 2010
10
20
30
40
50
by aid and development projects during this time.
14,000 lives per day have been saved
Progress has been made
in alleviating poverty
throughout the world
but there is still a lot to do.
By 2015almost one billion
peoplewill be living on an
income of less than $1.25 a day.
Over a quarter of a million
womenstill die in childbirthannually.
© Micha Fleuren | Dreamstime Stock Photos
As many as 8 million children die every yearfrom malnutrition and preventable diseases
such as diarrhoea, measles and malaria.
Image courtesy of Sujin Jetkasettakorn / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
One in eight of the world’s peopledoes not get adequate nutrition.
There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen
and who feasted sumptuously
every day.
And at his gate
lay a poor man
named Lazarus,covered
with sores,
who longed to satisfy his hungerwith what fell from the richman’s table; even the dogs
would come and lick his sores.
In our region, Australia is the
rich manand
Lazarus is at our gate.
Australia is a prosperous nation.The global financial crisis of 2007–2008
devastated many countries
but it did not have such a catastrophic effect on Australia.
Our economy is strong.
Phill
Dan
ze /
Shu
tter
stoc
k.co
m
Around 20% of the world’s poor live in countries near us:
in East and South-East Asia and
the Pacific.
Who are the poor? Who’s left behind?
1. People who are hungry
The world produces enough food to feed
every child, woman and man.
And yet,12% of the global population,
870 million people,are undernourished.
2. Disaster victims
Developing countries are disproportionately affected
by natural disasters.
On average, a disaster will claim the lives of1052 people in the poorest countries
compared with 23 people in the developed world.
3. Indigenous people
By Steve Evans [CC by 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
There are approximately370 million
Indigenous people worldwide.
Together they make up around 5% of the world’s population,
yet they constitute up to 15% of the world’s poor.
4. People with disabilities
Disabilities are both a cause and consequence of poverty.
People living with a disability make up around
15% of the world’s population and about
20% of the very poorest in the world.
5. People who are displaced
By PH1 Robert R. McRill [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
In 2012, as a country like Pakistan struggled to accommodate
1,600,000 refugees…
Australia’s political leaders and mediawhipped up hysteria over the arrival of
17,000 asylum seekers in Australian waters.
Our response
The depth and breadth of poverty that still exists in our world calls us to action.
‘Villagers in Timor-Leste working on a new water-supply project’
The struggle against destitution ... is not enough.
It is a question, rather,of building a world
where every person…can live a fully human life …
and where the poor man Lazaruscan sit down at the same table
with the rich man. Pope Paul VI
If you have food in a fridge…
clothes in a cupboard…
a bed to sleep in…
and a roof over your head,
25%75%
You are richer than 75 %
of the world’spopulation
With whom will you stand?
Will you share your voice your wealth your resources your time?
We have the power to bring about change
Pick up the leaflet
Ten Steps towards solidarity
…for practical suggestions
www.acsjc.org.au
To read more about ending world poverty, pick up a copy of the
Social Justice Statementfor 2013-2014
www.acsjc.org.au
Acknowledgements:
• www.garyradler.com• www.freedigitalphotos.net • www.dreamstime.com• www.shutterstock.com • www.aapimage.aap.com.au • Caritas Australia• Helen Kearins rsm• Sarah MacRaild
Australian Catholic Social Justice Council