Religious leaders want action on poverty
Religious leaders are calling on Prime Minister Tony Blair to use next week’s G8 summit to help poorer nations.
Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams, chief rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks and chair of the Council of Mosques and Imams, Sheikh Zaki Badawi, are among to put their name to an open letter to Mr Blair.
The letter calls on members of the G8 to halve poverty levels in developing countries and cancel the debt of many nations.
It also outlines the need to tackle the growing problem of infant mortality and asks for a commitment to reduce rates by two-thirds by 2015.
“The UK’s chairing of the G8, along with its presidency of the EU, require and challenge Britain to play the fullest part now in seeking to change the structures and practices that result in suffering and deprivation,” says the letter.
“We urge all the leaders at the Gleneagles summit to use their huge power and influence to meet the clear goals that have been set by the international community.”
It is the first time the various religious leaders have jointly spoken since a statement in March 2003 ahead of the Iraq war.
Roman Catholic archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor and Free Churches moderator David Coffey are also among the signatories.
