Mehr Einsatz zum Erreichen der Millenniumsziele gefordert
London (epd). 80 Religionsvertreter haben 5. April 1.000 Tage vor dem Ende des Jahres 2015 in einem offenen Schreiben weitere Anstrengungen zum Erreichen der Millenniumsentwicklungsziele angemahnt. Die Vertreter von Religionsgemeinschaften der G8-Länder empfehlen den Staats- und Regierungschefs dabei unter anderem, die bestehende Verpflichtung zu erfüllen, 0,7 Prozent des Bruttonationaleinkommens für die Entwicklungshilfe zur Verfügung zu stellen, sowie sich für ein Abkommen für Steuertransparenz einzusetzen und Entwicklungsländer zu mehr Transparenz in Finanzfragen zu drängen, heißt es in dem Brief, der am Freitag in der britischen "Financial Times" veröffentlicht wurde.
Zu den Unterzeichnern gehören neben dem Ratsvorsitzenden der Evangelischen Kirche in Deutschland (EKD), Nikolaus Schneider, und dem EKD-Auslandsbischof Martin Schindehütte auch der Erzbischof von Canterbury, Justin Welby, sowie der Vorsitzende der Allgemeinen Rabbinerkonferenz in Deutschland, Rabbi Henry G. Brandt und der Vorstandssprecher der Türkisch-Islamischen Union (DITIB), Bekir Alboga.
Die acht im Jahr 2000 beschlossenen Millenniumsentwicklungsziele der UN umfassen Vorgaben für den Kampf gegen Hunger, Armut, Krankheiten und Bildungsmangel, die bis 2015 zu erreichen sind. Unter anderem soll der Anteil der Hungernden und der Armen an der Weltbevölkerung halbiert werden.
8. April 2013
Originalbrief
To G8 Heads of Government,
Today marks the start of the 1000 day countdown to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the 2015 deadline. It is an appropriate moment to pause and to reflect on progress to date.
Development is working. But challenges remain. The number of people living in extreme poverty has been halved ahead of time and 14,000 fewer children die each day than in 1990. Yet 1 in 8 people still go to bed hungry every night and over 2 million die of malnutrition each year.
Even as conversations accelerate as to what ought to replace the MDGs, we should not slacken our efforts towards realising existing goals. Meeting the remaining targets, while challenging, is possible – but only if governments do not waiver from the moral and political commitments made over a decade ago.
Thirteen years on from the start of the Millennium the values and principles that drive these goals are as imperative as ever. The financial crisis may be a reason but is not an excuse for hesitation or deferral. The MDGs remind us that in addition to providing for the well being of our own societies, we have a collective responsibility to uphold human dignity and the common good at the global level. Each individual has a value that can never be lost and must never be ignored.
With a focus on tax, trade and transparency, the UK Presidency of the G8 this year has the potential to advance the MDG agenda in ways that strike at the underlying causes of poverty, in particular by ensuring the wealth created by developing countries is not lost through unfair tax practices, a lack of transparency or a failure to secure the benefits of trade for developing countries.
As religious leaders from across the G8 we recommend that our Heads of Government take the following actions when they meet in June. First, fulfil existing commitments to spend 0.7% of national income on aid. Secondly, launch a G8 Convention on Tax Transparency committing signatory countries to prevent individuals and companies from hiding wealth so that it’s untraceable. Thirdly, press for greater financial transparency from governments of developing countries so that the citizens of these countries can hold their governments to account for the money they spend.
Reaching a purposeful consensus on these areas won’t be easy. But, if the political will and moral leadership is forthcoming, this year’s G8 could help to create an environment that encourages the conditions for inclusive, equitable and sustainable economic growth – conditions that are desperately needed if we are to realise the MDGs and even greater things beyond.
Yours,
The Most Revd and Rt Hon Justin Welby
Lord Archbishop of Canterbury
The Most Revd Vincent Nichols
Archbishop of Westminster
The Most Revd Philip Tartaglia
Archbishop of Glasgow
Rt Revd Albert O. Bogle
Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
The Most Revd David Chillingworth
Bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane
Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church
Revd Jonathan Edwards
General Secretary, Baptist Union of Great Britain
Mr Paul Parker
Presiding Clerk, Religious Society of Friends of Great Britain
Rev Roberta Rominger
General Secretary of the United Reformed Church
Rev Dr Michael Jagessar
Moderator of the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church
Rev Dr Mark Wakelin
President of the Conference of the Methodist Church in Britain
Revd Simon Walkling
Moderator, National Synod of Wales of the United Reformed Church
Rev R. Kenneth Lindsay
President of the Methodist Church in Ireland,
Archbishop Paul Hackman
Trans-Atlantic and Pacific Alliances of Churches
Commissioner Clive Adams
Territorial Commander, Salvation Army, UK and ROI
Rt Revd Mar Theodosius
Diocesan Epicsopa, Mar Thoma Church
Rev Michael Heaney,
General Secretary of the Congregational Federation
Rev Torbjørn Holt
Chairman, Council of Lutheran Churches in the UK
Rt Revd Munib Younan
President, Lutheran World Federation
Ravinder Kaur Nijjar
Co-Chair of Religions for Peace European Women of Faith Network
Lord Indarjit Singh, OBE
Network of Sikh Organisations
Dr Julian Bond
Director, Christian-Muslim Forum
Dr Natubhai Shah, MBE
Chair/CEO Jain Network
Bhai Sahib, Bhai Mohinder Singh Ahluwalia
Chairman, Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha
National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United Kingdom
Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari, MBE
Chairman of the East London Mosque, and former Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain
Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner,
Movement Rabbi for the Movement for Reform Judaism
Rabbi Natan Levy,
Environmental Liaison to the Chief Rabbi's Office
Rabbi Danny Rich
Chief Executive, Liberal Judaism
Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg
Senior Rabbi of the Masorti Movement
Rt Revd Paul Hendricks
Auxiliary Bishop, Archdiocese of Southwark and Co-Chair, Christian Muslim Forum
Anjum Anwar MBE
Dialogue Development Officer, exChange Project, Blackburn Cathedral; Chair, Woman’s Voice; Trustee, Christian Muslim Forum
His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel of France
Ecumenical Patriarchate, President of the Conference of European Churches
The Most Revd. Dr. Katharine Schori
Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church of the United States of America
Mr Dave Courchene
Elder and Spiritual Leader, Anishnabe Nation, Eagle Clan
Mrs Pascale Fremond
President, Religions for Peace Canada
Victor C. Goldbloom M.D.
Companion of the Order of Canada, Past Chair, National Executive, Canadian Jewish Congress
The Most Revd Fred Hiltz
Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Canada
Mr Mark Huyser-Wierenga
Chair of the Board, Citizens for Public Justice
Rt Revd Susan C. Johnson
National Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
Mobeenuddin H. Khaja, O.Ont.
President, Association of Progressive Muslims of Canada
The Right Revd Gary Paterson
Moderator, the United Church of Canada
Pandit Roopnauth Sharma
President Hindu Federation and Spiritual Leader Shri Ram Mandir, Mississauga
Mr. Prem Singh Vinning
President, World Sikh Organization of Canada
The Rev. Dr. James Christie
Director, Ridd Institute for Religion and Global Policy, University of Winnipeg, Canada
The Rev. Dr. Karen Hamilton
General Secretary, The Canadian Council of Churches
Major Jim Champ
President, The Canadian Council of Churches
Dr. h.c. Nikolaus Schneider
Chair of the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany
Rt Revd Martin Schindehütte
Head of the Department for Ecumenical Relations and Ministries Abroad, Evangelical Church in Germany
Rev. Regina Claas
General Secretary, Union of Evangelical Free Churches in Germany
Prof. Dr. Johannes Lähnemann
Vice Secretary of the Round Tables of Religions in Germany
Rabbi Dr. Henry G. Brandt
General Rabbi Conference of the Central Council of Jews in Germany
Mr Bekir Alboga
Deputy General Secretary of the Turkish Islamic Union of the Public Institution for Religion, Germany
Dr. Timmo Guezelmansur
Head of the Center for Christian Muslim Dialogue of the Catholic Bishop’s Conference in Germany
Prof. Dr. Assaad Elias Kattan,
Orthodox Churches in Germany
Rt Revd Prof. Dr. Martin Hein
Protestant Church of Kurhessen-Waldeck
Dr. Nicola Towfigh
High Spiritual Council of Baha’i in Germany
Mr Michael Gerhard
Council of the Buddhist Union in Germany
Most Rev. Masanori Yoshimura
President, Japanese Association of Religious Organizations
Patriarch, Shinto Shinshu-kyo
Most Ven. Yukei Matsunaga
Honorary President, G8 Religious Leaders Summit 2008
Patriarch, Shingon Esoteric Buddhism
Very Ven. Koho Murayama
President, International Religious Fellowship
Lord Chancellor, Soto Zen Buddhism
Most Revd. Mitsuo Miyake
President, International Association for Religious Freedom
Senior Chief Minister, Shinto Konko Church of Izuo
Most Ven. Jisho Omori
Patriarch, Benten-shu Buddhism
Chief Abbot, Myoohji Temple
Most Ven. Nisshin Matsushita
Patriarch, Honmon Hokke-shu Lotus Buddhism
Chief Abbot, Myorenji Temple
Rev. Takeshi Nishida
President, Itto-en Religious Community
Adviser, Religion for Peace / Japan
Most Revd. Tsunetada Mayumi
Chief Priest, Sumiyoshi Grand Shrine