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European Culture Prize for "Brot für die Welt"
Message of Congratulations from the Chairperson of the EKD Council
October 23, 2008
"Brot für die Welt" [Bread for the World] embodies the spirit of love of neighbor. Those were the words of the chairperson of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) Bishop Wolfgang Huber, on the occasion of the presentation of the European Culture Prize "Pro Humanitate" to the Protestant aid campaign on Friday 24 October in Stuttgart. In his congratulatory remarks, Bishop Huber stressed that this recompense for "Brot für die Welt" came at an opportune time. It was a "fitting gesture also because recent events show that pure selfishness is not a viable philosophy of life."
The Council chairperson highlighted the fact that the Protestant campaign was firmly rooted in local congregations. Thanks to "Brot für die Welt," the causes of poverty and injustice have been brought to the attention of an extremely large audience. The point of departure of the aid campaign was the spectacle of the suffering that the colonial powers had left in their wake, for example, in India and Africa, as well as gratitude for the assistance provided to post-war Germany. "We owe a great debt to worldwide diakonia as well as to diaconal action within our own country," Bishop Huber said.
The work of "Brot für die Welt" at the dawn of this 21st century is just as pressing as it was 50 years ago. The Council chairperson was aware of the objection that this effort was merely a drop in the ocean. But for him, this objection is made invalid "when I see Sudanese refugees having access to clean water thanks to a new well, when I meet young Ethiopians who are learning a trade, or when I see the Treatment Action Campaign in South Africa making antiretroviral treatment available to AIDS patients. These are just a few examples that I have witnessed firsthand only recently. They are projects that 'Brot für die Welt' supports with the help of German donations."
Hanover, October 23, 2008
EKD Press Office
Silke Römhild