Ecumenical Delegation Calls for Change in Trade Policies
The Christian ecumenical world gathered forces this week to promote global trade policies systems that give priority to the poor. Meeting with representatives of the World Trade Organization at its headquarters in Geneva, an ecumenical delegation presented a petition requesting a “change in the international rules and practices that govern trade,” on April 13, 2005.
"We demand that our government and the governments of the world change the international rules and practices that govern trade so that they give priority to human rights and protection of the environment, and contribute to the eradication of poverty,” the petition, signed by over 264 Christian leaders from around the world, read.
The general secretary of the World Council of Churches, Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, led the delegation in presenting the Trade for People Campaign on behalf of the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance – an alliance of over 90 churches and Christian organizations worldwide.
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“Trade is not just a matter of economics but of faith" since "biblical standards for economic activity are justice and taking the side of the poor," Kobia said, according to WCC news. "We seek a world where global trade systems give priority to people who live in poverty."
Other top ecumenical bodies represented by the delegation were the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC), the Lutheran World Federation and the World Young Women’s Christian Association.
Rev. Dr Setri Nyomi, general secretary of the WARC, stressed that trade policies are often the source of concern for churches in impoverished nations.
"Every day, our pastors in towns and villages are accompanying people suffering as a consequence of trade policies and we want to ensure that the cries of those people are heard," Nyomi said.
Meanwhile, the WTO director for external relations, Alain Frank, received the petition and assured the ecumenical leaders that the organization shares the same concerns. According to WCC news, Frank also called on the ecumenical leaders to address the petition to national governments and other UN-related agencies since the WTO "cannot do more than it is equipped to do.”
The petition was signed as part of the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance’s Global Week of Action on Trade, which landed this year on April 10-16.
The Trade for People Petition, including a running list of signatures, is available at
http://www.e-alliance.ch/tradepetition.jsp
