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.

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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.

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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