“We don’t know what 2021 will reserve for us, but what all of us can do together is make a bit more effort to take care of each other.” Pope Francis
The coronavirus crisis has proved that we need greater cooperation between nations, solidarity between people and a greater focus on the poorest in society, as they struggle to cope with poverty, hunger and in many places, the impact of climate change.
Our voices are needed more than ever this year, as the UK hosts two major global events – the G7 Summit in June in Cornwall and the COP26 UN Climate Talks in Glasgow in November. The UK can have significant influence on these meetings as host, and Cafod are calling on all of us to share our message that we want the world poorest people to be at the heart of these talks.
Two issues have the greatest potential to make a difference.
1) As poor countries struggle with the devastating effects of the pandemic, we want the crippling debt repayments that they continually make to richer nations and private banks to be cancelled to help them cope.
2) We want decisions taken to keep global temperature rises below the disastrous 1.50C threshold. Many of the world’s poorest countries are struggling to cope with the effects of climate change such as increased droughts, floods and cyclones. We must urge the Prime Minister to make sure communities hardest hit by the climate emergency are listened to at COP26.
CAFOD is inviting all to sign our petition here and to organise an online meeting with their MP to talk about these issues, perhaps as a small group from the parish. You don’t need to be an expert in the issues or in technology! Read more about it here.
Bishop David has supported the latest campaign here
Referring to the COVID crisis, Pope Francis says, “If only this immense sorrow may not prove useless but enable us to take a step forward towards a new style of life.”