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Global Mission Office

Can anybody else see the contradiction of celebrating Guy Fawkes in the same week as Armistice Day? Besides the dodgy historical origins, the (hopefully) harmless explosions and fiery lights are manufactured by a fireworks industry clouded by horrific child labour practices. Why are we willing to ignite explosives manufactured by children in an unregulated and exploitative industry to entertain our children? Imagine the impact if we enthusiastically commemorated the signing of the Armistice that ended the explosions that killed so many, including New Zealanders rather than Mr Fawkes and his shady co-conspirators?

Child Labour

If you have the stomach for it, you may like to look at sites on child labour. Two examples are Unicef at
http://www.unicef.org/protection/index_childlabour.html
and
http://child-labour.freeyellow.com/

The Global March against Child Labour reports how Indian children often as young as 4 years of age, are forced to start 12 hour work days in fireworks and match factories at 3am. They have to crouch in cramped, dark sheds, 7 days a week and so are constantly exposed to dangerous chemicals, fire and explosions without any protective gear. Harsh treatment by employers including the sexual assault of girls as young as seven and eight is common. The average salary is Rs 90 (NZ$3.27) per month. They question how is it possible that a country which cannot find jobs for 36 million adults but has over 50 million child workers. And that is just in India.
http://globalmarch.org/index.php

Causal factors

How can this continue to happen? A report by the Human Rights Watch Project indicates that poverty is the primary cause. They state: "the combination of poverty and the lack of access to credit is ... behind bonded labour... leaving millions of India's people extremely poor".
http://www.hrw.org/reports/1996/India3.htm

Recent reports from Zimbabwe that President Robert Mugabe collapsed after a family celebration has raised the worrying question of who his successor might be. Given the regular reports of arbitrary arrests, torture and killings as well as a failing economy, all indications are that the country is already very unstable. The WCC has urged the Zimbabwean government to stop human rights violations and address the deteriorating law and order situation. The full text is available at:
http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/international/20031027zimbabwe.html

Solutions and Action

The huge challenge that faces the GMO daily is to try and work out a valid response to so many unbeliev-able needs being experienced around the world. How can the Church of Jesus Christ minister effectively 'to the very least of these'? Often we have collaborate with partner churches and organisations who are better placed or equipped than we are to do the task. Here are some examples.

Glenn Barclay joins an international team

The next Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) team to work in Israel Palestine is made up of six Norwegians, four Swedes, 0ne Swiss, nine British, one American and our very own Glenn Barclay. It wasn't easy to bring it all together, but Glenn left on Sunday 02 November for orientation in Washington DC as part of the 'Peaceful Ends through Peaceful Means' programme under the auspices of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Glenn is fulfilling Psalm 122: 2 "Our feet are standing in your gates, O Jerusalem'. On our behalf. Let us fulfil the challenge of Armistice and "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem' (Psalm 122:6). You will be able to follow Glenn's progress on-line as she updates her diary as often as possible by looking at the Middle East pages on the Global Mission section of the website.

Read more about the EAPPI at
http://www.eappi.org/http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/international/palestine/eap.html

Presbyterians send aid to Solomon Island refugees

limmerton Presbyterian Church has been in the news recently for a practical response to the call for clothing for refugees in Honiara. Church member and collection organiser Garry Pointon reported that the clothes filled 10 wheelie bins. Take a bow Plimmerton.

Postcards used to fight exploitation

Our CWM partner Church, the Church of North India recently hosted the Ecumenical National Children's Assembly in October and arranged for the printing of more than 10,000 postcards. The idea is that children will post them to the government calling for an end to child labour in accordance with its own constitution and the many UN conventions.

I was sick and you looked after me

We are further encouraged by stories like this one from an AIDS sufferer in Zimbabwe. He states that he would have taken his own life if Christian volunteers from the local Church had not visited him. As well as visits, this local congregation organises meetings for people with AIDS to talk about their feelings. The stigma associated with HIV/AIDS resulted in at least 450 suicides in 2002 alone. In the face of huge challenges, small initiatives can make a huge impact.

Cars can run on coconut oil

Just when you thought you had heard it all, many will have heard of Tony Deamer who is a mechanic in Port Vila. Tony has a car running on coconut oil and can see huge commercial benefits in the future.

"It's completely sustainable," Deamer said. "and coconut oil is non-toxic. What other Pacific fuel can you cook your fish and chips in and run your truck on?" About 200 minibuses are currently using the coconut oil/diesel mix. Slow-burning coconut oil allows cars to go up steep hills in second and the carbon emissions are simply what the palm tree extracted from the atmosphere. Despite how frugal it sounds, this is not a Presbyterian project.

And from our 'lessons from the business sector' file

Newstalk ZB recently interviewed Gerry Hallett who is the Team Leader of Wales Trade International. Apparently the Welsh like New Zealanders because we are deemed to be good decision makers. It seems we do not keep on referring back to committees like European business people. His team are impressed by how Kiwis can make up their minds up on the spot. Added to this, Mr Hallett suggested that significant cultural similarities between us made 'doing business' easy. Who would have believed that good decisions could be made without a committee? Who would have believed that a car can run on coconut oil?

Next Global Mission Gazette out soon. Register at 
globalmissiongazette(at)xtra.co.nz