Earthquake Tsunami Appeal
Hope amidst the Destruction: Time to unite against poverty
Statement by The Global Call to Action against Poverty on the policy implications of the Tsunami
- On December 26, 2004, an earthquake of unusual violence hit Indonesia and the subsequent Tsunami affected the shores of the Indian Ocean in both Asia and Africa, causing hundreds of thousands of deaths and seriously affecting the livelihoods of millions of people in many countries. Whilst this disaster has caused great despair, the global wave of solidarity and public generosity that followed it offers hope amidst the destruction.
- The destruction from the Tsunami was not merely a "natural disaster" but was greatly exacerbated by extreme poverty and marginalization for which governments both in the affected countries and in the rich world must take responsibility.
- The substantial support now promised by governments is a direct result of pressure from the public and civil society organizations across the world. This demonstrates once again that when ordinary people unite across the world against injustice they can force world leaders to act.
- The significant financial pledges that have now been made need to become a reality. We must see the pledged money turned into real money and spent on ensuring that the rights of the poorest and most marginalized people are fulfilled. The members of the Global Call to Action Against Poverty will monitor this at every level.
- Relief is not enough and a return to the status quo would still leave the communities most affected by the Tsunami in poverty. We need a shift in national and international policies to eliminate poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goals. This includes trade justice, debt cancellation, a major increase in the quantity and quality of aid, and national anti-poverty efforts that are democratic, transparent, and accountable to citizens.
- The form of the relief and development effort is as important as the amounts of money spent on it. Already members of the Global Call to Action against Poverty have witnessed discrimination in the Tsunami response based on religious, caste, ethnic, economic and gender inequalities. Everyone involved in the Tsunami response has a duty to ensure that there is no discrimination at any level, that women and men are shown equal respect, and that all affected people, especially the poorest and most marginalized, are able to shape the relief and development effort carried out in their name. Particular attention must be paid to the protection of children.
- All tsunami aid must be additional and not at the cost of aid to the poorest countries; and just as the Tsunami necessitates debt cancellation in Asia, so HIV/AIDS necessitates debt cancellation in Africa.
- Whilst the devastation following from the Tsunami has resulted in unprecedented media coverage, the devastation wreaked on Africa, Latin America and Asia every week from continuing international inaction on debt, aid and trade is actually greater in scale. Avoiding this weekly "man-made Tsunami" requires the same solidarity and determination in the global public response as has been shown in response to the "natural tsunami". On July 1st before the G8 meeting, and on 10th September before the UN Special Session, millions of people will put on a white band as a symbol of their demand for action against poverty.
- Earthquakes are unpredictable, but many of the deaths resulting from the Tsunami could have been avoided if a warning system had been in place. Similarly, we already know that thousands of children are going to die this year from diseases that can be cured and the livelihoods of millions of poor people are going to be affected by decisions on trade and finances taken by the leaders of the richest countries of the world. Wearing white bands will be our early warning. World leaders have no excuse for not taking action.
Note:
The Global Call to Action against Poverty (www.whiteband.org) is a world-wide alliance committed to pushing world leaders to live up to their promises, and to make a breakthrough on poverty in 2005. Many of the members of the Global Call to Action against Poverty are actively working on the ground right now to help the people affected by the Tsunami.