The Third International Conference Financing for Development will take place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – July 13 – 16, 2015. What position will the Good Shepherd International Justice for Peace Office take? In our position paper on Economic Justice we state ‘Create and/or Participate in networks and campaigns that call for Economic Justice and inclusion for all.’ The Third International Conference on Financing for Development is one such moment. As a member of the following groups – NGO Committee on Financing for Development, the Global Coalition on Social Protection Floors and the Women’s Major Group I will be advocating for Economic Justice and inclusion for all. Here is the position paper of the NGO Committee on Financing for Development Click here decrying the fact that ‘international budget decisions and financial systems favor the few to the detriment of masses, and favor unjust private profits over the health of the planet.’ This point has been underscored in ‘Laudato Si’ and in the work of Noami Klein in ‘This Changes Everything: Capitalism Vs. the Climate.’
Budgeting priorities demands strong political will. Klein writes “our problem has a lot less to do with the mechanics of solar power than the politics of human power – specifically who wields it, a shift away from corporations and towards communities…” (page 25) How we finance determines what we finance. Privatization of profits but socialization of losses cannot be tolerated.
Laudato Si Paragraph 189 states ‘Politics must not be subject to the economy, nor should the economy be subject to the dictates of an efficiency-driven paradigm of technocracy. Today, in view of the common good, there is urgent need for politics and economics to enter into a frank dialogue in the service of life, especially human life. Saving banks at any cost, making the public pay the price, foregoing a firm commitment to reviewing and reforming the entire system, only reaffirms the absolute power of a financial system, a power which has no future and will only give rise to new crises after a slow, costly and only apparent recovery. The financial crisis of 2007-08 provided an opportunity to develop a new economy, more attentive to ethical principles, and new ways of regulating speculative financial practices and virtual wealth. But the response to the crisis did not include rethinking the outdated criteria which continue to rule the world.” The negotiations leading up to the Financing for Development Conference have not been change driven but slowly reneging on the commitment of the first paragraph of the Addis Ababa Accord.
“Our goal is to eradicate poverty and hunger in this generation, and to achieve sustainable development through promoting inclusive economic growth, protecting the environment, and promoting peaceful and inclusive societies. We commit to ensure gender equality and women’s and girls’ empowerment, to promote and protect all human rights, including the right to development, and to build an inclusive and equitable global economic system where no country or person is left behind, enabling decent work and productive livelihoods for all, while preserving the planet for our children and future generations.”
The signature campaign launched by the Asia Pacific Forum on Women – Law and Development APWLD points to the harsh reality of corporate greed … do consider signing the petition … every signature counts Stop Corporate Lawsuits Against Human Rights:
Development
I encourage every GS to keep aware of these important issues and take responsibility for local action as appropriate.
this is what our chapter is talking about. Clare