As the pandemic situation continues to improve in this country, we have a feeling of optimism and expectation that life might be on the verge of returning to something more like normal.  And perhaps this might allow us to direct our thoughts to the wider world.  The week of May 10^th to 16^th is Christian Aid Week.  Christian Aid is a charity which has worked to eradicate poverty for those of all faiths and none across the world for over 75 years.

Christian Aid Week is particularly concentrating this year on climate crisis and the injustice of the unequal effects across our world.  It is an acknowledged fact that people living in poverty experience the greatest consequences and impact on their daily lives from global warming.  A reliable source of water is something which we take for granted in this country but in many parts of the world, people are affected by long periods of drought followed by excessive rainstorms, without any means of capturing and retaining the water.

Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent globally, as we know from recent disruption to our own normal way of life caused by unusual weather patterns in the UK.  ‘Once in a lifetime’ flooding now seems to be happening every few years. The significance of global warming has even more impact on poorer nations.  For many months of the year, women have to make long and dangerous daily treks to access water for their families, journeys which are exhausting and potentially make them vulnerable to attack.  When the rain does come, it pours down in a deluge, and often cannot be stored in any effective way because of limited infrastructure such as dams which collect the water.  Not only do families have to manage with unreliable and scarce water supplies, but this impacts on their ability to grow crops for themselves.  So they end up being short of food as well as water.

The current pandemic has made daily life even more of a challenge in these areas.  We all know the importance of frequent handwashing to avoid catching or spreading Coronavirus, and we have become used to washing our hands many times a day.  But imagine the worry of not having water and soap readily available to ensure that our hands can be safe and free from disease.  And the infection numbers then grow more rapidly.

We could help play our part to address the inequality of opportunity across the world.  We can remember our own comfortable circumstances and the money we have saved after three lockdowns along with a reduction in travel and holidays.  We could donate some of our savings to help those less fortunate than ourselves.  A donation of £100 to Christian Aid would teach 225 farmers to plant drought-tolerant crops which would survive the torrid heat and difficult growing conditions.  £50 could buy over 400 kg of cement to help build a strong and durable dam which would ensure the rain water which falls could be collected.  £30 would buy six taps for a dam’s water distribution point, so that local people can access water more easily.

If we want to show our love for our neighbour, Christian Aid Week is a highly effective way of ensuring our love turns into practical action, and will massively improve the quality of life for some of the most disadvantaged people on our planet.  For further details of Christian Aid Week, pick up an envelope from St Mary’s Church on Sunday morning or see

https://www.christianaid.org.u...

Sarah Bourne, Chaplain for the Arts – 12^th May 2021          sarahbourne@banburystmary.org.uk