April 13, 2005

GENEVA– The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has added its support to a petition calling on world governments to change the international rules and practices governing trade so that priority is given to human rights, environmental protection and poverty eradication.

"We signed the petition because we believe that the consequences of the current trade policy, which is unfair given the high degree of poverty around the world, must be brought to attention," says Rev. John Halvorson, Director of the LWF Department for World Service (DWS) program in Ethiopia. Other signatories to the petition in the context of a Global Week of Action on trade include LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko, LWF/DWS program in Cambodia, and LWF member churches in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America.

The petition is a major focus of the Geneva-based Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance (EAA) global trade campaign, which is supported by the LWF. The campaign calls for trade rules that ensure the right to food for all people; access to water, education, health care, and information on an equitable basis; and the regulation of transnational corporations.

In the context of the EAA-supported Global Week of Action during the period 10-16 April 2005, churches and church-related organizations are taking a leading role in different activities calling for fair international trade. An EAA delegation presented the signed petition today, April 13, to the World Trade Organization in Geneva. The LWF was represented by Mr Peter Prove, Assistant to the General Secretary in the Office for International Affairs and Human Rights.

In El Salvador, radio broadcasts during the Global Week of Action will feature the consequences of economic globalization on health, the environment and education. The San Salvador-based LWF/DWS regional office for Central America has helped organize numerous events including music festivals, press conferences, demonstrations, and an ecumenical worship.

In Mozambique, the LWF/DWS country program participated in a workshop on the current situation of world trade. The LWF office also organized a visit to the Maragra sugar factory, located some 120 kilometers from the capital, Maputo.

At a discussion forum in Ethiopia during the week, the DWS program will raise issues concerning fair global trade practices in view of the country's poor social and economic situation. Agriculture is the backbone of Ethiopia's economy, accounting for half of the Gross Domestic Product, 60 percent of exports, and 80 percent of the total employment. Most agricultural products such as coffee and cotton are not sold at fair prices on the world markets. According to government estimates, a seven percent annual economic growth rate is needed to reduce poverty.

More information on the Global Week of Action can be found at http://www.e-alliance.ch/gwa.jsp.

The EAA petition, and information on how to use it, can be found at http://www.e-alliance.ch/tradepetition.jsp.

Lutheran World Information
Compiled by Barbara Schneider, a youth trainee in the LWF Office for Communication Services.