The main event, supported around the world, was held in Washington DC on Saturday 18 April. It aimed to ensure world leaders address key issues facing our own and the next generation: ending extreme poverty and acting now to prevent climate change.
This is part of worldwide effort to mobilise global citizens to engage with issues of the environment and poverty, to create momentum for bold commitments from governments, the private sector, civil society and individuals.
The Anglican Alliance’s role is to connect and convene those churches and agencies in the Anglican Communion responding to the mission call to respond to human need, to address structural injustice and to safeguard creation and the life of the earth. We have worked with the Global Citizen team in the run up to this significant day.
Archbishop Justin’s message speaks to this vision, describing how “injustice and inequality are against the very heart of the God who loves every human being on this planet.”
“We stand at the moment in a place where one can reasonably dream of a world in which inequality is reduced, in which extreme poverty is tackled, in which the environment improves. All these things are within our grasp. But to get there needs a huge effort of will, a commitment of resources, a heroic decision,” he said.
To see the video, click here
The full transcript of Archbishop Justin’s statement is below:
Archbishop Justin video message for Global Citizen 2015 Earth Day:
Greetings on this Global Citizen 2015 Earth Day. Like you I am a global citizen sharing in your commitment.
It is deeply embedded in so many faith traditions, and in the Christian scriptures especially, that injustice and inequality are against the very heart of the God who loves every human being on this planet. We cannot let inequality continue to be deeply part of the way in which this world works.
We stand at the moment in a place where one can reasonably dream of a world in which inequality is reduced, in which extreme poverty is tackled, in which the environment improves. All these things are within our grasp.
But to get there needs a huge effort of will, a commitment of resources, a heroic decision…
We can create a world in which every child that is born, every old person as they come towards the evenings of their lives, can be confident of security, of hope, of knowing that they are valued and treasured not because they are rich or healthy, but because they’re a human being.
I wish you well on this day.
Photo credit: Anglican Alliance. Mother and her children in Juba IDP camp in South Sudan
