Episcopal Church Primate Katharine Jefferts Schori calls for G20 action on food

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

Posted On : June 22, 2011 10:34 AM | Posted By : Admin ACO

ACNS: http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/news.cfm/2011/6/22/ACNS4886

Related Categories: ACO - Anglican Alliance  USA

> Episcopal Church Primate Katharine Jefferts
> Schori calls for G20  action on food

The leader of the Episcopal Church in the United
States has called for G20 agriculture ministers
meeting in Paris today for strong action to combat high food prices.

The Most Reverend Katharine Jefferts Schori,
presiding bishop of the Episcopal church in the
US, has written to the US agriculture secretary
Hon John Visak to press for a package of measures including:

·         More support for small farmers,

especially women who produce up to 80 per cent of
food in the poorest countries.
·         Action to stop speculation in food commodities.
·         An increase in investment in
agriculture so that the richest countries in the
world keep the promise they made to the poorest in the L?Aquila agreement.

The G20 ministers meet against a background of
mounting concern over the price spikes and food
insecurity that have left 900 million people
around the world hungry. The French President has
put food on the agenda for the G20 meeting in
November, and next week?s agriculture ministers
meeting will seek an agreement on the way forward.

Already letters have been to agriculture

ministers in the G20 countries of Australia,
Canada, Korea, India, South Africa and the UK by
Anglican Archbishops in those countries.

They have welcomed the emerging consensus on the
need for global action to reduce food price
volatility and increase security, but also called
for tougher action to meet the promises of the
L?Aquila initiative and step the rising tide of hunger in the world.

> Advocacy on the global food crisis is being
> co-ordinated by the Anglican Alliance for
> development relief and advocacy. The Alliance
> brings together the work of the Anglican family
> of churches worldwide. It grew from a decision
> taken by the Lambeth conference in 2008 and
> started its formal operations in January this
> year. The decision on food advocacy came at its
> inaugural consultation meeting in Nairobi in April.

>