wfn.org | UCC - UN official: Use malaria approach on economic crisis

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

UN official: Use malaria approach on economic crisis

> Written by J. Martin Bailey
> June 28, 2009

The United Nations' chief policy officer told the board and friends of
Wider Church Ministries that both he and the secretary general "saw
fear in the eyes" of world leaders as they met recently on the economic crisis.

Robert Orr spoke at the Wider Church Ministries dinner during the 27th
General Synod. He is convinced that the crisis must be seen not only
as a problem of banking institutions in New York, London and other
financial capitals, but as one that is affecting millions of people in
rural and isolated areas as well. Believing that the problem "screams
out for global solidarity," he predicted that normal responses on a
country-by-country basis will only exacerbate the problem.

"This is a moment to seize," he said, "as a human family."

One model for him is the fight against malaria. "We have started to
turn the corner because we are working on multiple fronts. By 2012 or
2015 malaria may be eradicated. We need to leverage that approach to
other issues."

Another hopeful story is the way governments, NGOs and even commercial
firms are beginning to work together on HIV-AIDS. "We have a long way
to go on this global health problem," he said, "but we have made
progress. And we can't solve HIV-AIDS without tackling other problems as well."

Orr is a member of a UCC congregation and is proud of the work of his
denomination. He credits a religious organization with helping him see
that the climate change is affecting all of creation.

Wider Church Ministries and its Disciple of Christ counterparts
honored partners in five areas overseas during the dinner meeting.