Put People First March in London

Christian Aid supporters took part in the Put People First March in London, where they challenged the G20 leaders to raise the importance of jobs, justice and climate change at the top of their agenda.

Christian Aid’s agenda looks like such:

They desire a transparent economy- A transparent economy would look like institutions becoming more open with their books and business dealings, so that poorer countries will not be deprived of unpaid taxes. By holding organizations more accountable these poor countries will receive the money that should be coming into their economy in the first place.

They desire a green economy- Global warming is affecting affluent countries, but how much more is it affecting poor countries? When there is a drought in prosperous countries we just cut down on how much water we use. In poor countries a drought means loss of jobs, food and life. By challenging the government to work harder to create a ‘green economy’ we not only create a higher standard of living for future generations, but we allow those poorer countries to simply live.

They desire a fair economy- Poor countries must be empowered to work their way out of poverty. They do not need to “jump through loops in exchange for aids and loans.” By continually allowing unfair trade we create an economy where the cycle of poverty will not only not end but will continue to deteriorate.