Micah Challenge Australia Blog

 

The Micah Challenge blog is a space for discussion and debate about the issues of global poverty, faith, advocacy and justice and the Millennium Development Goals. This blog aims to provoke thought and challenge you to learn more about the issues discussed. We welcome your comments.

Micah Challenge is a global campaign of Christians speaking out against poverty and injustice. Click here to visit the Micah Challenge website.

  • Tea and Toast: Take aways and reflections on Voices for Justice

    Posted by Micah

    26 September, 2011

    On the long drive home from Canberra, in the wee hours of the morning, I was asked what I will take away from Voices for Justice. I have come to realise that many of the things I have taken away can be applicable beyond Voices participants. I spent Sept 17-20 in Canberra at Voices for Justice, organised by Micah Challenge. Micah Challenge is a unified movement of over 50 Christian denominations and aid and development organisations who believe that seeking justice for the global poor and marginalised is an integral expression of the Christian faith. Voices for Justice is a campaigning event that builds community and trains everyday Australians, facilitating the opportunity to advocate and lobby politicians to meet our commitment to the Millennium Development Goals and reduce global poverty. "Take aways" // The call to do justice and to use our voice is for all of us - aware that God has gone before us, goes with us, and will follow after us. This was my first Voices for Justice, and I was amazed at both the diversity of organisations, traditions,… read more

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  • Connecting the Dots - Poverty and Climate Change

    Posted by Micah

    23 September, 2011

    On Tuesday morning, Alex Engel (middle) and Kateia Kaikai (left) met with Climate Change Minister Greg Combet (right) to discuss the impacts of climate change on the world's poorest and most marginalised communities.They discussed with him the need to improve financial and technical assistance to developing countries, and supporting innovative finance mechanisms to source the funds urgently needed to tackle climate change. 'We thanked the Minister for the steps the Government has already taken, and reinforced our view that the world's poor must be at the heart of the conversation about climate change in Australia,' says Alexandra. The pair were in Canberra for Micah Challenge's Voices for Justice, advocating with Members of Parliament of all stripes for a stronger Australian aid program. Part of this story is the need for a renewed focus on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene programs, with the group highlighting that diahorrea (a very preventable disease) remains one of the biggest killers of children under five around the world. Voices for Justice participants also… read more

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  • Voices for Justice 2011

    Posted by Micah

    18 September, 2011

    Participant Josh, reflects on the purpose of Voices for Justice and why he's back again this year... This weekend I'm heading down to Canberra. It's not for a leisurely holiday (although I have recently come to really like Canberra as a holiday destination!), but rather to attend The Micah Challenge's Voices for Justice conference. Basically, the whole idea for the conference is that a bunch of Christians from all around Australia descend on Canberra once a year in order to lobby our Federal political representatives in regards to acting on reducing global poverty. We hold them accountable to their bilateral agreement to the U.N. "Millennium Development Goals" (of halving world poverty by 2015), and also spend time learning more deeply about issues of justice and poverty. I like the work of The Micah Challenge generally, but I really love this conference for a couple of reasons: Firstly, it's not just another Christian conference where everyone gets together for the sole purpose of feeling good about themselves and to get motivated for the period of time until… read more

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  • Confronting?

    Posted by Erica

    13 September, 2011

    My home page on my computer is The Guardian Global Development site. This is the kind of world news I really value, focusing on global development. Much of what I encounter and read daily sticks in my mind and is something I carry with me in my heart. I cannot read about global challenges and injustice without my heart being affected. Recently, I viewed images of what unsafe water and poor sanitation looks like in Uganda. I feel confronted and challenged by these images. We were in Uganda earlier this year, so I when I looked at these images I pictured the places that we walked around and the people that we met there. But also I think of India, and of all the people who live without a toilet. I remember the smell and the shock of seeing communal open toilets. I think of the toilets we have used when travelling, and yet how much better it is to have horrible toilet than none at all. Globally, 2.6 billion people live without access to a safe toilet, while almost 1 billion don't have clean, safe water. The WHO estimates that 10% of the global disease burden… read more

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