St Josephs Justice and Peace Group ;    Newsbites  Sept 2008.

World Food Day(October 16), aims  is to raisepublic awareness of the world food programme and strengthen unity in the fightagainst malnutrition hunger and poverty. Food for all is the  goal and must be a right for present and future generations.

If our planet produces enough food for its entirepopulation , why do 854 million still go to sleep on an empty stomach.? A rightis not a right if it cannot be claimed. (Dr J. Diouf . Director General  UN Food an Agriculture Org. 2007).

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.Friday 17 Oct. There will be commemorative  rally in George Square 1-2 pm .

Fairtrade Foundation Statement on WTO talks. Negotiations at the World Trade Organistation havecollapsed as developing countries resist the heavy handed negotiation tacticsof the US and the EU. Politicians and diplomats may ponder this impasse but onething is abundantly clear that small farmers need Fairtrade now more than ever.More details on website www.fairtrade.org.uk/press_office.

Major Millennium Development Goals event in New York Sept 25. Gordon Brown isattending this  MilleniumDevelopment Goals event at the UN Headquarters in NY.

At the halfway point to 2015 progress has been made butincreased efforts are needed, and soon, to meet the Goals. The UK is the onlydeveloped nation so far to meet their pledges in full and in the current globalfinancial crisis its not too hard to identify who will be losers yet again.Hopefully world leaders will not take their eye of the ball and  abandon yet again the poor especiallyof Africa to more generational poverty.

What are we doing here? is a film which explores the pros and cons of the efforts of thedeveloped nations of the world to help poor countries. A special screening ofthe film will take place in Glasgow Film Theatre Rose St. on Sunday 28 Sept. at7-30 pm followed by a discussion between the audience and internationaldevelopment experts. The film follows three American brothers and a cousin on ajourney from Cairo to Cape Town looking at what happens to the money we give tocharity. Why does so little seem to be changing?? and could our so calledhumanitarian efforts being doing more harm than good? An important and timely filmwhich may change your thinking on Africa. To book tickets call GFT on 0141 3326535.For info on World Development Movement (WDM). Visit www.wdmscotland .org.uk.

Shrink Website Launched. This new website asks you to pledge to reduce your use of paper.  Visit www.shrinkpaper.org and find outhow  using less of this preciouscommodity  reduces greenhouse gasemissions in a  “win win” way.