Christian Aid at Greenbelt 2012
Here’s some news from Greenbelt partners Christian Aid on their current campaigns and what to expect from them at this year’s festival…
Philippines floods
The people of the Philippines are once more bearing the brunt of extreme weather as the capital Manila and surrounding areas have been battered yet again.
Monsoon rains and widespread flooding have forced thousands to leave their homes, with most recent reports indicating that around 1.2 million people have been affected.
The tropical storm ‘Haikui’ has resulted in the worst flooding since the Ketsana disaster of 2009. Despite the cities evacuation centres people remain in their homes because they fear looting during the floods.
Many of these communities are also worried that they will be unable to return to their homes because the government may not allow them back onto the land if it is deemed uninhabitable.
The simple truth is they have nowhere else to go, and no real options or way to survive, unless they risk living in such vulnerable locations. Just over 240,000 people have found shelter inside 614 evacuation centres across the country, while approximately 610,000 are reported to be staying with relatives and friends.
Christian Aid emergency relief responses include the provision of basic food, shelter and medicines. We are now providing equipment such as rescue boats and life jackets, and have already trained local communities in vital evacuation and rescue procedures.
Please help us respond to these devastating floods by donating here »
For more information please visit our website christianaid.org.uk/emergencies
Christian Aid at Greenbelt
With only a few weeks left for our onsite arrival at Greenbelt 2012 we are looking forward with excitement. This year we unveil Christian Aid’s Unfair Funfair! We hope it challenges, puzzles, outrages, inspires and empowers you. As well as all the fun of the fair, we have stories and stalls to give you an experience that reflects the inequalities and challenges communities around the world face on a daily basis. Discover how Christian Aid is helping people come together to speak out against injustice and find ways to overcome the challenges they face. We look forward to welcoming you to our Unfair Funfair and your time at the festival.
The Greenbelt festival marks the launch of our Tax Justice Bus Tour of Britain and Ireland. We’d love you to visit the bus for yourselves (it will be located on the main concourse), come and learn more about the tax justice campaign. Our campaign has highlighted how developing countries lose $160bn every year – one-and-a-half-times what they receive in international aid, money that could provide vital services like schools and hospitals and since we started speaking out on tax, the worldwide financial crisis has seen the issue become frontpage news. From 24 August, we’re joining forces with UK poverty campaigners Church Action on Poverty and heading out on the road across Britain and Ireland to bring people together in a bid to end this injustice at home and abroad. To build your own bus and find out more about the national tour click here »
Lastly, do you have foreign currency at home or left over from your holidays? If so will you consider donating your unspent currency to Christian Aid to support our work in over 50 countries. Your donations continue to help poor communities around the world live a life of dignity and worth. Our stand in G-source will be pleased to accept any foreign currency donations you might have.
