Churches Week of Action on Food: 11-18 October 2009
Join with churches, Christian organizations and people of faith around the world in prayer, study and action from 11-18 October. The week highlights the importance of the right to food for all people. We can take part by addressing our own individual consumption, becoming more aware of food production and distribution issues, and calling on governments and international actors to respect the right to food in negotiations and policies.
Over one billion people in the world – almost one-sixth of all humanity - are estimated as chronically hungry in our world today. During the Churches’ Week of Action and on World Food Day 2009 (16 October), let us reflect on those numbers and the human suffering behind them. Learn about the issues, plan activities for your church or community, and work with others in taking action!
The Churches Week of Action is an important part of the EAA's four year Food For Life Campaign. 2009 has key opportunities to have our voices head at the World Food Summit, the WTO Ministid Meeting and the Climate Change Summit. Everyone is encouraged to focus on an issue that makes sense in their own context. Resources for worship, study and action are suggested. Our faith calls us to feed the hungry and care for Creation – this we can do as individuals, as churches, and as global citizens.
During the week of action on food, we can become more aware and take action:
- To address our own food consumption and how it may contribute to climate change and food insecurity worldwide
- To support sustainable food production and distribution
- To call on governments to respect and fulfill the right to food for their citizens, a right that should be a priority in all their negotiations and policies.
Churches Week of Action-What can I do?
There are many resources and ideas to assist those participating in the Week of Action. These include prayers, bible studies, reflection questions and advocacy ideas.
Worship
Your church, women’s group, prayer circle, club or school is encouraged to join people from all over the world in prayer during the Churches’ Week of Action. Plan bible studies and group prayers during the course of the week and hold a special order of worship on one Sunday. Other worship resources including prayers, reflection verses and sermon ideas are also available.
If your church is developing worship materials for the Churches’ Week of Action on Food, please send them to us to share with others.
Advocacy Ideas
Stand up and make difference in the campaign for food for all God’s creation. Here are a few ideas that can be combined with worship, prayer and bible studies.
Use the EAA Model Letter to governments calling for the respect of the right to food. Lobby them to respect the right in all domestic policies and laws and in bilateral and multilateral negotiations and to get feedback on their actions.
Find out what your church is doing and has said about food security and poverty reduction and ask church leaders what they have done to follow up on their statements.
Learn about the commitments toward the right to food made by governments and how you can join with like-minded civil society actors to ensure that effective targets are made and kept
Raise awareness on the impacts of climate change to food security in your country.
Link up with other civil society organizations and networks and farmers’ groups planning events during World Food Day, 16 October.
Join the Count Down to Copenhagen Campaign on Climate Change.
Fast on world Food Day, using special resources, prayers and bible studies.
For more ideas, see our resources for the Churches’ Week of Action on Food
