Lazarus at Our Gate A critical moment in the fight against world poverty S OCIAL J USTICE S TATEMENT © Australian Catholic Bishops Conference You may download, display, print or reproduce this material for personal or non-commercial use, as long as you acknowledge the copyright holders. All other rights to the material are retained by the original copyright holders. Australian Catholic Bishops Conference

gathered together and committed themselves to tackling global poverty. In 2000, the leaders of 189 nations, including Australia,

Their Declaration consisted of eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to be achieved by By Rahulkepapa via Wikimedia Commons

Since this Declaration in 2000, the proportion of those who live in extreme poverty has been halved.

Percentage of People living in extreme poverty (less than $1.25 a day)

by aid and development projects during this time. 14,000 lives per day have been saved

Progress has been made in alleviating poverty throughout the world but there is still a lot to do.

By 2015 almost one billion people will be living on an income of less than $1.25 a day.

Over a quarter of a million women still die in childbirth annually. © Micha Fleuren | Dreamstime Stock Photos

As many as 8 million children die every year from malnutrition and preventable diseases such as diarrhoea, measles and malaria. Image courtesy of Sujin Jetkasettakorn / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

One in eight of the worlds people does not get adequate nutrition.

There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.

And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich mans table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich mans table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores.

In our region, Australia is the rich man and Lazarus is at our gate.

Australia is a prosperous nation. The global financial crisis of 2007–2008 devastated many countries but it did not have such a catastrophic effect on Australia. Our economy is strong. Phill Danze / Shutterstock.com

Around 20% of the worlds poor live in countries near us: in East and South-East Asia and the Pacific.

Who are the poor? Whos left behind?

1. People who are hungry

The world produces enough food to feed every child, woman and man. And yet, 12% of the global population, 870 million people, are undernourished.

2. Disaster victims

Developing countries are disproportionately affected by natural disasters. On average, a disaster will claim the lives of 1052 people in the poorest countries compared with 23 people in the developed world.

3. Indigenous people By Steve Evans [CC by 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

There are approximately 370 million Indigenous people worldwide. Together they make up around 5% of the worlds population, yet they constitute up to 15% of the worlds poor.

4. People with disabilities

Disabilities are both a cause and consequence of poverty. People living with a disability make up around 15% of the worlds population and about 20% of the very poorest in the world.

5. People who are displaced By PH1 Robert R. McRill [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

In 2012, as a country like Pakistan struggled to accommodate 1,600,000 refugees… Australias political leaders and media whipped up hysteria over the arrival of 17,000 asylum seekers in Australian waters.

Our response The depth and breadth of poverty that still exists in our world calls us to action. Villagers in Timor-Leste working on a new water-supply project

The struggle against destitution... is not enough. It is a question, rather, of building a world where every person… can live a fully human life … and where the poor man Lazarus can sit down at the same table with the rich man. Pope Paul VI

If you have food in a fridge…

clothes in a cupboard…

a bed to sleep in…

and a roof over your head,

You are richer than 75 % of the worlds population

With whom will you stand?

Will you share your voice your wealth your resources your time? We have the power to bring about change

Pick up the leaflet Ten Steps towards solidarity …for practical suggestions

To read more about ending world poverty, pick up a copy of the Social Justice Statement for

Acknowledgements: Caritas Australia Helen Kearins rsm Sarah MacRaild Australian Catholic Social Justice Council