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ANNUAL
MEETING
AND A.G.M. |
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SPEAKER |
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LORD FRANK JUDD Former Director of both Oxfam and Voluntary Service Overseas, and former Minister for Overseas development
HOW? FOR WHOM? FOR THE BETTER? |
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| Frank
Judd will address the issues of how ordinary people in local communities
can combine across the world to make a difference to the poverty strife
and injustice pervading north-south relationships. What is it that they
do or can do about it when so much is dictated by world trade rules, corporate
imperialism, power politics, and corruption? Are there ways in which they
could make things worse? This will be related to the small impoverished West African Country of Sierra Leone, created by colonialisation, beset by internal rivalries, unable through size and lack of development to hold its own economically. How can it proceed from peace making to prosperity? Can it make the exploitation of off-shore oil work for its people? How can its people start to believe in themselves and deal with those who resort to malpractice or mayhem? Is West African Union feasible? This matters to us because Warwick District has a 22 year old friendship[ link with the District of Bo in Sierra Leone. We want that friendship to honour its meaning and go forward with a good sense of direction. 22 years ago, Frank addressed a packed audience in Leamington Town Hall at our inaugural meeting. It will be a delight to welcome him back now that we "have come of age". His knowledge of the majority world will be enlightening. |
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| Lord
Frank Judd addressed an audience of over 50 people at the One World Link
Annual Meeting in Leamington on Saturday. He moved them with an eloquent
but hard hitting view of the world drawn from his experiences in Voluntary
Service, Overseas Development, and Politics. A significant source of his
learning, he said, comes from the University of Life. "We are involved in a dangerous and depressing phase of human history. We are part of an inter-dependant global community. There is no way of living our lives without people in other parts of the world being a large part of our reality. We need a global management of the economy; but that needs a moral underpinning. There are immense issues of social justice. The World Trade Organisation talks in Cancun Mexico broke down because the agenda was not that of the global community." "What is the point", he asked, "of creating a level playing field for all countries when not everyone is fit to play on it?" Turning to the question of the threat to world security from terrorism, he stated that when millions of people are involved in a desperate struggle to survive until tomorrow they may start to think that the terrorists are on their side. When highly able people in the developing countries feel themselves devoid of power or influence then they will become frustrated. Only when we have made the whole world a fair, just, and decent place to live in will there be no scope for terrorists. This means that there must be a redistribution of power through a reformed United Nations. The alternative is a nightmare for our children and grandchildren. He finished with a strong appeal for all of us at whatever level to work towards the re-distribution of power. He told the members of One World Link that what they are doing is absolutely and crucially important. In linking communities of people across the world. "You are helping to make solidarity real and finding joy in diversity. It is a God given opportunity to discover the richness of creation" He emphasised the importance of doing this in a spirit of community, self reliance, and mutual self respect. Councillor Bill Evans, Chair of One World Link commented "Hearing Frank's talk was both an inspiration and a challenge to take into the third decade of our friendship link with the people of Bo In Sierra Leone. His remarks about the world our children and grandchildren will inherit is a call for all ages to join in our endeavour which is serious but is also fun and life enhancing". |
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