Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Lima (Agencia Fides) - In honor of the celebration of the Fifth Summit Meeting of Latin America and the Caribbean with the European Union, celebrated in Lima (Peru), May 13-17, a delegation from CELAM (Latin American Bishops’ Council) presented a letter to the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel and the President of the European Parliamtent, Hans-Gert Poettering, asking that they place the fight against poverty in every area at the focus of cooperation efforts between the European Union and Latin America/Caribbean. The Bishops indicate at the letter’s opening that the general situation of the people living in their region “is marked by poverty, marginalization, a growing breech between rich and poor… unemployment and unstable work situation, inadequate systems of education and public health, insecurity and violence, migration caused by the lack of opportunities...” all of which is leading the continent to “grave conflicts that can place at risk not only peace, but political stability itself, due to the weak democratic systems.”
Their main concern is shown in several matters, such as: the effects of climatic change, which Latin America and the Caribbean are often subject to; the damage done to the water resources of the region; the widespread uncontrolled production of bio-fuels that aggravate small rural production and food security; the negative impact of extraction industries; the high level of corruption in both public and private spheres; the business deals that are dominated by Free Trade Agreements and the growing number of internal and external debts in our countries.
According to the Bishops in their Letter, the situation “reveals a grave violation of human rights, especially among the poorest of the poor.” Thus, they ask that there be “a program for collaboration efforts in seeking the model for an alternative, integral, and solid development based on an ethic that includes the responsibility for an authentic natural ecology and a universal distribution of goods, that goes beyond the principles of utilitarianism and individualism.” They also ask that “policies of international cooperation be implemented, towards a reduction in inequality, a guarantee for social peace, and a contribution to eradicating the causes of poverty,” and that “room be made for a democracy with participation on the part of civil society, especially the popular organizations that are marginalized.”
The Bishops conclude their letter expressing their willingness “to dialogue in favor of the poor and marginalized, in efforts towards the common good, always respecting its sphere of competence.”
The Summit meeting was attended by 27 European delegates and 33 delegations from the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. The delegation of Bishops was formed by CELAM President Archbishop Raymundo Damasceno Assis (Brazil), Cardinal Oscar Rodríguez (Honduras), Archbishop Héctor Cabrejos, President of the Peruvian Bishops’ Conference, Archishop Pedro Barreto, President of the Bishops’ Commission for Social Action, and Dr. Josef Sayer, General Director of the German Bishops’ society, Misereor. The main objective of the Summit Meeting was to reflect on and place concrete actions regarding two main themes: poverty, inequality, and inclusion and sustained development: environment; climate change; energy. The Fifth ALC-UE Summit concluded with the approval of the “Lima Declaration,” in which the participating governments made a commitment to seek solutions to the problem of poverty, respond to the food crisis, and work in favor of the environment. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 19/5/2008; righe 45, parole 542)
