Christians from as far afield as Swansea and Sierra Leone, Coventry and Cambodia will join together to pray for trade justice this week as part of Tearfund’s 24-7 prayer initiative.
The event forms part of the line up for the first ever Global Week of Action for Trade Justice, from 10-16 April, which will see millions of people in 70 countries call on world leaders for trade justice not free trade.
Over the last month, Christians from across Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe have been signing up to pray for trade justice in one hour time slots on Tearfund’s virtual prayer zone.
In one time slot on Monday 11 April, Christians in Manchester, Watford and Coventry will be praying simultaneously with Christians in Benin, who feel the effects of harmful trade rules firsthand. During the same day, members of Christ Church in York will be joining in prayer with Christians working in Delhi’s slums and a centre for children with disabilities in Bangkok.
Members of the congregation at St Margaret’s Church in Angmering, West Sussex, will be rising at midnight to commence a day of prayer for trade justice on Saturday 16 April. Church member John Dingle says, “Very little gets achieved without prayer and so as a church we decided to dedicate a whole day to praying for trade justice and to support of the Make Poverty History campaign.”
Rice farmers in Burkina Faso know the effects of unjust trade rules, as cheap imported rice means that they struggle to sell their rice for a profit.
Mari Griffith, Tearfund’s Trade Campaign Officer says, “It’s so encouraging to see the enthusiasm of people around the world to pray for trade justice. Unjust trade is ruining the lives of millions of people in developing countries. But our prayers and campaigning efforts can help to turn this situation around in this year of unprecedented opportunity to make trade work for the poor."
Tearfund is encouraging more Christians to sign up on the virtual prayer zone and download the free prayer resources, including a new track by Soul Survivor worship leader Tim Hughes called ‘To Act Justly’ and a 24-7 trade justice prayer pack.
The Global Week of Action for Trade Justice will also see thousands of trade justice campaigners gather in London on Friday 15 April for the ‘Wake Up for Trade Justice’ all night vigil. Vanessa Redgrave, Pete Postlethwaite and Simon Mayo will join campaigners at the opening event at Westminster Abbey. Radiohead’s Thom Yorke and singer Ronan Keating will also be amongst the event’s celebrity supporters on the night.
At midnight, campaigners will gather outside Downing Street with lanterns and candles to take the call for trade justice to the heart of the UK Government. The event will culminate in a dawn procession and delegations to meet with representatives from the main political parties.
A wide range of trade justice events will also be happening across the world during the Global Week of Action, from unfair football and basketball matches in Kenya and Haiti to mass rallies and demonstrations in Bangladesh and Nigeria.
Trade Justice is one of the core demands of the Make Poverty History campaign, the largest mobilisation against global poverty this country has ever seen, supported by more than 300 campaign groups, faith groups, trade unions and aid agencies, including Tearfund.