Leaders Must Remember the Poor as G-20 Summit Ends

Pittsburgh, PA, September 25, 2009 – As the G-20 Summit winds down today and the many dignitaries depart Pittsburgh, Bread for the World called on the leaders to implement the decisions they made during the meeting.

G-20 Summit Resources »

• Leaders Must Remember the Poor as G-20 Summit Ends

• Reflections for People of Faith (PDF) - background and reflection activities.

• Summit Schedule of Activities

• Download event photography

• Summit Participants

• Poverty Hotspots in the U.S. (PDF)

• Hunger in Pittsburgh (PDF)

• G-8 leaders pledge $20 billion to reduce hunger

• Food Prices Unsettled as G-20 Summit Approaches (PDF)

• Hunger Reaches New High (PDF)

"We are thankful to President Obama for bringing to the G-20 issues that are important to poor people. They include employment -- which is vital to U.S. workers suffering an unemployment rate of nearly 10 percent -- climate change, and efforts to promote a strengthened development agenda for food security and agriculture," said Rev. David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World. "Real action must now follow the positive statements they made during the summit."

Bread for the World is especially appreciative of the G-20's push for a strong framework to promote sustainable, balanced economic growth and efforts to address climate change, which has a disproportionately negative effect on poor people.

"It's important that any meaningful global economic recovery be measured against how many of the world's poorest people are able to lift themselves out of chronic hunger and poverty," said Rev. Beckmann.

Prior to the G-20 Summit, 25 faith leaders met with Dr. Michael Froman, deputy national security adviser for international economic affairs. "We were very pleased that he acknowledged that the White House knows the summit was not only about fixing broken financial systems, but also addressing the needs of the world's most vulnerable people," said Rev. Beckmann. "As we gradually emerge from this recession, many families are still struggling to put food on the table in our own country, and 200 million additional people around the world have been driven into poverty. The economic crisis has hit women and children in developing countries the hardest, and actions to protect maternal and child health and nutrition are now more critical than ever. "

The world has witnessed a dramatic reversal in the progress against hunger and poverty in the last two years of global financial upheaval. For the first time in history, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that more than 1 billion people are suffering from hunger.

"We hope that as leaders from the world's wealthiest nations return home, they will also remember the pledges they have made to achieve the Millennium Development Goals," said Rev. Beckmann. "We also urge them to fulfill their commitment to raise $20 billion for a new food security initiative. Spurring agricultural production through increased investments targeted at small farmers is a critical need that G-20 member countries can help to meet right now."

Bread for the World is a collective Christian voice urging our nation’s decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad.