Rolling Fast & Stand Up 2007
This fall will be an important time for final action on Capitol Hill on the farm bill, funding for poverty-focused development assistance and other critical issues for hungry people. Calls, letters, visits, media work and prayer will all be vital during this time. We also encourage you to join us this fall in three other ways to help bring change to our world.
The Rolling Fast takes place from September 6 to October 15. Jubilee USA is helping to lead this international 40-day fast that calls for world leaders to end global poverty and cancel the debts of poor countries. Bread for the World invites members, groups and congregations to participate by committing to pray and fast for a day or more, and on the same day to contact their members of Congress, asking them to take steps that would end global poverty. On any given day during the 40-day fast, people across the United States and around the world will engage in this powerful action. BFW will focus its fasting on a just Farm Bill, especially the way in which U.S. farm policy disadvantages small-scale farmers in Africa and other poor countries. Reforming U.S. commodity policies so that they no longer harm farmers in developing countries is critical. This type of trade reform, along with debt cancellation and increases in poverty-focused development assistance, are powerful ways to end global poverty.
Let's see if we can fill a slot for each day of the fast.
On Oct 17, Bread for the World will join the UN Millennium Campaign to STAND UP and SPEAK OUT against global poverty, hunger and inequality. Last year, more than 23 million people in 87 countries took a similar action to remind world leaders, whose countries had signed on to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), to keep their promises. It was the single largest coordinated mobilization in the history of the Guinness Book of Records. This year, the half-way point to the 2015 target date, the world is not on track to meet its pledge to reach the MDGs. On October 17, millions will again STAND UP and SPEAK OUT for the 1.1 billion people who live on less than $1 a day, reminding world leaders to listen and act decisively. Use these resources to help you organize your church, campus or community group to take part in this historic 2007 event.
The Rolling Fast and STAND UP/SPEAK OUT could easily act as a lead-up to Bread for the World Sunday on October 21. On that day, or any Sunday between World Food Day (Oct. 16) and Thanksgiving (Nov. 22), join with churches and worshipping communities across the country as we rededicate ourselves to ending hunger in God's world.
Let's make a strong statement this fall to our nation's decision makers – end hunger and poverty in the United States and around the world.
