Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-02-23-Speech-3-202"
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"en.20050223.16.3-202"2
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"Ladies and gentlemen, all initiatives aimed at reducing poverty and hunger are worthy of support. Rich countries and supranational organisations with significant financial resources, such as the European Union, bear a special responsibility in this respect. In order to reduce hunger effectively, there must be an appropriate hierarchy of spending in the budgets of all countries. Priority should be given to measures that promote a pro-family policy, understood in the broadest sense of the word, in order to ensure that everyone has adequate conditions in which to live and develop. It is an unfortunate fact that large sums of money are still being wasted, as they are earmarked for measures that directly and indirectly attack the family and those who are weakest and poorest. It is reprehensible to treat poor persons and backward regions as though they were objects, by means of showy and sham aid measures aimed at broadening the spheres of influence of the modern superpowers. It is shameful to enslave poor countries by means of usurious financial systems.
Ladies and gentlemen, the following teachings of the Holy Father John Paul II should be an inspiration and source of strength to us in the fight against world hunger and poverty; ‘millions of our brothers and sisters are suffering from hunger, and many are dying of it, especially children. In an age of unprecedented technological development, the tragedy of starvation is a great challenge and a great indictment. After all, the earth has enough resources to feed all of humankind. Why then are millions of people dying of starvation today? What is needed is a serious and worldwide examination of conscience regarding social justice and basic human solidarity. We would do well to remember the basic truth that the earth belongs to God, and all the riches it contains have been placed by God in man’s hands to use in a just fashion, so they can serve the good of all. The very law of nature bears testimony to this. Our common cry for bread on behalf of all who are suffering from hunger must not fail to be heard. We address it first of all to God, but we also address it to the politicians and economists, upon whom rests the responsibility for a just distribution of goods, on both a global and a national level. We must finally put an end to the scourge of hunger. May solidarity prevail over the unrestrained desire for profit. Upon each one of us there rests a small part of the responsibility for this injustice. Each one of us in some way has first-hand experience of the hunger and poverty of others. Let us learn to share our bread with those who have none’.
Ladies and gentlemen, in the light of these teachings by the Pope we must revise our current political activities, all the more so because the problem of hunger is affecting an ever increasing number of citizens of the European Union. More than five million people in Poland are already living in extreme poverty. Thank you for your attention."@en1
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