This autumn will be marked by two important events that will have significant importance for the poor countries and peoples in the world. One is the Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen in December and the WTO meeting in Geneva in November. Both these meetings have the potential to create a more just world. They also both have the potential to affirm the world’s status quo, or even worse; to move the world in the wrong direction. The time has come for dramatic resolutions and radical change. The world community, and particularly the rich countries of the world will be put to the test! Reports and good intentions are not enough!
Together with the churches of Norway, Norwegian Church Aid has mobilized for a climate cruise with the ferry from Oslo to to the Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen, Denmark. More than a thousand people will participate – along with 10 bishops as well as the leadership group of the Church of Norway Council and the Christian Council of Norway. In Copenhagen we will join a global, ecumenical gathering under the auspices of the World Council of Churches, with global participation. Climate change is the most serious threat of our time to poor countries and peoples. Global justice hinges on an effective agreement. This is what the churches of Norway and churches all over the world now mobilize for and which we expect Norwegian politicians and the Norwegian government strongly to support.
The distance from international summits to a poor woman in Kenya may seem very long. However, the results of the negotiations will affect the everyday life of poor women and men all over the world. If the world’s political leaders do not implement radical measures for the climate, women in Kenya and in other places may experience further draught and fewer ways of sustaining even the basic needs of their families. If the world does not curtail the escalating customs tariff rates and the direct and indirect export subsidies, woman’s potential sale of her products will never reach any further than her own back yard. She will be forced out of her own market by subsidised products from rich countries.
Now that a new parliament has been elected, I would like to take the opportunity to wish all the newly elected representatives all the best in their new assignment!
Long working days, exciting discussions and compromises are all part of their new everyday life in politics. The Norwegian Church Aid wishes to contribute with our ideas, and you will probably see us in both your own and other’s corridors. The close interaction between civil society and government will contribute to many lively debates in our country, and this is in itself of great value.
The debate regarding aid effectiveness is likely to become an important part of Norwegian foreign policy also during this period. It is therefore with great pleasure that we note that most political parties now say in their party programs that they favour more and better quality development assistance. We need an open debate regarding aid where none of the parties take entrenched positions. On the contrary, I hope for a constructive and self-critical debate on development aid in the years to come. Nobody does everything right – and nobody does everything wrong.
The new political platform of the Norwegian Church Aid for the period 2009 – 2013 has now been completed. It is sent to all the newly elected parliamentarians and may of course be distributed to others interested in the issue.
If you have any questions or comments, please contact the head of the Department for Development Policy Wenche Fone at tel. +47 93 01 14 20 or mail at 
. You can find additional information at www.kirkensnødhjelp.no
I wish you all a good semester.
Atle Sommerfeldt
Norwegian Church Aid Secretary General