OFFICIAL STATEMENT
OF THE WMCW
FOLLOWING THE TRAGEDY OF THE INDIAN OCEAN
A disaster a challenge to
us all!
While in several countries,
men and the women were struck and continue to
be, by wars, terrorist acts, and natural disasters,
the entire human race, saw the very worst of natural
disasters on 26 December 2004. The Tsunami disaster
struck countries which border the Indian Ocean:
more than 280.000 lost their lives, Towns and
cities destroyed, millions of people displaced,
properties and infrastructures seriously damaged...
National and international
relief groups quickly identified with victims.
Almost everywhere in the world, everyone felt
particularly touched by this catastrophe because
of its magnitude.
This is a challenge
to all of us. The World Movement of the Christian
Workers is not indifferent either. Because, the
question of the human concerns arises behind each
one of these incidents, the type of assistance
to be brought, as well as values and priorities
whish should direct the reconstruction.
As a sign of solidarity
with the tsunami victims and all the other incidents
which strike the world, WMCW would like to make
its contribution towards the necessary reflexion
that must accompany engagement on the ground near
the most affected people.
A reconstruction based on
solid and durable values
With regard to the methods
and objectives of rebuilding, it is fundamental
for us to start from the needs and aspirations
of the populations concerned. It would be a serious
mistake to impose plans of actions rebuilding
to them. Plans exclusively based on the interests
of Western countries.
We recommend the plans
for actions that support participative democracy
and thus give to all citizens the opportunity
to make their voice heard in decisions that concern
them as the first beneficiaries
We think that it is important for the various
stages of the rebuilding process to be based on
social justice, interdependent economy and durable
development. It is about more than ever putting
physical, financial and human resources to the
service and the wellbeing of each inhabitant of
the earth. All must have access to health, education,
food, save drinking water, a decent work, which
guarantees social protection according to their
living conditions. It is also essential to respect
environmental rules in short as well as in the
long term.
It is in there values
which must be the basis of government investment,
and not in armaments. In this way, we will be
able to better achieve the Millennium Goals adopted
by the UN in 2000.
WMCW Members mobilize themselves
With regard to the Tsunami
tragedy, at this stage of emergency period, movements
members of the WMCW of the countries of North
are mobilized individually and through affiliate
NGOs of solidarity (such as CCFD, Solidarité
Mondiale, Entraide et Fraternite, Cafod or Weltnotweck,
to mention a few). In the same way, the members
of the WMCW of the countries struck by the tsunami
actively involving themselves in the areas affected.
Their efforts are extremely valuable and helpful
on the ground.
WMCW is pleased to see
so much solidarity being expressed in many parts
of the world, but we think that it is of primary
importance to ensure that all these expression
of solidarity helps are used for their intended
purpose, in order to avoid penalizing populations
already ravaged by this natural disaster.
It is vital that each country begins immediately
to create an early alarm system for all forms
of natural disasters, including tsunamis, so as
to ensure the safety of its population.
To finance the setup
of this system, as well as development and rebuilding
work, the WMCW recommends the adoption of an international
taxation system on financial transactions.
A sustainable development
The inhabitants of the
affected countries already expressed their wish
to see tourism restarting quickly, because it
generates important incomes for the local economies.
Time has come to see the development of a respectful
tourism of the people who live in areas concerned.
Tourism based on human values, which supports
intercultural exchanges, sources of human enrichment,
which respects traditions and respective cultures.
We think that multinationals
which, too often, became rich by exploiting inhabitants
of underprivileged areas could from now on assume
a positive role by finally offering decent wages
and decent working conditions to all their workers.
We want the tsunami
hit countries and those countries who have been
victims of other catastrophes to become independent
able to meet their needs and that of their populations,
we ask for the cancellation of their debt. We
also call for the development of an equitable
trade system between all the countries of planet.
Finally, WMCW calls
international attention, so that this acts of
solidarity towards Asia does not divert attention
away from the needs of other countries struck
by various catastrophes, and so that Africa, which
experiences "every week, the equivalent of
a tsunami caused by man, and thus avoidable (cf
Tony Blair)", is not once more abandoned
by itself.
Brussels
Brigitte Ndong,
General Secretary of the WMCW
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