I have been struck as we all have by the tsunami tragedy in Asia. The latest devastating figures for the number of deaths are around the 150 000 mark. This is a terrible disaster beyond the understanding and comprehension of most of us.

I saw on the news today that this disaster has produced a record charitable response from people in the UK with over £60 million already pledged in this county through various helplines. It is not often I am proud to be British, but this is one of them.

On Saturday morning I was struck by an article in the Church Times, which was later strangely but powerfully reinforced in the comedy show Vicar of Dibley. Both made a chilling point which I was not aware of and which sickens me:

Every day 30 000 people die because of poverty.

Since the tsunami stuck a week ago and killed 120 000 people, 210 000 people have died from the effects of poverty. Nearly twice as many as the disaster in Asia. It sickens me more to think that this is not an isolated incident. This is a daily occurrence. Every day in our 21st century world 30 000 people die due to poverty.

This year the UK will host the G8 summit of world leaders and Christian Agencies are uniting under the banner of Make Poverty History. Please visit the site and see what you can do to help. If nothing else spend just £1 and wear a white wristband or armband and wear it as a visible sign that you want this injustice to end. You can even add a small or large one to your website as I have above in the top right hnd corner!

I used to think individuals were pretty powerless in these circumstances but we can make a difference. Recent events in the Ukraine show this to be true. When individuals see an injustice and unite, politicians will listen and act accordingly. In the Ukraine individuals showing their desire for justice lead to a re-election (as an aside … makes me wonder what would have happened 4 years ago in the US if people objected and demanded a re-election …)

Make Poverty History states:

This year offers a truly exceptional set of opportunities for the UK to take a lead internationally and say that enough is enough.

With the UK hosting the G7 Finance Ministers meeting in February and the G8 gathering of powerful world leaders as well as holding the presidency of the European Union (EU), our Government and particularly Gordon Brown and Tony Blair, will be influential players on the world stage – we must make sure they play their part.

Please visit the site and act. Spend a quid on a white band. Be rash, spend a tenner and give 9 away and tell them why! Write to your MP. If you like, from the Save the Children website you can email your MP askingthem to act. Get your church leader to stand up and speak up about this injustice (rather than a book, play or waxwork nativity scene that offends!).

In history the world was transformed by individual Christians who got together to make a difference to slavery, poverty, health care and child labour. We are in a time when we can and need to act again. Wouldn’t it be great to see world poverty start to radically decline due to action in 2005!