“Keep your promises”: with this slogan, the Catholic humanitarian relief organization Misereor will be closely monitoring the meeting of the G8 due to be held at Heiligendamm (Germany) from 6 to 8 June. Interviewed by the German Catholic press agency KNA, Archbishop Werner Thissen of Hamburg, delegate of the German bishops for Misereor, pointed out the most urgent problems of development policy at the present time, expectations about the summit and the Church’s programmes for it. “I expect politician to assume their responsibilities”, he said. “Economic growth must serve human development. In practical terms, that involves self-regulation for the funding of development, the continuation of the process of writing off the debts of the poor countries and concerted efforts to crack down on corruption”. As far as the African continent is concerned, Thissen underlined the need for cooperation between the African countries and the international community to combat poverty and warned: “If things continue as they are at the moment, the sub-Saharan region will fail to reach even one of the Millennium Objectives defined by the UNO”. “The G8 must act now, because time is running out”, he added. Thissen emphasized the important role that is recognized to the Church in questions relating to development policy and declared: “political leaders and the Church can work together, each on the basis of his own responsibilities”. The specific initiatives proposed by the German Churches on the occasion of the G8 summit include the following: “first, we invite people to pray. During an ecumenical service 30,000 candles will be lit up, as a symbol of the 30,000 children who die each day of hunger and disease. Many Forums in which the Churches will participate have also been organized to coincide with the summit”. Thissen mentioned in particular the alternative summit of Rostock: a “forum of civil society” in which “expectations, requests and criticisms” will be formulated. The Archbishop lastly expressed concern about the clashes between the security forces and no-global that have already taken place before the summit: “”The concept of no-global comprises highly diversified groups. I don’t understand those who are contrary in general to globalization. I consider globalization an opportunity and a need. I deeply hope that the G8 at Heiligendamm will take place peacefully”.
