Church steward in Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka © Mark Howard/ Twenty-Five Educational

The livesimply challenge is not just about changing our lifestyles: it also means standing up against the inequalities of wealth and power that still define our world 40 years after they were denounced by Pope Paul VI, writes Joanne Green.

Conflict, unjust trade rules, power imbalances, famine, investment in arms rather than basic services, inequality, debts that can't be paid and a belief that new technology can solve all our problems - does this list seem familiar? It sounds like a description of our world today but, in fact, these are all issues that Pope Paul VI identified 40 years ago in his papal letter Populorum Progressio ('On the development of peoples').

He wrote: 'Inequality in the sharing of our wealth is not the only scandal crying out for justice. Now, increasingly, the scandal is inequality in the sharing-out of power. In many lands a few rich people still dominate the rest. While they enjoy a civilised existence, the rest stay poor.'

Growing inequality

The analysis, challenges and teaching of Populorum Progressio are as relevant now as they were then. In some ways we have made progress. For example, we are seeing the cancellation of some poor countries' debts and large-scale poverty reduction in China and South-East Asia.

'Genuine progress must be complete. No one can be left out. No part of anyone can be left out.'

These steps forward keep alive our hopes that humanity is willing to fight against evil and able to overcome it. But the depth and complexity of existing challenges threaten to overwhelm us. For in other areas the situation has deteriorated.

This is especially the case with regard to the arms trade, environmental degradation and inequality between individuals and nations. In additon, global trade rules remain heavily weighted in favour of wealthy nations, despite all the campaigning.

Rich countries

Pope Paul VI faced a very similar situation in 1967. He lived at a time when the perspective was in some ways quite a hopeful one. Decolonisation was well under way and new global institutions had been established to steer the world towards greater peace and prosperity. But, as he details in his letter, there was also terrible iniquity and great inequality:

'Today, in many lands, countless men and women are starving. Countless children suffer from malnutrition. Many die young.… Whole regions are condemned to hopelessness.'

Pope Paul responded to this by calling for what amounts to a paradigm shift on the part of rich countries and their leaders. He calls for a new definition of progress, one that is based on the equal value that God accords every person and the recognition that material gain and economic growth is not the goal but a means to an end and therefore should not be pursued ad infinitum.

Every day politicians, the media, private companies, and even our friends and family, all tell us explicitly and subliminally that we need more. The message is that, if we have more, if we buy this product or take this holiday, we will be happier. Yet numerous studies show that, beyond a certain level of material wealth, we become less contented.

Elevating the wants of the individual over the needs of our local communities and global neighbours has not brought us personal satisfaction. But, more importantly, our way of life is accelerating the destruction of the natural resources of the world. In so doing, we are contributing to destroying the lives of the people in developing countries who rely on these resources.

Climate change

Climate change is a case in point. We cannot escape the fact that rich countries are largely responsible for the current and predicted climate change and variability. We are beginning to realise and acknowledge that those who are suffering the most from this are poor individuals and communities in developing countries.

'What is more human? The end of want; everyone having enough; the end of social ills of every kind; more knowledge; more culture; respect for the dignity of others; the spirit of poverty (Matthew 5:3); cooperation for the common good; the will for peace.'

The global impact of climate change is spreading. We are already witnessing increasing frequency and severity of droughts and floods. But there are also slower, more insidious alterations, and these are hitting the poorest hardest,and will continue to do so in the future.

Progressio partners are seeing the way in which changes in the climate are making life harder for poor communities. As one example, because of rapidly melting glaciers in Ecuador, aridity is increasing, as is soil loss, desertification, ecosystem degradation, the disappearance of species and the loss of agricultural land. As a consequence, the indigenous communities with whom Progressio partner organisations work are experiencing unexpected frosts and longer drought periods.

Up in Smoke? Latin America and Caribbean, a report from the Working Group on Climate Change and Development, of which Progressio is a member, states: 'The older generation say they no longer know when to sow, as rains do not come as expected. Migration offers one way out but represents a cultural nemesis and the human and social price to pay is high.'

Acting in solidarity

In 2005, the Make Poverty History campaign asked world leaders to eradicate poverty by increasing aid, introducing trade justice and cancelling debt. Thousands of people took to the streets and wrote to politicians demanding change. Great progress was made but much more is needed.

We can act in solidarity with poor people by pressuring politicians to take action on these issues and other factors that result in poverty and environmental degradation. But we also need to live in solidarity with the poor in the world. To do this, we must reflect on our own lives and make changes to areas that negatively impact on poverty and the environment. We need to live simply and sustainably, so that all people, not just a chosen few, can benefit from the creation and resources God has provided to us.

Living in solidarity

The livesimply project, which was launched in November 2006, builds on the success of Make Poverty History by asking people to be the change they want to see by living simply, sustainably and in solidarity with poor people.

The values that Pope Paul VI wrote about with such passion 40 years ago still drive our work at Progressio today. We believe they are perhaps even more relevant now than they were then, which is why our new name was inspired by Populorum Progressio and why we are supporting the livesimply project.

The quotes from Populorum Progressio are from the abridged translation, This is Progress.

Find out how to make your own livesimply promise.

Joanne Green is Progressio's advocacy manager.