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20/05/05
JRS UK: PRESIDENT BARROSO PRAISES JESUIT INITIATIVE
The President of the European Commission was presented with over
3,000 letters written by children who attend Jesuit schools in
Britain and others today, and praised their efforts to help
eradicate world hunger and poverty. Jos Manuel Barroso was
speaking before delivering the European Institute Public Lecture
at the London School of Economics.
Fr Frank Turner SJ, representing the Jesuits, and Alison
Marshall from CAFOD, had a frank and constructive discussion
about aid, trade and development with the Commission President
before the lecture. He assured them that the issues were a real
priority and not just talk. Mr Barroso then welcomed pupils from
St Ignatius School in Stamford Hill who presented him with the
letters wrapped in Make Poverty History tape. They had been
written by children who attend Jesuit schools and colleges
throughout Britain on the Jesuit Day of Prayer and Action
earlier this week. They also gave him an album of photos from
the day many showing people forming human white bands as well as
poems and paintings depicting poverty. Mr Barroso told the
school children he was really impressed and touched by the
album, promising he would definitely read it closely.
In his talk, Response and Responsibility: the global partnership
for aid and development, the Commission President described how
the European Union could play a more effective role in the
global partnership for tackling aid and development. The United
Kingdom is placing these issues at the heart of the agenda for
its forthcoming EU Presidency and its chairmanship of the G8
summit at Gleneagles in July; but Mr Barroso said that action is
not and should not be confined to governments. Grassroots
movements like the Make Poverty History coalition are also
helping to build momentum,he said. This is not just about famous
names; it is also about the thousands of people who signed the
petition I received this morning from the Jesuits. It is about
the contribution which you and I can make.
Photo attached shows Mr José Manuel
Barroso accepting the 3,000 letters from pupils from St Ignatius
School, Stamford Hill. Please credit Nigel Stead, LSE
For more information, contact:
Ged Clapson (Communications Officer, British Jesuits)
Jesuit Communications Officer, British Province,
114 Mount Street
London UK
W1K 3AH
Tel: +44 (0)20 7499 0285
Mobile: +44 (0)7778 218671
www.jesuit.org.uk
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| Mr José Manuel Barroso accepting
the 3,000 letters from pupils from St Ignatius
School, Stamf. Photo by Nigel Stead, LSE |
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