Christian Aid Global

The humanitarian situation in eastern DRC continues to deteriorate as civilians flee the fighting sparked in April by the M23 rebellion. Regional humanitarian manager Cristina Ruiz describes the situation she found during a recent trip to DRC while policy and advocacy officer Chantal Daniels discusses the political actions required to resolve the crisis.

Just a few months after the end of the Second World War, with literally millions of people facing food shortages and starvation, a UN agency was founded for food and agriculture. We mark the anniversary every October 16th with World Food Day. This year, Christian Aid is taking the opportunity to think about that time and this by looking at West Africa, where again a combination of conflict and bad harvests have put millions at risk.

We heard this morning the exciting news that the Jan Satyagraha march for land rights ended today in celebration following the government’s agreement to the marchers’ demands. Christian Aid's Country Manager, Anand Kumar, was there to see this historic moment. Here he talks about what happened today and what this means for land rights in India. For further information visit http://www.christianaid.org.uk/whatwedo/in-focus/india-march-for-justice/index.aspx

Delhi-based PACS communications manager Priyanka Sarker reports for Christian Aid from the scene of partner Ekta Parishad’s ‘Jan Satyagraha 2012’... India's momentous march. The ‘Jan Satyagrahis’ – as the marchers are known in Hindi - started out from Gwalior City on 3rd October as 50,000 people moving as one. It is expected that other groups will join along the way to Delhi and that numbers will swell to 100,000. This one-month long march is calling for greater rights to land and resources for the country's poor, landless and displaced.

Christian Aid’s India representative Anand Kumar reports from the first days of the Jan Satyagraha march. He describes the rally the day before walking began, organised so that India’s Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh could address the crowd, and delaying the start of the march from 2nd to 3rd October.

There were high hopes that Mr Ramesh would sign an agreement granting key demands on land and that the protest might instead become a celebration. Here, Anand explains the response of the crowd to disappointing news. Some 50-60,000 people had travelled from all corners of the country to march. The number is expected to double as the march, now on its way, proceeds to Delhi.

http://www.christianaid.org.uk/whatwedo/in-focus/india-march-for-justice/index.aspx

Delhi-based PACS communications manager Priyanka Sarker reports for Christian Aid from the scene of partner Ekta Parishad’s ‘Jan Satyagraha 2012’... India's momentous march. The people’s campaign is set to be 100,000 strong, one month long and will call for greater rights to land and resources for the country's poor, landless and displaced.

Delhi-based PACS communications manager Priyanka Sarker reports for Christian Aid from the scene of partner Ekta Parishad’s ‘Jan Satyagraha 2012’... India's march for justice. This epic people’s campaign is set to be 100,000 strong and will call for greater rights to land and resources for the country's poor, landless and displaced.

Chris Mead and Hannah Henderson of the Christian Aid Collective take over the Christian Aid podcast channel. What is an activist? How can young people make a difference in the UK? Listen in and find out more...

In late 2011, communications officer Sarah Filbey travelled to India to report on the work of Christian Aid partners in the country.

In a set of three audio diaries, recorded in situ, Sarah shares her experiences along the way. These include reflections on India’s high levels of poverty and inequality, the nature of its democracy, and what thought leaders and passionate civil society activists she meets along the way believe is the answer to these and related burning issues.

Follow the series to hear stories of success and struggle from communities struggling for rights to land and resources on which they depend, and for insight from the road as Sarah joins land rights partner Ekta Parishad on their incredible year-long journey across India mobilising and preparing some 100,000 people to march for their rights in October 2012.

For updates and more information on Ekta Parishad and their potentially historic Jan Satyagraha march, visit the dedicated pages of our website: http://www.christianaid.org.uk/whatwedo/in-focus/india-march-for-justice/index.aspx

Brazil. A country with the sixth largest economy in the world. Yet hiding behind this big statistic are 16 million people who are still living in abject poverty. Christian Aid recently launched a report to investigate “The Real Brazil: the inequality behind the statistics”. This is an interview with Christian Aid’s Country Manager for Brazil, Mara Luz, to find out about her experiences of inequality in Brazil.

To read a summary of the report visit http://www.christianaid.org.uk/images/real-brazil-summary.pdf

To read the report in full visit http://www.christianaid.org.uk/images/real-brazil-full-report.pdf