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Celebrating 40 years of commitment to solidarity and social justice, DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE is launching its 2007 annual Share Lent education and fundraising campaign today reminding Canadians that there can be No Peace Without Development.
Forty years ago, Pope Paul VI released the encyclical, Populorum Progressio or On the Development of Peoples, which led to the foundation of DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.
"Since 1967, the Canadian Catholic Organization for DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE has remained true to its founding principles – that peace is not possible unless communities in the Global South assume their own development, said executive director Michael Casey. This year the Lenten theme – No Peace Without Development – is a timely reminder that the glaring inequalities between countries in the North and the South addressed by the pope 40 years ago still exist."
The goal of the Share Lent campaign which begin today, Ash Wednesday, and culminates on Sunday March 25, when a special cross-Canada collection will be held in all Catholic churches, is to make Canadians more aware of the causes of poverty and injustice, and raise $10 million to support its development and emergency aid projects.
Over the last 40 years, DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE has contributed $500 million to 15,000 projects in the Global South with the support of its volunteers, members and generous donors.
DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE works in partnership with well-established local groups in Africa, Asia and Latin America on sustainable development programs which allow communities to become responsible for their own development. It also works on peace-building projects and helps communities rebuild in the wake of armed conflicts and natural disasters.
Donations can be made to the DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE Share Lent campaign by phoning the toll free number 1-888-234-8533 (or 514-257-8711 in the Montreal region) or by visiting our Web site at www.devp.org
For 40 years, DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE has worked directly with organizations made up of or representing the poor and marginalized in the Global South, and provided $500 million to 15,000 projects in Africa, Asia and Latin America. We are presently active with 200 partners in 28 countries in Africa, Asia, and in Latin America. In Canada, we are a democratic movement for international solidarity - educating the public about the root causes of poverty and mobilizing social action for change - with 15,000 members from coast to coast. DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE is the official international development organization of the Catholic Church in Canada.
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