Christian Aid Global

In the run up to Christmas, as churches start holding Advent services and we begin to hear carols everywhere we go, many of us are thinking about a difficult journey through Biblical lands. Ten-year-old Salsabeel lives in today’s West Bank, and makes a painful journey to East Jerusalem three times a week to receive critical medical care. Nothing should stand between a seriously ill little girl and the medical services she needs. Yet Palestinian Salsabeel faces many barriers to treatment because of the Israeli occupation. Listen to this podcast to be carried along on Salsabeel’s long journey with her, and visit www.christianaid.org/christmas to find out more about her story and download Christmas resources. #Israel #Palestine #IOPT #WestBank #Jerusalem #PHR #health #rights

Fifteen per cent of the world’s population live with some form of disability. Yet despite this, around the world people with disabilities experience marginalisation and discrimination in their access to essential services. In this podcast to mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities on 3 December, Nader Abu Amsher, director of Christian Aid partner the YMCA rehabilitation programme in the occupied Palestinian territory, talks about a partnership with the Lebanese Physically Handicapped Union, which is helping to restore hope to the lives of people living with disabilities in the occupied Palestinian territory and Lebanon. #disability #disabled #handicapped #Palestine #MiddleEast #Humanrights #international #Lebanon #YMCA #rights #employment #minority #discrimination

Today 1.3 billion people live in extreme poverty. Tonight 900 million will go to bed hungry. Yet our world has never been richer. Christian Aid believes that poverty can and must be ended. Listen to regular podcasts from the Communication

HIV related stigma and discrimination remain some of the main challenges in responding to HIV. They discourage people from getting tested and prevent open discussion about the virus. Christian Aid works with faith leaders in Burundi to challenge discrimination and promote care and support across communities. In this podcast, Christian Aid's Ally Carnwath reflects on witnessing the personal testimony of Tharcisse Harerimana, an HIV positive Pastor and member of Christian Aid partner BUNERELA+, who is working hard to encourage a greater openness and understanding within the community around HIV. Find out more about Christian Aid’s work on HIV http://www.christianaid.org.uk/whatwedo/in-focus/hiv-malaria-health/index.aspx #WorldAIDSDay #HIV #AIDS #Burundi

India's March for Justice (Jan Satyagraha) 2012 stands as a victory for the tens of thousands of people who marched. Their demands for greater rights to land, natural resources and shelter are inscribed in a written agreement signed by the national government. So what now? In this podcast Ekta Parishad's Jan Satyagraha campaign coordinator, Ramesh Sharma, rounds up the gripping events of the days leading up to the agreement, in conversation with Christian Aid's communications officer Sarah Filbey. On the same day that the Task Force set up to put the agreement into action met for the first time, Ramesh explains why he feels confident that promises made by the government this time will be kept. And why the campaign is far from done. http://www.christianaid.org.uk/whatwedo/in-focus/india-march-for-justice/index.aspx www.ektaparishad.com #EktaParishad #JanSatyagraha #marchforjustice #land #resources #rights #peacefulnegotiation #RameshSharma #India

Following the escalation in violence in the Gaza Strip Christian Aid has launched an appeal to respond to the humanitarian situation there and across the wider Middle East. We spoke to Christian Aid's consultant in Gaza Azzam AlSaqqa to find out what life is like in Gaza at the moment and how Christian Aid's partners are responding. To donate to Christian Aid's emergency appeal please go to www.christianaid.org.uk/emergency #emergency #Gaza #MiddleEast #humanitarian

Violence against women is the norm in most countries of the world. One in five women will be raped at some point in her life; seven in ten will be the victim of some form of violence. This is why the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence, which takes place between 25 November and 10 December, is a critical campaign, even if it doesn't have a very catchy name. In this podcast we look at some of Christian Aid’s work on this issue around the world, and speak down the line to Reverend Phumzile Mabizela in South Africa about wearing black on Thursdays to make this invisible issue visible. For more information about Christian Aid’s work on gender, visit www.christianaid.org.uk/gender

Today 1.3 billion people live in extreme poverty. Tonight 900 million will go to bed hungry. Yet our world has never been richer. Christian Aid believes that poverty can and must be ended. Listen to regular podcasts from the Communication

On 19 November people around the world will mark World Toilet Day. Christian Aid’s Antoinette Powell caught up with colleagues Sarah Filbey, Jonathan Allan and Susan Barry to hear about their best and worst toilet experiences and some of the 2.6 billion people living without access to good sanitation. In this podcast she reflects on the impact of poor sanitation and finds out what Christian Aid partners are doing to address it. To find out more about Christian Aid’s work please go to www.christian-aid.org.uk

Lebanon is classed as a middle income country, yet for the 10% of its population who are living with disabilities life can be a huge challenge. In this podcast Sylvana Lakis, programme manager for the Lebanese Physically Handicapped Union, a Christian Aid partner, talks about their work at all levels of Lebanese society in promoting the rights of people living with disabilities. From challenging the law, to helping people find jobs, LPHU believe that a society based on equal rights for all is the only way that justice can truly be achieved. #Lebanon, #MiddleEast, #Disability, #Disabled, #HumanRights, #Development, #ChristianAid, #Employment, #Law.

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. In this report Priyanka experiences the energy and the pace of the march on its first day; witnesses the hardships already being felt by marchers in the first kilometres, and takes heart in acts of kindness and solidarity she sees bestowed along the way by the people of Gwalior. http://www.christianaid.org.uk/whatwedo/in-focus/india-march-for-justice/index.aspx http://www.pacsindia.org/ www.ektaparishad.com #EktaParishad #Jansatyagraha #landrights #marchforjustice #M4J #landless #adivasis #dalits #India

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 www.ektaparishad.com #EktaParishad #Jansatyagraha #landrights #marchforjustice #M4J #landless #adivasis #dalits