AMANDA JACKSON, of Micah Challenge International – a supporter of the EXPOSED campaign, looks at why it’s important we don’t turn a blind eye to corruption…
Sarah Dlamini from South Africa is a doctor with enough experience in the public health system to comment with some credibility on corruption. The Auditor General has found that R30 billion ($US3 billion) is wasted on corruption in the country each year.
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The EXPOSED Campaign website. The campaign is holding a week of action this week (14th to 20th October) with millions of people taking part in prayer vigils and other actions around the world. “We want to speak out to stop corruption at all levels and highlight actions that are bringing hope. We all know corruption is bad and it’s big and that it affects the poorest families the most. Transparency International’s annual reports highlight corruption levels in clear and stark fashion. EXPOSED is a response by people on the ground to take practical steps for change.” |
She writes, “Corruption is the tragedy of South Africa today. But do you know what for me is the real tragedy? The silence. Sure at the occasional braai we all have a big moan about wasted potential, how the poor are the ones really suffering and then, inevitably, the conversation moves to: ‘Nothing will ever change.’ ‘The ruling party will never be voted out.’ ‘Whistle blowers will always be squashed.’
“Somehow, you see, we get away with not caring. Once we’ve had an appropriate rant in whatever social arena, we return to the comfort of our reality and forget. We forget the ones who cannot forget.
“We forget the young teenage mother weeping in the rural district hospital over her baby who is gasping his last because the incubator is not working. Tender gone bad. We forget the four-year-old walking home from school hit by a truck because there is no sidewalk for him to walk on. Tender gone bad. Corrupt officials turn a blind eye. And so do we.”
Sarah’s voice is why the EXPOSED campaign exists. We want to speak out to stop corruption at all levels and highlight actions that are bringing hope. We all know corruption is bad and it’s big and that it affects the poorest families the most. Transparency International’s annual reports highlight corruption levels in clear and stark fashion. EXPOSED is a response by people on the ground to take practical steps for change.
This week will see millions of people taking part in actions and prayer vigils aimed at shining a light on business, government and church to call for integrity and transparency. At a local level, people will make a personal commitment that may mean saying no to bribery. At the other end of the power spectrum, the campaign’s Global Call Against Corruption will push G20 leaders to take firm action against behaviour that sees trillions disappear in bribery, tax havens, shell companies and other practices designed to evade accountability.
The campaign is keen to shine light into dark corners not simply to blame others but also to stand up for some eternal values – honesty, integrity and generosity.
Outside St Paul’s Cathedral on Monday evening, Canon Mark Oakley told the crowd gathered at an EXPOSED Vigil, “We all need deep, searching scrutiny and challenge because we have grown up in a culture that has been telling us for so long now that life is just survival of the fittest. Fit for what we haven’t actually been told. But money has the power to magic us into people we would prefer not to be without us even noticing.
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LIGHTING UP BRISBANE: Brisbane church leaders unite in prayer against corruption at Wilson Outlook Reserve, Brisbane, in preparation for next year’s G20 meeting. BRISBANE CHURCH LEADERS JOIN GLOBAL CAMPAIGN Church leaders from across denominations took part in a prayer vigil in Brisbane on Thursday night as part of the global EXPOSED campaign. The prayer vigil was one of an estimated 2,000 which took place around the globe this week. Among those involved were Dean Phelan, Churches of Christ director in Queensland, Bishop Joseph Oudeman, Catholic Bishop of Brisbane, Major Rick Hoffman, of the Salvation Army in south Queensland, Cameron Bennett, national director of Youth Alive, and Rev Kaye Ronalds, moderator of the Uniting Church. The location was particularly of note, given the G20 will meet in Brisbane in November next year, during Australia’s year long presidency of the group. A petition which the EXPOSED campaign hope will number a million signatures and asks for action to end corruption which be handed to world leaders at the event. Prior to the prayer vigil at Wilson Outlook Reserve, Tim Costello, the CEO of World Vision, and Gershon Nimbalker, advocacy manager of Baptist World Aid, led a meeting on behalf of Micah Challenge, discussing with church leaders how they could best use this opportunity to make sure the voices of the global poor are heard at the G20. “We know that God has a deep concern for the poorest in our world. The G20 presents Christians in Australia with a unique opportunity to speak up for justice in our global economic system,” said Mr Nimbalker. Micah Challenge Australia’s Shine the Light campaign aims to put issues of transparency high on the agenda of the G20 next year and is running in conjunction with the global EXPOSED campaign. ~ www.exposed2013.com – DAVID ADAMS
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“And…in this environment of deadly competitiveness where life is only real somehow if it manifests survival or profit, when growth is talked about without any reference to who or what growth must be for, then, of course, we curdle – as individuals, as institutions, as governments and churches. And then corruption takes hold as part of the battle we wage pathetically calling it living. But corruption does not love life. It is deathly.”
Corruption flourishes when people are afraid to speak out – the blind eye and the indifferent heart. If we allow secrecy and bribery and tax evasion God’s people are robbed of dignity and the weakest are bullied.
In Nepal, small community churches are recovering their dignity and voice. In a unique moment they presented a letter to the President promising to contribute in a positive, peaceful and honest way to Nepal, and asked the government to do the same. They had also presented letters to local government leaders. They hope this action will herald new accountability and trust.
In countries where it can be risky to speak out – like Nepal, Uganda and Malaysia – supporters of EXPOSED are finding new heart in being part of a global event and they are working closely with groups like Transparency International.
I’m so proud to know Thir in Nepal, Joyce in Malaysia and Bishop Zac in Uganda and proud to share the story of Sarah and Canon Mark. As EXPOSED week progresses there will be more stories of hope and audacity. They will rarely reach the news but each one is helping to bring down the walls of economic selfishness and secret greed.
If you don’t know about EXPOSED, you can find basic information in this toolkit for churches and individuals. If you are a business person/entrepreneur, take a look at the Business Toolkit developed by Micah Challenge (with advice from many experts). And please do all you can to pester people to sign the Global Call Against Corruption. We need your voice. You can find information about the campaign in Australia here.
Amanda Jackson is head of campaigns and policy at Micah Challenge International, one of the organisations supporting the EXPOSED campaign.
