Page 16 - St Barnabas Parish Homerton Summer Magazine 2020

structed in poor areas, and WHERE WE GO FROM HERE: THE
communities coming together to make CHOICE WE MUST MAKE
huge sacrifices to save lives. There
has been a newfound urgency both to This may be a once-in-a-lifetime
find and support those who are lonely opportunity to reshape society
and isolated, and a willingness among globally, but it is not guaranteed.
many to give up their time and their
resources to support them. These There are 3 possible routes forward:
solutions aren’t perfect, and some may
only be temporary, but they 1. We could fall back to the old normal.
demonstrate a shift to valuing life over
productivity. 2. We could go in a dangerous
direction where lockdowns result in a
3. From small tweaks to a new way rise of racism and division, inequalities
of being. Many are beginning to are worsened, vital aid to developing
realise that we have a chance to countries is reduced, and the
reshape culture and society. More and economic stimulus package prioritises
more people are joining this polluting industries.
conversation, and there is an appetite
for real change. 3. We could truly embrace the three
shifts we’re seeing emerge. We could
In a recent YouGov poll, only 9% of live in the knowledge that our
Britons want life to return to 'normal'
decisions affect everyone else, and
once the lockdown is over. refuse to define people by their
productivity or social status, instead
We have seen that we are capable of valuing them as made in the image of
adapting fast as human beings and as God. We could pursue economic
a society: fundamental renewal feels recovery measures that fast-track
possible. The dignity of human life, the action against the climate emergency,
centrality of community and the protect the vulnerable and create
flourishing of all people and all greater global solidarity. We could
creation, these are values intrinsic to reboot the world in a way that reduces
the Christian story. the racial, economic and the other
inequalities exposed during the crisis.
CORONAVIRUS IS
Forn more information, go to
NOT THE GREATEST www.tearfund.org/reboot
THREAT TO LIFE ON Tearfund says:

EARTH: CLIMATE Join us as we call on the UK
CHANGE IS government to forge a way forward
that prioritises the poorest, tackles
the climate emergency and builds a
(These two pages are an abridged
better world for everyone.
version of the Tearfund campaign)