Thousands of CAFOD supporters turn out for amazing Big IF Rally to call on G8 leaders to end hunger
From all over the UK, CAFOD supporters descended on London for the Big IF ecumenical service and rally. With CAFOD banners, t-shirts and many dressed as loaves and fishes, the day was an incredible start to the build-up to the G8 in Northern Ireland in ten days’ time.
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After more than 3,500 people attended an uplifting ecumenical service in Westminster Central Hall led by Archbishop Vincent Nichols, and with a video message from the Archbishop of Canterbury, CAFOD joined up to 45,000 Enough Food for Everyone IF supporters in Hyde Park in blazing sunshine.
Read about the ecumenical service >>
CAFOD’s head of campaigns Clare Lyons said from Hyde Park: “I want to thank every person who got up this morning and travelled to London to show they refuse to stand by and let millions of people go hungry every day. Hunger is the biggest scandal of our generation and we are all here to tell the G8 they must put an end to it. Together we will make that difference.”
The excitement and passion from the crowd was evident as inspiring words were spoken from the main stage by Bill Gates, the former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, CAFOD ambassador David Harewood, film director Danny Boyle, BBC DJ Lauren Laverne and singer Angelique Kidjo. David Beckham sent a special video message and told supporters to tell Prime Minister David Cameron “the time for the G8 to act is now”.
CAFOD supporter Ciara Foley from Nottingham said: “I'm really passionate about ending global poverty. This is the first time I've been campaigning for CAFOD and it's really exciting and has been a fun day.”
At 5pm Rowan Williams led the crowd in a minute's silence as an act of respect for the millions who have died of hunger.
Luke Matthews from Brentwood diocese said: “It's really important because there is enough food for people to be comfortable and not live in poverty. We need to push world leaders to make sure everyone lives an equal life".
So many CAFOD supporters had travelled hundreds of miles to be at the day of action for the Enough Food for Everyone IF campaign, of which CAFOD is a founder member. They came with blankets to sit on, sun-cream, CAFOD t-shirts, placards, packed lunches and the belief that hunger is the biggest scandal of our generation. Many joined other supporters in the CAFOD area at Hyde Park where there were activities for all the family and where many could be seen wearing the now-famous bread and loaves hats for young and not-so-young to show their support for the Big IF day.
Brian Medlicotte of Fetcham in Surrey highlighted the tragedy of wasting food when more than 870 million people go hungry every day. He said: “I look at how people elsewhere in the world are treated by multinational companies, many of which come from the western world like us, and I'm not happy with that. And the thought of people starving, when there is enough food, and food goes to waste, is tragic. It's the duty of everyone to stand up and say this is wrong."
The Big IF event was amazing, and it’s just the start of the build-up to the G8 meeting. Find out what happened at the Nutrition for Growth Summit hosted by David Cameron on the same day as the Big IF Rally later today, and find out what’s going on over the next ten days.
