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Children from five primary schools have taken part in a ceremony to launch the Unearth Justice photo exhibition at St Wilfred's church in York
Community groups, church and city leaders joined the children in the launch ceremony which took place on the June 24.
The launch began with a procession of children carrying gold paper chains, made and signed by pupils from the schools.
Let us prove we have faith by showing our good deeds
These were presented to Rt Reverend Bishop Terence Patrick Drainey, RC Bishop of Middlesbrough outside the church and were then placed before the altar for Bishop Drainey to bless.
The exhibition, which is touring the country, highlights the problems caused by the mining industry, particularly throughout the developing world.
It focuses on land contamination, forced removal of peoples from their land, loss of work and community and the lack of basic human rights suffered by people through the greed and malpractice of their local governments and large multinational mining companies.
Three countries in particular are highlighted – Honduras, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Philippines.
The service included speeches from Canon Michael Ryan, Parish Priest of St Wilfrid’s, the Right Honourable Councillor Bryan Watson, Lord Mayor of York and David Cross, CAFOD Diocesan Manager, Diocese of Middlesbrough.
Music was provided by a choir from All Saints RC High School as well as from the Filipino community from St Wilfrid’s parish.
Carol Cross, CAFOD diocesan officer, has recently returned from a field trip to Honduras, and testified to the problems she saw there.
She brought back a message from people she met with, people who feel let down by their own government: “We need friends. You are our strength.”
The ceremony closed with a powerful address by Bishop Drainey who reminded the congregation that it is not enough to feel sad about the problems in the world. Action must be taken.
He explained: “Gold is one of the world’s most prized commodities – a symbol of wealth and power, used in everything from jewellery to food, aircraft engines to computers and mobile phones.”
He concluded by saying it is up to us all to campaign for ethical and fair mining practices to ensure that the gold bought here in the developed is not at a cost to someone in the developing world.
He said: “Let us prove we have faith by showing our good deeds.”
