Poverty + Charity - 14/10/19

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Poverty/Charity (written for the School Bulletin in Oct. 2019)
The annual United Nations International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (UN Day) 17 October is a day to express friendship and solidarity with people who have to live with poverty and social exclusion every day of the year around the world.
On the 17th October 1987, in the presence of 100,000 people from every socio-economic background and continent, Fr. Joseph Wresinski unveiled a commemorative stone at the Human Rights Plaza in Paris. This message is engraved on the stone:
"Wherever men and women are condemned to live in extreme poverty, human rights are violated. To come together to ensure that these rights be respected is our solemn duty."
Similar stones are now located in 50 cities and places around the world.
Joseph Wresinski | ATD Fourth World
Fr. Wresinski (1917-1988), a French priest, is a legendary figure in the history of Catholic social action. See here: https://youtu.be/z2C4rDchZaA + https://youtu.be/WVCKAefDbFQ. http://overcomingpoverty.org/article/joseph-wresinski-the-inspiration-behind-october-17th He was very much the inspiration behind the United Nations World Poverty Day.

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