Previous | Next 

Chicago, IL
Events of September 11 dominate MEDA convention


Supporters gathering for the Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) annual convention in Chicago, Ill. November 1–4 found their thoughts and prayers dominated by the tragic events of September 11.

A total of 645 people attended Business as a Calling, 2001, which was held together with Partners for Christian Development, a like-minded organization based in the Christian Reformed Church. The convention was preceded by a special one-day seminar that focused on the effects of globalization on poor farmers in the developing world (see sidebar) and featured 26 seminars on various faith and work-related topics. During a special session about the impact of Sept. 11, participants met in small groups to share how things have changed for them and their businesses since that date.

As a result of the events of Sept. 11, the MEDA Board passed a resolution expressing their desire “for an end to terrorism and all acts of violence, wherever they occur”; and their hope that “the families of the victims of the September 11 attacks will find healing, hope and the support they need to face the future and survive their grief”; and “our desire that the people of Afghanistan may soon experience peace and economic well being”.

The resolution ended with an affirmation for the “work of MEDA, for how it builds bridges of peace and understanding between people, and for how it works to build a more peaceful world as people are able to utilize their abilities to earn a livelihood, provide for families and enrich their communities.”

Richard Mouw, president of Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, Calif., reminded the gathering that business is “a holy calling”, and that the Bible is clear that the people who are often “at the margins of our vision” – the poor, widows, orphans, strangers – are “at the centre of God’s vision.”

Don Eberly, deputy director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, told the convention that the events of Sept. 11 had “accelerated the process” of its work as people in the White House saw the need to address “social needs and ills” in the US and around the world.

Amy Domini, president of the oldest and biggest socially and environmentally screened index fund in the US, called on listeners to use their investments to “build a world based on human dignity and environmental sustainability.” She compared modern capitalism – where many companies place profits and shareholder return above building healthy, safe and clean workplaces and communities – to a stampede that is out of control.

Roberta Hestenes, minister at large for World Vision International and World Vision USA, called on the people at the convention to be God’s agents for the poor, giving their resources and creating employment opportunities for poor people; to be activists, stirring others to be involved for the poor; and to be advocates, “using the power we have on behalf of the poor – not as saviours, but as servants.”

Other highlights

MEDA and the Mennonite World Conference agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation in which the two groups will work together to facilitate contact between Mennonite businesspeople around the world, and to enable North American businesspeople to partner with and invest in communities with MWC member churches, where appropriate and feasible. MEDA received almost $1.9 million in contributions in the 2001 fiscal year; together with grants, contracts, business operations and investment earnings, MEDA had a total budget of $8,550,000 for its business-oriented development programs in 29 countries around the world. Last year, MEDA served over 200,000 clients through its micro finance programs in the developing world. MEDA’s North American business training program ASSETS has expanded to 10 locations; the two new locations are Philadelphia, Pa. and Mexico City. A new launch is scheduled for British Columbia next year.

The next Business as a Calling convention will be held October 31–November 3, 2002 in Niagara Falls, Ont.

 – adapted from a report by John Longhurst, MEDA

Effects of global agribusiness on poor focus of MEDA seminar

According to speakers at a Mennonite Economic Development Associates seminar on “Global Agribusiness and Small Holder Farmers”, held prior to the MEDA convention, changes in the agricultural climate will make life more difficult for small producers. One visible factor was the rise of supermarkets in Latin America, said Tom Reardon, a specialist in international agribusiness from Michigan State University. He said that in countries like Argentina and Brazil the percentage of supermarket control jumped from 20% to 80% during the 1990s. Elsewhere the shift was less dramatic, but even in Guatemala and Costa Rica supermarkets now claim 50% of the market. This all means a dramatic change in the control of the retail sector, predicting challenges for organizations that want to develop programs to help rural markets. “The whole nature of competition is changing. The poor are now forced to interface with big firms,” he said. Speakers seemed agreed on the momentum and inevitability of world commerce. “Globalization is going to run over a lot of people,” said one speaker who works with producer cooperatives in Low Income Countries. “But we want to be sure it doesn’t run over everybody.” It was clear that organizations wanting to help small scale farmers would have to get used to greater concentration in the food industry, new and higher standards of quality and the pressure of oversupply. Among the roles business could play were to help small producers set up strategic alliances with larger entities, work at ways to reduce bottlenecks in production and marketing, and conduct more research on what happens to those who are squeezed out of the system.  – adapted from a report by Wally Kroeker, MEDA

 

Previous | Next 

Last modified December 7, 2001.

© 2001 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
Masthead and usage information.