Missioners discuss the crisis’ impact on Africa

The 25 participants – from Portugal, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Germany, United Kingdom, Ireland, Netherlands, France and Poland – were the representatives of their own “Antennas” (national chapters of AEFJN).

The meeting opened with a sharing on the life and activities of each “Antenna,” which generated a degree of discouragement in view of the aging of members and the weak participation of missionaries. Conscious of their frailty, the members have committed themselves to turn these weaknesses into challenges to be faced.

The main theme of the reflection and of the debate was the state of the world economic crisis and its impact on the African Continent. Since 2008 Africa has experienced a dizzying escalation of prices of food staples, caused by speculation on these goods in the financial markets. The sale of large parcels of land to other countries for the production of food  is one of the serious problems that Africa is facing, with the connivance of its own governments that do not protect the agricultural and nutritional survival of the local populations.

It was brought out that some political parties, present in the European Parliament and known for being inspired by Christian principles, oppose political decisions that favor immigrants. This situation caused feelings of bitterness and condemnation among the participants who asked themselves why this would happen. Some of the opinions pointed to the populism and election fever of political leaders who want to capitalize their political gains using the fears of European societies in the face of the influx of immigrants. The missionaries upheld the necessity of rescuing and propagating anew the ethical principles of the Church’s social doctrine in all sectors of society, including the ruling classes.

AEFJN is a network of missionary institutes created in 1988, with the objective of influencing in a positive way the economic and commercial politics of the members of the European Union in relation to the African Continent. The guiding principle of its operations remains economic justice according to the social doctrine of the Church. Each national group of missionaries – called Antenna – gathers and shares information on problems related to justice in Africa and on the effects of European politics on the African Continent. The Antennas work in cooperation with organizations of civil society interested in Africa.