A place to share good books, articles, websites, etc . . . .
I've just read a new book by Walter Brueggeman, Prayers for a Privileged People, a collection of prayer cum meditations of thanksgiving, petition, lament and rejoicing, with a strong focus on justice and peace. Also worth a look is Richard Carter's discussion of what the vow of poverty means in the context of a developing country religious order -- it offers valuable thoughts on simplicity, generosity, and God's call.
I have just finished reading
I have just finished reading 'The Bottom Billion', by Prof Paul Collier. In less than 200 pages he presents an intensive and well-constructed analysis of the problems of development for the world's poorest nations. As the last sentence of the book states, here is an agenda for the G8. But along the way he also points out some useful ideas for the EU, the Commonwealth and other international bodies to follow up and valuable advice for national governments in both rich and poor countries. Meanwhile, he also takes a potshot or two at NGOs and other aid providers. But lest you think this is a book for politicians, professionals and opinion formers (which hopefully it is), Collier also points out that each of us has a responsibility to be informed, to be aware of the facts behind growing poverty in the poorest nations and to play our part in promoting change - not least because politicians are often slow to act on development issues unless they can be sure of public support. I think (hope) this is an important contribution to post-Doha thinking, because it addresses the specific needs of the poorest nations and puts together a package of (often radical) ideas which includes trade, but goes beyond to include security, finance, governance and frameworks of international treaties and law.