Bangkok, 10 October 2002

 

INVITATION TO CROSS THE VIRTUAL FENCE

Dear friends,

Our hi-tech world offers revolutionary ways to follow major events as they unfold, participate in global campaigns at the click of a button and observe world poverty from the comfort of our sofas. 

But how much do we really understand about people's suffering from our daily bombardment  of "virtual" issues? Enough to desensitise us to the horror of poor people's reality? Probably. Enough to enable us to do something to help? Probably not.

There are ways however, to reach across the virtual fence and embrace the issues in full. By bringing together those in extreme poverty with others more fortunate who care about their situation, real solutions can be found. We invite you join to us across the virtual fence, at an 

ATD Fourth World exhibition
to commemorate the International Day to Overcome Poverty¹
Saturday 19 October from 12 noon to 6 pm
on the ground floor of the Bangkok World Trade Centre

For those who live in extreme poverty, indifference to their suffering is as hard for them to bear as the suffering itself. They will be delighted to see people come together for this event.

We look forward to seeing you there and hope that many of you will be able to make it.

 

                                                                                                  With our best regards,
                                                                                                   Friends of ATD Foundation and
                                                                                                   ATD Bangkok team

¹ On 17 October 1987 on the Plaza of Human Rights and Liberties at the Trocadero in Paris, the International Movement ATD Fourth World organised a big gathering with people of all walks of life to proclaim that extreme poverty is a violation of human rights. On that occasion, a commemorative stone was unveiled in homage to the victims of extreme poverty affirming that:
“Wherever men and women are condemned to live in poverty, human rights are violated
To come together to ensure that these rights be respected is our solemn duty.”

In December 1992, the United Nations have declared 17 October the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Since then all around the world various groups of people come together on that day to express their solidarity with disadvantaged groups of the society.