LETTER: Not slavery
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.TO ACCUSE Christian Aid of "well-intentioned economic slavery" ("Ethical bank passes judgement on Third World Aid", Business, 2 April) is a little over the top, even for an ethical banker like Terry Thomas of the Co-operative Bank.
More than a third of the £33m we gave overseas last year was spent on refugees and other emergency relief. No bank is going to lend money to hungry and homeless families.
The bulk of our aid is for "development", whether digging wells or legal help with land rights - small-scale projects for which bank loans are notoriously difficult to secure. We also support revolving loans for income generating projects, as Mr Thomas saw in Ghana.
Christian Aid values its partnership with the Co-operative Bank. Together we believe we can find even more effective ways of working with the Third World poor to end the slavery that desperate poverty imposes.
Jenny Borden
Christian Aid
London SE1
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments