Welsh projects highlighting world poverty and environmental issues will be part of an international Anglican Church video shown to United Nations leaders in New York today as they meet to discuss the Millennium Development Goals.

From money raised at harvest festivals for African orphanages, to a mobile dental clinic in Gaza, the Church in Wales projects will form part of an online video presentation to show what the global Anglican Communion is doing to help reach and promote the goals.

The project follows the Bishops' Walk of Witness through London during the Lambeth Conference in July to highlight the Millennium Development Goals and remind world leaders of their promise to half poverty by 2015.

The series of two minute clips from the Church in Wales includes:

- St Joseph's Church, Cwmaman, in the Cynon Valley, which produces its own electricity with solar panels and also holds an annual environment festival;
- Llandaff Cathedral's Harvest appeal to raise money for a baby home in Ghana;
- A Church in Wales sponsored mobile dental clinic in Gaza;
- The Parish Green Guide, a checklist for churches to help raise awareness; among congregations of how they can save energy.

The Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, said, "Today is a day of prayer, vigil and public witness around the communion. As a church, we are keen to work with governments to help reach these goals so that a real difference is made. We hope the video project will help promote the Millennium Development Goals and reach out and inspire other people to get involved and do what they can to help eradicate world poverty."

The video will be shown at the UN and also during Evensong at the Cathedral of St John the Divine, New York, this evening. It is being coordinated by the Diocese of California which sent Flip Video cameras, donated by Pure Digital Inc, to all Anglican provinces.

The Bishop of California, Rt Rev Marc Andrus said, “After the Walk for Witness there was widespread understanding that we needed to build on the perception that we are all facing these global issues locally. We have a public role together as a body.”

Speaking on the eve of the conference in New York, The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, said, "Much of the work that’s being done by the Anglican Church covers very comprehensively the Millennium Development Goals. We want to anchor that work in worldwide co-operation. We want to do that work in synergy with those governments and NGOs who are working for the same end. And we want to let Governments and NGOs know that we are there and we are ready. ….Let this meeting in New York be an occasion where the consciences and the hearts of all are truly touched and changed, turned towards the needs of the poorest, turned towards the recognition that we have it in our hands to make a difference”

For more information, please contact:
Anna Morrell
Archbishop's Media Officer / Swyddog y Cyfryngau i'r Archesgob
Tel: 02920 348208; mobile: 07 91 91 587 94
39 Cathedral Rd, Cardiff / 39 Heol y Gadeirlan, Caerdydd
CF11 9XF
http://www.churchinwales.org.uk