Tom Arnold’s Blog
Tom is Concern Worldwide’s Chief Executive. He was appointed to the position 2001. Read Tom’s profile here.
Hungry for leadership
Posted by Tom Arnold in Tom Arnold’s Blog | 20 November 2009 |
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This week, the third World Summit on Food Security was held in Rome with heads of states and governments in attendance.
One of the main aims of the summit was to strengthen the commitments of these world leaders in the fight against hunger. But those suffering from hunger need more than words.
Here is an opinion piece I wrote for the Irish Examiner that was published Tuesday 17 November.
View in .pdf format (266kb)
Father Aengus Finucane
On behalf of everyone in Concern, I would like to express my profound sympathy on the death of Father Aengus Finucane. Aengus died at 8.30 this morning.
Aengus will be deeply mourned and missed by thousands of people in Ireland and across the world. He had an absolute commitment to the poorest of the poor: his work with Concern saved countless lives and improved the lives of many millions of people. He was a passionate believer in education as the foundation of development and never missed an opportunity to emphasise the critical importance of educating girls.
He used his great gifts of personality and charismatic leadership to work for the things he believed in. People loved to be with him and he loved to be with people. He inspired a whole generation of Concern overseas volunteers, particularly in the 1970s and 1980s, who remained his steadfast friends and supporters. His work with Concern US since 1997 gave him great satisfaction and introduced him to another community who took him to their heart and who will miss him greatly.
While deeply saddened by the passing of Aengus, we celebrate the scale of his life achievement. There can be few Irish people of his generation, or of any other generation, who have contributed as much to improving the lives of so much of humanity. In doing so, he enjoyed life and made it very enjoyable for all who knew him. May he rest in peace.
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Why do we care?
Posted by Tom Arnold in Tom Arnold’s Blog | 1 October 2009 |
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The Irish Government made a commitment to spend 0.7% of its national income on overseas aid by 2012. That amounts to just 70 cent in every €100 by 2012.
In the last 10 months, €222 million has been cut from Ireland’s aid budget. Here, as part of the “We do care” campaign, I talk about how the aid cuts will have an impact.
Ideas for recovery
I recently attended the Global Irish Economic Forum.
I was interviewed afterwards:
Charity begins at home?
Posted by Tom Arnold in Tom Arnold’s Blog | 14 September 2009 |
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In this video, I give my views about the recent cuts in Ireland’s aid budget.
Charity may begin at home, but it doesn’t end there. No matter how badly off we are in Ireland, the countries where Concern works face problems far greater than our own.
I believe that, as a relatively rich country, we have a responsibility to help those people.
Brian McKeown
Posted by Tom Arnold in Tom Arnold’s Blog | 5 August 2009 |
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I was very saddened to hear of the passing of Brian McKeown, the founder of Trocaire.
Foundations
Brian helped lay foundations of action, effectiveness and credibility for the whole development sector in Ireland. Rest in peace.
Read the recent Irish Times news article about Brian McKeown.
The boys are back in town!
U2 returned to their native Dublin last weekend. Their gigs were held in Croke Park, Ireland’s main sporting stadium, which holds over 80,000 people.
Dublin roots
This was reflected in how Bono connected to the crowd. He explained Irish slang terms to the many foreigners present, and welcomed the children from the local Crumlin hospital – “our heroes.”
Local meets global
There were other ways in which the local and global connected. About half an hour before the concert started, Bono spoke to myself and the Aid Minister Peter Power about ensuring Ireland keeps its promise of giving 0.7% of our national income to help the world’s poorest people by 2012.
Defeating hunger
For someone about to perform to 80,000 people, he was remarkably calm. Two hours later, Bono recalled this conversation to the crowd when he spoke about Ireland’s critical role in working to defeat famine and hunger. He was a key member of the Irish Hunger Task Force which reported last year. During this speech, he referred kindly to the good work of Irish agencies such as Concern and Goal.
Message from space
Many of the great U2 songs were played as the rain spattered spasmodically down. But there were other memorable moments, in addition to the great music.
During this tour, Bono has been speaking onstage to occupants of a space station. Last night they sent a goodwill message to Dublin. One of them reflected on how much he looked forward to re-acquainting himself with Guinness when he returns to earth.
Remembering Burma
There was a powerful message from Archbishop Desmond Tutu: “our Boss” as Bono called him. The imprisoned Burmese opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, was remembered by scores of young people who came on stage with her mask in front of their faces. The message went out from Croke Park that we remember her.
That message, put in front of hundreds of thousands of people who will attend U2’s concerts on their world tour over the next year, must hasten the day when the Burmese authorities set free this heroic and principled woman.
It was a night to remember!
Hunger and food back on agenda
Posted by Tom Arnold in Tom Arnold’s Blog | 8 July 2009 |
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One billion people are now hungry in the world.
Growing populations, rising food prices and climate change threatening agricultural production means that increasing numbers of people have little access to food. Political commitment is both critical and urgent.
Back on the agenda
Hunger and food is a political and economic priority for the first time since the early 1970s. Today in the Irish times I am welcoming this and hoping for significant policy change.
To read my article click here.
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