Promises, promises

Promises are great as long as they are kept. Unfortunately, it seems that the G8 group of industrial nations’ pledge to double aid to Africa by the end of 2010, is one which might not be.

According to campaign group One, with aid up by only 50 per cent by the end of 2009, keeping the promise will be a tall order. That’s not good news for Africa.

Airlines are more optimistic however. They have promised to cut greenhouse emissions annually for the next 11 years.

But they have also promised to bring in a cap on emissions from 2020. Even if demand increases, emissions won’t. Let’s hope they succeed.

Promises, integrity and loyalty are all pretty much of a piece, and are personal not just corporate. When they appear to be in doubt it can be pretty painful.

That’s what one government minister found and it led to her resignation. Caroline Flint MP told GMTV that she left her job because her loyalty had been questioned.

Family relationships, however, highlight the importance and fragility of promises more than almost anything else. This week’s readings about Abraham and Lot make that quite clear.

For Mercy, a 4-year-old in Malawi, a legal fight over adoption has now been resolved. Madonna has promised to give her a new life in the US.

Whatever we think about the case, we can only hope that the promises really will be kept. In that event, Mercy will prove to be even more than a name.

Emlyn Williams