Bishop to fast in poverty campaign

from the Press Association

The Bishop of London is to undergo a day's fasting as part of an attempt to raise awareness about ambitious targets to halve world poverty by 2015, it has been announced.

The Rt Rev Richard Chartres will forego food on September 24, the day before a key meeting at the United Nations in New York to discuss the lack of progress in implementing the Millennium Development Goals.

The eight goals, including eradicating extreme poverty and hunger by 2015, were set by world leaders in 2000. The day of fasting will be the culmination of a 10-day period of prayer and reflection launched this Sunday by Dr Chartres alongside Micah Challenge, a coalition of Christian groups to fight global poverty.